Aprovecho

The cottage of Ash and Kyle located at the top of south sloping clearing.

My first week at Aprovecho sustainable education community has reaffirmed my fascination with our inherent connection to ecological systems.  Fellow friends of the community show constant interest in the local surrounding environment- examining the chickens' eating habits, identifying tree species, or making acorn flour.  There is so much to learn when you are living closer to nature.  The forrest and garden are the classroom, inspiring curiosity and critical observation.

My particular role in the community is finishing the community classroom structure.  I have developed digital models to help visualize different interior finishes.  The first days have been spent planning our options especially with on-site resources.  Aprovecho has a large stock of grand fir and doug fir that has been harvested and milled on-site.  This material will most likely become a ceiling finish.  We are hoping to invest in a shaper so that we can cut our own tongue-n-groove or shiplap connections (this will account for any shrinkage in the wood).  Another on-site resource is clay, a main element in earthen plaster.  We still have to take samples around the property and consider the future of excavated areas- perhaps a pond or swale on contour.  

So far, life at Aprovecho has been incredibly comfortable- yes, even when I have to poo in a bucket outside.  I feel a sense of security as if the inhabitants of this forty acre plot are insulated from any outside forces.  Who needs Safeway when there are jars of last years tomatoes, pears, or apples in the pantry?  Even in January, we are eating hearty greens from the garden or lettuces from the greenhouse.  

Regional environmental changes, however, have a considerable impact on Aprovecho.  Over three years ago, the forest above Apro's watershed was clear-cut.  Since then, residents have seen a steady decline in groundwater levels and we are now discussing opportunities for rainwater harvesting.  Examples like these remind me of how interconnected we are to all species and systems.  

Automotive Bailout: A Poor Solution

GM crushes their fleet of electric vehicles (EV1) and destroys all information. They continue to rely on the sale of gas-guzzlers.

In today's news, I read that president-elect Barack Obama is supporting additional bailout funding to large automative companies. GM, Ford, and Chrystler are jumping on the bailout wagon asking for $25 billion just to weather the ecomonic crisis. This is in addition to an already alotted $25 billion for fuel efficient technology. Correct me if I am wrong but I thought that Obama wanted to focus his efforts on Main Street rather than handing more money to the companies that mismanaged their business in the first place.

Up untill the economic downturn and high gas prices, GM's business strategy continued to rely on high-profit SUVs. This is the same company that literally destroyed all evidence of their electric car technology nearly 20 years ago. If we throw money directly at GM, we are paving the path for the same old stupid mistakes they continue to make. GM caters to big oil and Wall Street, not Main Street. Consumers shouldn't be force-fed outdated Suburbans and Silverados. Instead, they should be given the opportunity to support fuel-efficient vehicles.

Why not use that $25 billion for a consumer incentive program that offers a large rebate for those who purchase a fuel-efficient vehicle. Eventually the money would go back to the auto industry but they would have to earn it by restructuring their business strategies. This seems like a win-win situation to me. Oh, wait.... big oil wouldn't be so happy. Darn.

Increasing the Gas Tax: An American Taboo

After a summer of skyrocketing gas prices throughout the United States, we are now seeing amazingly cheap costs at the pump. For the average American this is great news, but soon the laws of supply and demand will bounce us back to $4 per gallon or more.

The recent drop in gas prices is partially a result of less consumption. Americans were finding more energy efficient alternatives; biking to work, using public transportation, or even weatherizing their homes. Not only were people saving at the pump, but they were more importantly decreasing our country's dependence on foreign oil. For a short period we were seeing what it means to act more environmentally friendly.

Now that prices have dropped nearly $1.50/ gallon I fear that Americans will regress back to our bad habits. It seems odd to me that gas prices can have such elasticity. Rather than let supply and demand decide the price of gas, why not determine the true environmental, social, and political cost of each gallon of gas? Why not include a gas tax to pay off the debt we owe for the wars we have fought over oil? Why not include a gas tax to pay for the true pollution cost of burning fossil fuels? Or how about a gas tax to treat the increasing number of asthmatic patients in polluted urban areas?

