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Politics : Rat's Nest - Chronicles of Collapse

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To: Mannie who wrote (11202)	9/4/2010 11:39:11 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Read Replies (2) of 24218

Good News from the Pacific Northwest New county strategy against sprawl: Help small growers stay on the land and supply urban farmers markets seattletimes.nwsource.com County Executive Dow Constantine wants the county to buy development rights on 850 acres of land worked by farmers-market suppliers. He will use the existing Transfer of Development Rights Program, which was created to prevent sprawl by redirecting development to cities. "The pressure on the family farms from increased values and the development pressure encroaching on them makes it really tough to farm in a county of 2 million people," Constantine said. "We're trying to help them work against some of those forces and help them produce healthy, locally grown food for local markets." More home shoppers include bike access on their list seattletimes.nwsource.com In what is considered one of the most bicycle-friendly areas of the country (Seattle consistently ranks in the top 10 on that scale, according to Bicycling Magazine), a growing number of home shoppers in the Seattle area are looking for places where they can ride their bikes for work and pleasure. In the first article we see an elected official pushing county government to take baby steps in the direction of sustainability. In the second, we see home shoppers taking strides in the same direction. Major shifts in society don't spring out of a vacuum. There has always been a background of local farmers markets and hard core bicycle commuters. But at some point a 'generational shift' occurs and these marginal lifestyles begin to acquire cachet and eventually be written up in the local media as part of a new trend. A convergence of forces accelerates the process: good urban planning decisions, decades old; young families moving back to the city; increasing interest in organic produce; increasing food and gasoline prices; even increased unemployment. A review of the NYT archive of Urban Agriculture articles will give you a sense of the building momentum behind transition town values regarding the food supply. There are certainly troubles ahead regarding food and energy prices -- I'm no Pollyanna. Times will be tough in many parts of the world. But I am still optimistic that many communities (hopefully mine) will be able to rise to the challenge by making political and personal choices that move us toward a more sustainable lifestyle. Be the change you want to see. Jon jonathan.s.callahan on September 4, 2010 - 9:48am

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