Imagining Detroit (Replacing uban decay with farms)

New York Times ^ | May 17, 2011 | MARK BITTMAN

[Brad from Tennessee]

Detroit was once called the Paris of the West, but at this point it’s more reminiscent of Venice. Like Venice, its demise has been imminent for some time, as crucial businesses and huge chunks of the population flee. * * * * Imagine blocks that once boasted 30 houses, now with three; imagine hundreds of such blocks. Imagine the green space created by the city’s heartbreaking but intelligent policy of removing burnt-out or fallen-down houses. Now look at the corner of one such street, where a young man who has used the city’s “adopt-a-lot” program (it costs nothing) to establish an orchard, a garden and a would-be community center on three lots, one with a standing house. (The land, like many of the gardens, belongs to the city and is “leased” for a year at a time. But no one seems especially concerned about the city repossessing.)A young man who adopts eight lots and has bought another three has an operation that grows every year and trains eager young people. A Capuchin monastery operates gardens spanning 24 lots. . .

(more at link)

[Daisyjane69]

Not me, but the whole Daisy Jane thing did come up on our very long music thread last week! LOL

After I typed my post to you, I went back and re-read the bio of Michael R. White on Wiki. It’s about as I remember it. I had forgotten, though, that he was the longest serving mayor in Cleveland history. And he could have served longer, had he wanted to put up with the BS. The city has NEVER been the same.

I wish he’d write a book. It would be a blueprint of how a black mayor could get control of a majority black city, and will help it prosper, with the help of white business.

[Will88]

And exactly what crops would they plan on growing up there given the geography and climate?

They can probably grow most vegetables and fruits, but it would be a pretty short growing season. This is a half year activity at best.

I think the NYT writer has given this about ten times more importance than it deserves.

[Mich Patriot]

Ummmm, not to rain on your parade, but your commentary on the toxicity of the waterways is not accurate. “The soil is loaded with decades of urban decay”? I’m not even sure what that means, but they’re talking about old residential neighborhoods, not former toxic dumps or industrial areas. Exactly what crops? You do know Michigan has one very good growing season, right?

2009 Rank among states:
Soybeans & products 12th
Feed grains & products 13th
Other (whatever that means) 12th
Vegetables & preparations 9th
Fruit & preparations 5th

Michigan is 3rd in apples (Washington, NY), and leads the nation in tart cherries.

If you simply said “Detroit is a shithole”, which I think was your overall intent, you would have been right. Otherwise you have some misconceptions about Michigan crop production, and probably many other things. When the world thinks of Michigan, it thinks Detroit. Living here we are aware of the whole package, and other than harsh winters and far too many Dems, it’s pretty awesome.

[ripley]

Looks like they’ll be needing an Agriculture Czar.

[Brett66]

The same toxic climate of corrupt politicians backed by union thugs still exists, even if they grew marijuana on those farms, it would still implode financially once they demand union scale wages at all of the farms.

[Mich Patriot]

"...benton harbor could also benefit from this."

We used to call it "Benton Harlem".

[6SJ7]

The land, like many of the gardens, belongs to the city and is “leased” for a year at a time.

The socialist end-game is serfdom.

[raygun]

Wonderful. Except who's going to pay for all that?

If Detroit isn't careful, they're going to shoot themselves in the foot on this. They need to excercise emminent domain, else if they just let squatters take over the land, after a decade (two at the most), whoever has been using the land has title lock stock and barrel.

On the other hand, if the title does transfer to the squatters they might be liable for whatever outstanding back taxes there may be from the former residences. I'm ignorant about the real-estate legalities. One thing certain, whomever does take title to the land will at the very least have additional property tax liability from that time forward.

In any case, with the projected urban sprawl over the next decade or two, eventually all those undeveloped acres of prairie (or woodland) will be a pretty ripe plumb for somebody's picking. Detroit is 143 mi² of area. Suppose 1/2 of it goes feral?

Why would anybody want to move out to 40, 50 or even 60 mile road, when there's prime rural real-estate available smack in the middle of Metropolis?

[restornu]

Yeah, “farms”. Must be a liberal “green” fantasy. Turn the cities of the “postindustrial” USA into “clean” farms and let China be the “filthy” manufacturing cesspool, I mean powerhouse.