The current US gas tax averages around a measly 47 cents per gallon ( 28.6 state and 18.4 federal). In comparison, German citizens pay gas taxes of over $7.50 (USD) per gallon.
A much needed US gas tax increase would not only pay off debts but also create incentives or subsidies for environmentally conscious energy solutions. It would pressure auto companies to reintroduce the electric car to the American consumer. It would produce a shift in city planning approaches including more urban infill with strict city growth boundaries. It would fund the creation of extensive public transportation networks such as high-speed passenger trains connecting major US city centers (while creating thousands of new jobs). It would bring our troops home and secure our nation from international terrorism. It would transform our agriculture system towards sustainable and healthy food production. The list goes on and on.

A simple gas tax increase would have incredibly powerful and positive repercussions. So, why is it such a political challenge? Petroleum is the world's most traded commodity; it is the life force of humanity. Big oil companies with strong lobbying groups and addicted consumers have so much weight in the political process that increased gas taxes are not easily welcomed.

I think it is time we discipline ourselves if we hope to see a paradigm shift. We should pay higher costs for our poor consumer decisions and be rewarded for sustainable ones.

Who owns water?

The recent documentary titled FLOW: For Love Of Water, asks an important question for humanity in the 21st century; Who owns water? 

Water flows through earth; from river to tap to sewage treatment plant and back to river. It is a constant volume that changes from solid to liquid to gas over and over again.  A fundamental element of life on earth; every being on this planet is made of water.  The water that flows through you may eventually flow through me.  It is a shared resource to be respected and valued by all. 

Natural systems have evolved to filter water efficiently.  Trees and plants clean water as they use it. Humans, on the other hand, manipulate the flow of water via asphalt rooftops, roadways, dams, and plumbing.  All this infrastructure leads to polluted and wasted valuable water resources.   

Is it fair that children in the midwest have hemoglobin deficiencies causing brain damage; a result of pesticides and fertilizers infiltrating their drinking water?  Is it fair that California's San Juaquin Delta is experiencing loss of farmland to encroaching sea water; a result of Southern California's demand for water from the Sacramento river?  Or is it fair that 1 out of every 6 human beings does not have direct access to clean drinking water?  All of these disasters are a result of poor distribution and poor treatment of the earths fresh water resources.

True, overpopulation is a factor in the problem, but our current perception of water must dramatically change if we are to prevent catastrophic environmental and human destruction.  Since water quality is affected by all spheres of human activity the list of preventive measures is endless and broad.  From major agricultural shifts to consumer decisions, we can radically transform our relationship with water.

A great example of our disconnect with water is our strange addiction to bottling it; an outrageous abuse of air quality, land, wildlife, and human health.  It is far too ridiculous for us to replace perfectly good tap water with something that further degrades water quality.

I was born and raised just north of Mt. Shasta, where Nestle Water wants to install a bottling plant.  After hearing about their intentions, I urged Nestle's Regional Manager to watch the film FLOW.  In his reply, he attached Nestle Waters North America's standard response to the film.  To summarize this letter, it basically explained how Nestle is less bad for the environment (still very far from good).

Rest assured everyone, Nestle's letter says:

• "We are a responsible water user. We have a vested interest in ensuring that water sources are viable for generations to come." Because if they didn't seek the most abundant sources of clean water, they could forget about their long term corporate growth.
• "Bottled water is an important consumer option to promote public health... Without access to bottled water, people will be drinking more beverages with calories and sugar, such as soda." No thanks, I brought my own canteen of tap water from home. 
• "Bottled Water plays an important role in public safety"  Good Point, why doesn't the government regulate how much water you can pump based on needs for natural disaster relief.  As far as I am concerned, that is the only legitimate market you should be entitled to.
• "Bottled water is different than tap water." Shhhhh. It contains carcinogens from the plastic. 
• "We do not privatize water intended or used for public supplies." You sell water!  I give you money, you give me water. Right?
• "Nestle is working on water issues around the world."  Here you go Darfur, have some bottled water.  What do you do with the bottles?  Uhhh....

I shouldn't put all the blame on big corporations like Nestle but also Cargill, Monsanto, Shell, and GM.  The list goes on. It seems everybody is doing their part in polluting our precious waters.  Whether it is oil or water or any other resource, these corporations and ignorant consumers will always be fighting a battle with Mother Nature.  Perhaps it is time we recognize that we are suffering from our own reckless actions.  Our mistreatment of water will have major repercussions in the future.

