First Name: | Julie |
---|---|
Last Name: | Bolton |
Email Address: | dr.jbolton@charter.net |
Affiliation | |
Subject | Support urban agriculture to reduce carbon |
Comment |
The CARB plan looks at the macroeconomic industrial agriculture sector level, which is important, but I would like the board to also consider the micro level in thinking about ways to reduce the carbon footprint and water use of food. CARB should also look at ways to support food production with in cites which has the potential to dramatically decrease carbon output from food production as well as bring about other benefits public health.. I would like to see a CARB plan that supports s Victory Garden resurgence. Encourage edible backyard gardens, front yard gardens, community gardens, raised beds at apartment complexes and the wise use of public lands for food production that also serves as landscaping. Consider this scenario - change park grass to clover which is 1) drought-resistant and 2) requires little or no mowing. This saves water and fuel, both of which lower the carbon load. Next remove the male pollen producing (highly allergenic) trees so common in city landscaping and replace them with fruit trees. The maintenance staff that once spent hours mowing thirsty grass could instead use the time tend the fruit trees. Produce could be sold for income for the city or given to food banks. This tactic further reduces carbon as it lessens the amount of food that needs to travel into a city. Additionally, the city would benefit from an increase in local food supplies at no extra labor cost. An added bonus would be improvement in allergies and asthma of city residents from both reduced carbon and reduced pollen. Instead of landscaping like oleanders on the freeways and road medians, such properties could be used to grow kale, beets, corn, lettuce, strawberries, tomatoes…etc – crops that not only look attractive, but also taste good. This would further increases food supplies and little or no cost to the city. Such measures solve multiple problems. Carbon miles of food is reduced, water use is reduced, food production is increases and this can also provide sources of food for the poor who have limited access due to the high cost of fresh fruits and vegetables compared to the artificially lowered prices (due to agricultural subsidies on industrial crops) of processed foods. Even now, the increasing price of energy is squeezing the poor. Food banks report being overwhelmed by calls from people that no longer can afford food at the end of the month due to the high cost of fuel. This situation worsens already skyrocketing rates of diabetes and obesity by forcing the poor to eat calorie dense but nutrient poor fast food and cheap starchy staples such as white rice and pasta. Additionally a binge-eating like cycle occurs when food intermittently which encourages weight gain. Hence, bringing food production into the city will not only decrease CO2, save water, and provide new sources of healthy nutritious food; it will decrease diseases like diabetes and obesity. And if it sounds like a crazy idea, consider that more than half of the food eaten in Hong Kong – one of the most densely populated concrete cities in the world, is grown with in the city limits - on balconies, patios or rooftops. Surely, if we use just a portion of our vast expanses of urban parks, landscaped medians, banks of retaining ivy, empty derelict lots, back and front lawns, and dusty apartment complex perimeters for food production, we could expect to produce bountiful crops which will improve our health, and feed the hungry, all while reducing our carbon output. Dr. Julie Bolton Family Physician Community Gardener Long Beach, |
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Original File Name:
Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2008-08-27 10:52:01 |
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