****

People need to eat, nothing to be ashamed about farming all great cites at one time was farmland even NYC.

So many grand homes have been abandoned and gutted many now are just empty lots.

When I left Detroit in 70’s at no time was it even a thought to check the cost of gas going to the east coast.

For now the cost of living is not what it use to be I remember in the early 70’s Sunco you could buy 5 gals for $1.00 can you imagine today 19 cent a gallon.

This was under Nixon during Watergate and than Cater happen...

This is what was seen in the future a talk given in 1965

LDS Prophets warn us of the dangers facing America
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehD390q9G3k

[newnhdad]

Isn’t his what Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge tried to do? remove people from cities, shutter schools, close factories, take property and plow it all under and turn it into farm land?

That seemed to work out just fine.

[newfreep]

As someone who loves music, amazingy I have never posted or rarely see the music thread.

I created a company (import very high-end audio equipment from Europe and Far East) that is connected to the music industry. One critically acclaimed mastering engineer has used my equipment in his re-mastering of classic albums including just about every major jazz release. A good guy who has provided me with some priceless gifts of master tape copies of Beatles, Nat king Cole, Sinatra, Ray Charles and so many more. Kinda cool to hear the studio dialog that never gets released.

So I need to watch for that thread - sounds interesting.

Take care, DJ! (I like your tagline - see mine)

[sport]

And the sheep are eager to become the serfs. That is one wish the government will be happy to make come true. And when they begin killing the lame, old, and unproductive, the sheep wil be too stupid to realize that they brought it upon themselves. How far and how fast the mighty have fallen.

[DUMBGRUNT]

http://chicagoweekly.net/2009/10/21/farm-school-chicagos-only-agricultural-high-school-raises-the-barn-for-urban-education/

Farm School: Chicago’s only agricultural high school raises the barn for urban education
By Keith Jamieson

Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences
From Wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_High_School_for_Agricultural_Sciences

[Daisyjane69]

You sound like a rather impressive human being! I’m just a “plant” chick, keeping my eyes on the soil and the plants, and yes...the bugs. LOL As far as technology, I’m happy once I get my new speakers on the computer to work. I’d rather have a set of pruners in my hand than a computer mouse. heh

I don’t think we have an official music thread, but this little gem popped up a few days ago and it generated nearly 400 replies. Were you snoozin’ or what, kiddo? :)

Anyway, here ya go...have at it:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2719692/posts

One thing I’ve learned about FReepers is that we are blissfully normal. In between defending liberty and all that, we are most interested in: sports, music, & food. Just like everyone else.

;)

[Caipirabob]

Socialism : Building a bridge to the 17th century...

[radmanptn]

Your description is probably close to the mark. I saw a news clip of zer0 at that high school graduation the other day. If there is a word that combines the meanings of adoration and idolization that’s the look I saw on the faces of the students as the camera panned across them.

[hfr]

Tree plantations.

Maple, oak, walnut, white pine, hickory, butternut, spruce, cedar. All great furniture wood.

White pine, yellow pine, spruce, and fir. All great construction wood.

Blackthorn, and fruitwoods for things like walking sticks and musical instruments.

Equestrian police to patrol it all.

[FreedomGuru]

“”“The soil is loaded with decades of urban decay”? I’m not even sure what that means, but they’re talking about old residential neighborhoods, not former toxic dumps or industrial areas.””

70+ year old houses, with lead paint, asbestos, all sorts of metals, allowed to decay for decades, unless burned down. Detroit has been extremely slow to remove vacant buildings do you think they “cleaned” these lots? Also vacant lots in residential areas became dumping grounds.

[newfreep]

Kiddo? Thanks for that reference - haven’t heard that in a few decades... :-)

Yep, we conservatives are quite normal and it makes the leftwingnuts quite abnormal. Alas, I am Cincy bengals fan...but seeing a doctor for that abnormal behaviour.

Like the related music industry, my business associates are >90% leftwingers and their core dishonesty - gets depressing at times.

Here’s website of my business to give you an idea of the “toys” I play with daily.

http://tmhaudio.com/

[squarebarb]

Yes but the land belongs to the city bureaucracy, and all bureaucracies resent private success and they’ll muck up his/her gardens somehow. Regulation, repossession, demands for bribes, etc.