Pollan's warning to President-Elect: Food as a National Security Issue

Slow Food Nation Victory Garden Rendering

Michael Pollan, writer and professor at UC Berkeley, recently sent an open letter to both Barack Obama and John McCain warning that food is a National Security Issue.  I think we can all agree that America is tired of politicians' glittering generalities on alternative energy, national security, and economic change.  With one single issue, food, Michael Pollan managed to address all the political hot topics while presenting real "change we can believe in" and how to put our "country first".  

The letter began with a critical analysis of our industrial food system, which is based on oil rather than the sun.  It gave practical steps to "resolarizing the American farm" and taking our food system off of oil.  Imagine a government system that provides subsidies to sustainable agriculture rather than the overproduction of commodity corn and soy.  Imagine a government that taxed the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and antibiotics.  If only feedlots were legally required to properly treat their mass amounts of fecal waste.  Better yet, if feedlots were a thing of the past.   All of this is possible in Pollan's world.

At the end of Pollan's extensive and informative letter he called for the next president to transform America's food culture starting with a white house farm rather than a white house lawn.  Pollan's proposal even suggested a white house farmer in coordination with the white house chef who would be identified with the Slow Food Movement.

Pollan's recommendations didn't stop there; he spoke of executive family dinners at a table (rather than the Reagan TV tray dinners), one meatless day a week, and even occasional participation by the First family on the White House farm.  This image would indeed be very powerful in transforming America's poor food culture.  

No matter who takes the presidential office, Republicrat or Democan, black or white, male or female, food should surely be a top priority .  I am relieved to see that some are able to recognize the true severity of our times and go beyond party battles.  Lets get politicians to talk about tangible change and then we might know who to elect. 

Feeding the City: Center for an Urban Agriculture Network

“It is useless to force the rhythms of life. The art of living is learning to give time to each and every thing.” - Carlo Petrini, Founder of Slow Food International

The modern industrial food system threatens global food security- squandering resources, contaminating soil, and destroying the world’s biodiversity. Our current eating habits are not only risking our own health, but the health of the environment that sustains all life on earth. Industry has created what is termed a global food shed. On any given day we can buy apples from Australia, pasta from Europe, bananas from Central America, and rice from Asia. This may sound desirable, but with a global food shed comes the overly complex and unnecessary world of preservatives, genetically modified organisms, food processing plants, distribution centers, highway networks, fossil fuels, fertilizers, and pesticides. With skyrocketing fuel prices and dwindling biodiversity, the industrial food system is failing to feed humanity.
Along with humanity’s exponential population growth there is a global shift from rural to urban dwelling. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations says over half the world’s people live in cities. “Supplying them with safe and affordable food will strain the food supply and distribution chain to the breaking point” (FAO). Massive urbanization puts great pressure on arable land, water, energy, and biological resources. Cities have their physical footprints as well as a whole other ecological footprint needed to supply food and resources. To make matters more concerning, urban lifestyles typically spend 30 percent more on food than rural lifestyles yet they consume fewer calories. “The difficulties of matching supply and demand and problems with transport, refrigeration and markets lead to losses and raised prices.” (FAO).
Most disturbing, however, is our disconnection with the food we eat. Somehow quantity and speed have replaced quality and enjoyment. We have lost our ability to truly taste- disregarding food knowledge and culture. We have lost respect for our health- foolishly inhaling Whopper’s and guzzling Big Gulps. In an age of consumption, we are convinced to eat worse food so that we can consume more of other stuff. Perhaps we should reconsider what is important to us. Perhaps we should begin to place more value on ourselves.
This architectural project proposes reconnecting people with their food by creating local networks of gardens in existing urban places. As vacant urban plots and suburban lawns transform into edible gardens, individuals and communities will begin to appreciate the benefits of local food. Cultivating your own food is physically and psychologically healing. It establishes a sense of freedom and pride. It cherishes self-sufficiency and ecological stewardship.
Through the integration of architectural, agricultural, and ecological ideas, this project will exemplify how we can indeed produce good food in our cities. It shows how healthy and delicious food can become a part of the urban lifestyle. Growing, cooking, and eating are at the heart of human existence. This project will attempt to clarify our understanding of food, while rejuvenating all the joys and pleasures that should naturally come with it. It’s about enriching our food experiences through knowledge, self-respect, and environmental consciousness. It’s about building a healthy culture. Its about truly tasting the good things in life.

More images of Ray Chirgwin's thesis project can be found at Re:Vision.

From The Oregonian, Steve Woodward's article on Ray's project.

From Land Letter, Scott Streater's article on Ray's project.