Urban Farming

Previously, we discussed how many people in inner cities do not have access to quality, fresh foods. ​As metropolitan areas continue to sprawl outwards it turns local farmland into subdivisions and asphalt, eliminating the ability for a community to provide its own food. There are several ways communities are trying to combat this problem through farmers’ markets and healthy corner stores. An increasing popular approach is through “urban farming.” Using small vacant lots and rooftops for farming gives easy access to locally grown healthy foods and has environmental benefits.

urban roof top farm
Photo Courtesy of: sustainablesouthsound.org

The benefits of urban farming go beyond creating a healthy, local food source as detailed in this report for Boston. Farming creates dozens of direct, local jobs as well as hundreds of indirect jobs. The increased city greenery reduces greenhouse gas emissions and lowers a city’s heat-island effect. Best of all this is accomplished by utilizing previously unused urban land and rooftops.

Farming in Chicago has had more benefits than expected. Not only has the farming been used to change eating habits it has also impacted people’s lives. Farming has been an educational tool to teach families where their food comes from. Many of those who have worked on the farm have also started their own gardens at home and many have started up at local schools.

In Hawaii 80-90% of the food consumed is not produced on island, meaning it traveled thousands of miles to get to our plate. Food that travels is less fresh and costs more due to shipping and preservation costs (not to mention the impact transit has on our environment).  An upcoming documentary “Ingredients Hawaii” looks at our food system in Hawaii and ways to encourage more local food production for the people who live here.

​If you want learn more about urban farming in your neighborhood and to get involved look up and see if there is a Food Policy Council in your area. ​A Food Policy Council is an organized group of various stakeholders, policy makers, food producers and consumers, who evaluate the needs of their community. The goal of most Food Policy Councils is to create sustainable food systems.

Our Life on TheBus

We love riding TheBus in Hawaii. It gets us to work, the store, wherever we need to go. One can get most anywhere on the island using public transportation. It is a great transit option because it gives its riders flexibility that cars can not (on top of being environmentally friendly). We can read a book, play on our phones, take a nap, and after a few drinks it gets us home safely. Best of all it costs just $60 per month for an adult. Studies have shown that young professionals today are not as interested in buying cars as their parents in favor of public transit. However, TheBus has some pitfalls that is limiting its attractiveness to new riders.

TheBus
picture courtesy of wikipedia.org

Suggestions to make TheBus even better

GPS/Timing: One of the biggest complaints about riding the bus is the time schedule and how inconsistent buses are. TheBus has been proactive by initiating a GPS phone application and digital signs at a few bus stops. The app could be more user-friendly and only caters to those with smart phones and the digital time boards have displayed “standby” ever since installation. Some routes are long and traffic is unpredictable, so having a working display board and GPS app can help us riders. Additionally, if a bus is at a stop early then it should wait until it is back on schedule.

Comfort: When the bus is full it is too hot, but when it is half empty it is freezing. When its 80 degrees outside people are probably wearing shorts and t-shirts and do not want to carry around sweaters, but the bus seems to want to blast the air conditioner and make it uncomfortable for all of us. WiFi access would be a nice amenity, I know Greyhound and other charter busses do it. Overcrowding is another comfort issue, more busses on busy routes and during peak times can help.

Stops: In order to make express busses truly “express” they must have fewer stops only at the main transfer stops. All other busses need planned stops at major destinations, a stop is not needed every at block (people can walk a block to catch the bus, it is good for them).

For more ideas to improve upon public transportation check out this article.

Hawaii’s Bike Plan

Why drive when you can bike? Biking offers a number of health benefits including increased physical activity and lessened environmental impact from automobile emissions. Having proper bike facilities, such as marked bike lanes and bike parking, encourage biking and is safer for all users of the road. Some communities are investing in bike sharing programs that are proven to save transportation dollars as well as offer an environmentally friendly, healthy transportation option. The best bike sharing programs offer competitive rates and are easily accessible. Others communities are looking into new types of bike lanes to expand their network. Bike lanes are the safest way for bikers to travel, on the road and in the same direction as traffic, the only exception being young children who belong on the sidewalk.

Biking in Hawaii
Image courtesy of http://www.justjared.com

Just as every city has a Master Plan for development, it is important to combine other plans including a parks and recreation plan, transportation plan, and non-motorized transportation plan. If a city has a plan in place it is easier to see which direction the city is headed, allowing for more funding opportunities to make projects a reality. As these types of plans will affect everyone in the community, public input is a valuable step in the process. Another specific type of plan the communities are beginning to include are bike plans.

The State of Hawaii enacted a Bike Plan in 2003. Citizen participation was key  to development of the plan, by holding public input meetings, workshops, and surveys. Important stakeholders, such as bike groups, schools, and other community action groups, were invited to give specific input for the plan. The plan deals with issues such as bike facilities, public education on bicycling, construction of new bike lanes, bike maps, connectivity and more. A bike plan is a great way for a city to evaluate needs of bikers and make plans for the future. In cities where traffic congestion is an issue, offering an alternate safe biking routes may help to ease congestion.

If we spend more money building more roads the only outcome will be more traffic, so why not spend the money to create biking infrastructure which can reduce traffic and make all of our lives easier.