On 27 Jan 00, at 23:23, Paul S. Hetrick wrote:
>
> Ok, I'll reply to replies to this post on the list (unless told to do
> otherwise) but it is probably time to take this topic off of the list
> and get back to farms and barley and such.
I have, so far, been interested in this discussion. It can be very
difficult to sort through the hype on both sides of the environmental
divide. Knowing who to trust, and where trust is not possible,
knowing the bias various advocates are coming from is important,
and this discussion has high lighted where some of the many
advocates are coming from.
Please hear my most tactful, pleasant and attempting to be
inoffensive voice in the following. I don't farm, or even homestead in
the traditional sense of homesteading. While I'm interested in farm,
land and homesteading discussions they don't directly relate to my
life, or many of my issues around living sustainably. While I have
dreamt of homesteading, at this point in my life, I don't know if I ever
want to follow that dream, and if I do, I know it will not be financially
possible for the next ten to twenty years.
I am, and always have been, and always will be very interested in
urban sustainabilty. I understand many rural homesteaders see the
phrase "urban sustainability" as a contradicition in terms, but I don't.
The realities of urban life often lead down a very different eco and
sustainability path than the realities of rural life.
Way back near the start of this list, I publicly expressed my
reluctance to speak openly about the practicalities of my life as
someone striving for sustainability in an urban setting. I've had to
make compromises I'm not always happy about and did not want to
draw criticism for those compromises. I also have experienced the
contempt of rural dwellers for urban life on other internet lists. I think
there is much both urban and rural dwellers can learn from each
other with respectful listening and discussion, but rarely see that
respect on either side of the urban rural divide.
This is not a comment about anyone in particular on the list, just an
observation that there can be a breakdown in respectful discussion
when urban and rural dwellers get together in the same
cyberspace. If anyone else on the list is interested in urban
sustainability, bringing cities near to self sufficiency in food
production, and energy production and consumption, especially the
practicalities of doing this, I'd be as interested in such discussions
as I am in hearing about people's farms, and way more interested
than I am in philosophical discussion.
sph
Sandra P. Hoffman
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.flora.org/sandra/
