Thursday, August 12, 2010
Silliness
I keep running across pieces saying that urban farming can "save" Detroit. Agriculture makes up 1.3 percent of GDP for the United States, and there is a reason why it doesn't take place in cities--it is a low intensity land use. If Detroit really reverts to farming, it will only show that its economy really is gone forever.
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Depends upon what you mean by "save". Save economically, obviously not.
On the other hand, save aesthetically, maybe. Vast stretches of vacant lots, trash, collapsing buildings, and ailanthus are a lot less appealing than stretches of fruit trees and vegetables. I don't think there is much doubt that there are large parts of Detroit that would be much improved by some agricultural use, as otherwise they have no use.
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