|
Urban Design
Unused areas in cities - vacant lots, parkland, industrial areas, roadsides, LAWNS!
Lawns
16 million acres in the U.S. in 1978: single largest 'crop' requiring 573 kilocalories per square meter to maintain (more then the energy inputs of any commercial corn or vegetable) which create a massive disposal problem of poisoned waste. In the 1970s lawns used: 20% of fertilizer and were responsible for 44% of water used in California (These figures have undoubtedly increased since then.) In Massachusets, for ex. The average surburban lawn is about 5000-7000 sq. ft. and yearly maintenance is about $30 per sq. meter.
Suburban/Urban Strategies for local and sustainable food production
Community Gardens (Green Guerillas, 8% of NYC herbs)
Farm-link (boxes)
CSA (Community Supported Agriculture.)
Cities as farms: Germany, city forest products bring in 60%-80% city income.
| 
