In cities across the country, it is becoming increasingly clear that the food movement and other sustainability ideals are gathering force. Even as the economy tanks and the job market tumbles, more and more people are inspired by the possibilities of “green businesses.” Here in Portland, the DIY (do-it-yourself) fad is more than just a trend. It’s a way of life for many people living here. It comes as little surprise that the urban farming piece is not far behind. But this trend has transcended the uber-liberal walls of the NW. The anti-Establishment goals of the local food movement are planting roots all over the place.

A recent article in the Washington Post paints a striking picture of this paradigm shift. Check out Raquel Maria Dillon’s “Urban farmers fight nationwide to sow green biz,” I recommend the piece, but for the sake of this entry let me summarize:

A woman in Los Angeles converted part of her yard to an organic flower garden, growing enough to sell at the local farmer’s market. To the chagrin of her neighbors, the “dusty pots, steaming compost, flies and a funky aroma on her tiny cul-de-sac” are not fitting for the community. Thus, these disgruntled neighbors called the zoning department, complained and won the suit. – This story and the larger issues at hand form the whole of the article.

A number of interesting conflicts arise in this growingly-common urban problem:

• On a macro level, climate change and global warming are gaining attention. Within cities, suburbs and rural communities families and individuals find themselves interested in changing their lifestyle. Some start eating organic food or shopping at farmer’s markets, others bicycle more or buy energy-efficient light bulbs.
• Meanwhile, as the economy crashes and folks lose their jobs, some find this dramatic change for the better, and see this as an opportunity to start something different. Some of these folks turn to urban agriculture while others buy land in the country and setup shop there.
• And yet, for all the people that want to change they way they live, they way they interact with the world, there are plenty of other people who don’t want all this change. This is especially true at the most local level. The home. The neighborhood. The community at large.

Consider this paradox of the American dream: Some folks seek self-reliance by growing their own food and not relying on outside forces to dictate the health of their home. The neighbors of these Thoreau-philes also seek personal equity. Folks who dislike the “grow your own food” mentality do not want the property values to slump. For all the sustainability of composting and urban animal husbandry, others simply see smelly trash and undesired animal sounds. It seems our overly-American idealism has split the population against itself.

And who will win this fight? No surprise here but I’d put my money on the smelly, hippy urbanites. As much as some don’t like the smell or the sight, this is the future of our economy – a stronger, localized economy. Everyday people growing, creating and raising sustenance for themselves and the good folks in the community. Who’s side would you rather be on?

Related posts:

1. Urban farming – a world of possibility
2. Buy Local (or) We are “the market”
3. Urban Farming in Portland (part 1)
4. Capitalism vs. Environmentalism
5. Urban Foraging

Tags: Food Politics, Gardening, local food movement