Urban Farming

[TrailerParkJawa]

Originally Posted by Webstral

Water is another critical issue. After the TDM, electricity for pumping water will be out right across the country. People and crops need water, and they can’t go without it for very long. I have a bad habit of letting two or three days go by without watering my container tomatoes. The rainy season hasn’t started in California, so the only water those tomatoes are going to get comes from my hose. What would I do if the water were out? The same applies to everything in my garden. In cities that get rain year-round, such as those cities east of the 100th Meridian, it may be possible to rely on a combination of rainfall and improvised cisterns. Throughout much of the American West, however, rainfall is both seasonal and scanty. The more the solution to acquiring water in these places depends on civil order, planning, cooperation, etc., the less likely the solution is to be executed. Albuquerque is in a much tougher spot than Cincinnati.

Webstral

For much of California is only rains between October and May at best. So a city like Sacramento that is next to a big river could have at least some access to water.

But where I'm at in North San Jose there is a creek like 1000ft away. But it tends to completely dry up this time of year. The Guadalupe is about 2 miles away but thats a long way for water unless things are fairly stable.

I see any urban farming as supplemental and not primary sources of agriculture. That not to say water can't be found, Silicon Valley used to have some of the best orchards in the world so the weather and soils are good. Its just how to get the water. They pumped alot of the ground water out in the early 1900's. In the 70's and 80's they contanimated alot of it. Now, its all paved over.

[mikeo80]

Originally Posted by TrailerParkJawa

For much of California is only rains between October and May at best. So a city like Sacramento that is next to a big river could have at least some access to water.

But where I'm at in North San Jose there is a creek like 1000ft away. But it tends to completely dry up this time of year. The Guadalupe is about 2 miles away but thats a long way for water unless things are fairly stable.

I see any urban farming as supplemental and not primary sources of agriculture. That not to say water can't be found, Silicon Valley used to have some of the best orchards in the world so the weather and soils are good. Its just how to get the water. They pumped alot of the ground water out in the early 1900's. In the 70's and 80's they contanimated alot of it. Now, its all paved over.

Here in North Carolina, rain is more frequent. I can capture rain water from the roof.

AS far as surface water is concerned, there are several small streams and ponds within 2 -3 miles of the house. I agree with TPJ, 2 -3 miles is a LONG way if the surrounding area is not secure.

Urban farming is, at best, a survival technique. It is for those of us who live in a city, and do not want to/can not evacuate. I live in a relatively small city, Fayetteville, NC. And, on top of that, the area where I live are the "suburbs" of Fayetteville. My preference is to shelter in place. All of my "stuff" is here in the house. As we have discussed, if there is a nuke exchange ANYWHERE in the world, the massive panic here in the USA will result in mega casualties. I want to stay put. If at all possible.

Depending on the breaks, and also just how BIG WWIII gets to, Fayetteville might not catch a "present" from the other side of the world.

My $0.02

Mike

[Webstral]

Survival is the name of the game. Keeping as many people alive as possible is what it's all about in the years immediately following the Exchange. In the long run, Fort Huachuca is going to become a backwater again because the water needed for labor-effective agriculture just isn't available. In the meantime, though, intensive gardening-style agriculture can keep a lot of folks alive until local agriculture can start producing a sufficient surplus to release labor from the land to rebuild the economy.

[TrailerParkJawa]

Do you guys have an opinion on clearing urban areas for agriculture? It's easy to plant vegetables in front or backyards or in parks. But what about digging up asphalt? There is a a lot of very productive lands that are now paved over.

Without gasoline it seems to be this activity would take more a calories than could be recovered if clearing the asphalt by hand. What do u think?

[Capt_Bowman]

A well laid road is several feet thick of tarmac (base coat, wear coat) and levels of coarse and fine stone. You might also then have fuel / oil contamination of the underlying soil if the road is old and has been in use for years... that is assuming the bulk of the topsoil was not removed as part of the construction process.

I suspect you'd reclaim parks, gardens, median strips and the like before you started breaking up roads.

But that is just my view and based on UK roads.

[WallShadow]

I see a lot of container and possibly raised bed gardening at first, until the concrete is pulled up from the sidewalks. Hydroponics may be a good standby, if nutrients can be obtained.
I wonder if anyone has thought to raid the sewage treatment plants on Manhattan to haul away the processed, digested sewage sludge, which is used as a soil amendment. This could produce another rumor to the effect that the Duke's lost his freakin' mind: "...And they were willing to _pay_us to get that processed human _crap_! What the hell is the Duke gonna DO with that stuff???"

[Webstral]

Rabbit manure creates an acceptable hydroponic soup (I can’t remember the proper term off the top of my head). You put a quantity of the pills in water, shake it, and let the solution stand for a period of time. The water column then can be poured off and used to nourish plants hydroponically for several days. Lather, rinse, repeat as necessary. The beauty of this is that the bulk of rabbits’ diet is grass. You can turn vegetable matter unsuitable for human consumption into vegetable matter suitable for human consumption, as well as some meat and pelt. There is a labor component to gathering the grass for the rabbits. They also can heat a greenhouse, and they do nicely in temperatures down to freezing.

They also lick your nose, teach your children compassion, and provide your wife with an alternative outlet for her tirades.

[TrailerParkJawa]

Originally Posted by Capt_Bowman

A well laid road is several feet thick of tarmac (base coat, wear coat) and levels of coarse and fine stone. You might also then have fuel / oil contamination of the underlying soil if the road is old and has been in use for years... that is assuming the bulk of the topsoil was not removed as part of the construction process.

I suspect you'd reclaim parks, gardens, median strips and the like before you started breaking up roads.

But that is just my view and based on UK roads.

Intuitively I've always felt it would be easier to dig up parking lots or sidewalks. But I never thought of much about the depth of the concrete or the underlying structure. I would imagine that freeways like we have here int the States would just get left alone.

[Webstral]

I've always thought the Isolationists would be avid greenhouse types. With limited growing space (given the urban nature of Providence) but what seems to be an adequate supply of at least certain types of expertise, the Isolationists would construct as many greenhouses as possible. Unfortunately, given the separatist nature of the Isolationists, other New England survivors wouldn't be able to draw on their expertise.

[Legbreaker]

Originally Posted by TrailerParkJawa

Intuitively I've always felt it would be easier to dig up parking lots or sidewalks. But I never thought of much about the depth of the concrete or the underlying structure. I would imagine that freeways like we have here int the States would just get left alone.

I watched a small car park (about 50 car spaces) paved about a year ago. The foundation layers alone (packed gravel and sand) were nearly 5 feet thick, and this was only designed to take the weight of the average car and occasional small truck!