While urban agriculture and community gardens are sexy and cool to discuss (I totally need to have a rooftop garden at some point in my life), I'd like to bring up some points I thought were interesting from the Tom Daniels and NRC Sustainable Agriculture readings.
The Daniels reading was intriguing because it presented something positive that has been done to conserve lands. "The average age of these landowners is 57, meaning that tens of millions of acres could change hands within the next 20 years." This is somewhat scary, as the best option for the heirs of these farmers that are land rich but cash poor is to sell the farm when they acquire it. Greedy development could easily come in and take over, further adding to our sprawl.
Luckily, local governments are taking the initiative to conserve these lands. Methods include forming land trusts and transfer of development rights program. The Partnership of Rangeland Trust (PORT) that started in Colorado has been able to conserve ranchlands through leveraging funding. Ranchers can donate or sell easements to the fund, and in return, the value of the land is reduced so that heirs can avoid or have lower federal taxes on the land.
The Warwick Township's transfer of development rights program (TDR) shifts development from farmland onto designated growth areas. The township created a bank of TDRs and eventually established a "revolving funding program" as they would receive the development rights, turn the farms into TDRs, and then sell them to developers. This essentially diverts development to where Warwick wants it while preserving farmland.
The NRC Sustainable Agriculture reading discusses first, the definition of sustainable agriculture, and then what actions need to be taken to create it. Much research needs to be done on the synergies between human needs, the environment, economics, and the quality of life of farmers. The idea is that, through research, evaluation, and feedback, we will make small advancements towards sustainable agriculture while pursuing larger goals. Also, in my opinion, the connection made by the committee between America's and Africa's agriculture is not as strong as they say it is. I won't get into it, but I feel as though more local knowledge should be a major pursuit before attempting to implement any of these "expand market" points.
So here is my question: Is there a farmland conservation organization near Tallahassee? If not, how might one work? Could the proximity to the state government be an advantage in starting one?
You pose an interesting question, Michael. First of all, I have not (yet) heard of a farmland conversation organization anywhere in Tallahassee or around Leon County for that matter. Furthermore, I think since farmland is relatively widespread on the outskirts of town in comparison to the South Florida area. I would suppose that the open spaces and for the most part, the lack of sprawl would probably give little motivation for individuals in this part of the State to start farmland conversation. Please do note, I could be completely wrong here.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, I think the proximity to the state government would be advantageous to individuals living nearby to start farmland conservation. This weeks readings actually gave thought to why majority of food systems projects are localized to a community level. What would it take for a state to sustainably grow most of it's food domestically?
Florida seems particularly an interesting case because of how the states demographics with majority of the population living in the south which decreases as you drive north. I imagine preserved farmland in the northern state being potentially useful to south Florida metropolitan area as well central Florida.
Michael, I'm glad that you included what I find to be the single most salient point of the readings this week and perhaps the entire course: "The average age of these landowners is 57, meaning that tens of millions of acres could change hands within the next 20 years." This statement is so important because it is a reflection of so many phenomena and paradigms our country is facing. Our aging population (baby boomers) converges with the food system crisis, if you will, and the over-development of land and sprawl. We absolutely need to address this issue from as many facets as we can, but solutions seems to be restrained for the same reasons that they always have been: our government is not doing everything in their power to protect vulnerable lands because of their corporate relations with big farmers; our ecology is undermined because civilians, politicians, and the like refuse to believe climate change is real, let along occurring right below our noses; farmers' values are disenfranchised--some are enticed by the [financial] bottom line, while others have taken up a more social cause (organic farmers); our consumerism culture promulgates unsustainable sprawl development; and our inability to consider long-term, future-oriented solutions as a nation are weighing down our ability to plan for an aging population. These issues, granted they're a bit hyperbolic, are relevant to every policy arena and for our purposes, are played out in the context of planning, food systems, and agriculture. We need a unified mentality to address these issues with sustainability and longevity.
ReplyDeleteAlso, to sort of answer your question, Tall Timbers is the closest thing in the Tallahassee area.