The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (Full Version)

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DarkSteven -> The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 4:57:02 PM)

I just don't get it.

It's tough to make it as a farmer.  People whose families have been farming for generations get foreclosed on every month.  The classic farming model has the farmer use the land as collateral to buy feed, fertilizers, and other things that get consumed as he produces.  Then he sells his produce and pays off the loan.

So why would the idea of converting urban areas to farmland make sense?  I haven't heard of anyone involved who has actual experience with farming.  Nor do I know where the upfront money would come from - I can't imagine the banks that foreclose on Detroit properties right and left suddenly making loans once the areas has "FARM" stamped on them, especially with no record of production.

To be honest, this whole thing makes no sense to me.

Does anyone here believe in it, and could they explain why it could work?



auditguy -> RE: The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 5:01:47 PM)

Only if it is a corporate farm run by ADM, then it might make a profit in that toxic wasteland.



ThatDaveGuy69 -> RE: The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 5:06:15 PM)

The phrase "farm subsidy" comes to mind.

~Dave



thishereboi -> RE: The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 5:56:49 PM)

I don't understand it. They had a map in the Free Press, outlining the area's that they want to convert. While I agree that the abandoned houses are a problem, there is also a lot of families still living there. Where are they supposed to go?



pahunkboy -> RE: The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 5:57:25 PM)

What is the other choice?   It would be better then burned out house shells.



Vendaval -> RE: The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 6:35:30 PM)

I don't think converting the abandoned homes into farmland would be very productive. Why not build low-income housing for all the people who are living in substandard housing or the streets?



popeye1250 -> RE: The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 6:41:37 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Vendaval

I don't think converting the abandoned homes into farmland would be very productive. Why not build low-income housing for all the people who are living in substandard housing or the streets?


Ven, ok but who's going to pay for it?



pahunkboy -> RE: The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 6:50:01 PM)

No one wants to live there.

the abandoned steel mills of Gary IN were not pretty-



Vendaval -> RE: The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 6:54:26 PM)

How about the banks that own the loans? How many of those same banks received Federal bail-outs?



popeye1250 -> RE: The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 6:57:40 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Vendaval

How about the banks that own the loans? How many of those same banks received Federal bail-outs?


Ven, cool, as long as they leave us Taxpayers out of it.



Vendaval -> RE: The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 6:58:54 PM)

Leave us out of it? Hell, our money already bailed out the bankers! [sm=ballchain.gif]



Brain -> RE: The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 7:08:48 PM)

Someone wrote a book recently about the cost of transportation going so high that no matter how cheap they can manufacture something in China it would not matter. They said it will not matter how cheap the cost of labor is in China because of very expensive transportation costs with increasing energy prices. He went on to explain manufacturing will bounce back in previous places like Detroit or Pittsburgh. I think he's right but I'm not sure exactly when it will happen.



popeye1250 -> RE: The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 7:20:35 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brain

Someone wrote a book recently about the cost of transportation going so high that no matter how cheap they can manufacture something in China it would not matter. They said it will not matter how cheap the cost of labor is in China because of very expensive transportation costs with increasing energy prices. He went on to explain manufacturing will bounce back in previous places like Detroit or Pittsburgh. I think he's right but I'm not sure exactly when it will happen.


That won't happen for a hundred years. The world is awash in oil.
Funny, Dr Michael Savage was talking about Greece tonight and he said a lot of people will have to go back to living like their grandparents.
One car instead of four, one house instead of two or three, less "stuff."



thishereboi -> RE: The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 7:23:59 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brain

Someone wrote a book recently about the cost of transportation going so high that no matter how cheap they can manufacture something in China it would not matter. They said it will not matter how cheap the cost of labor is in China because of very expensive transportation costs with increasing energy prices. He went on to explain manufacturing will bounce back in previous places like Detroit or Pittsburgh. I think he's right but I'm not sure exactly when it will happen.


Wow, that's really great brain. I'll go let the unemployed of Detroit know they can stop worrying because someone wrote a book saying it will all be ok. I am sure the fact that you think he is right will be a great comfort to them.



popeye1250 -> RE: The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 7:27:49 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: thishereboi

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brain

Someone wrote a book recently about the cost of transportation going so high that no matter how cheap they can manufacture something in China it would not matter. They said it will not matter how cheap the cost of labor is in China because of very expensive transportation costs with increasing energy prices. He went on to explain manufacturing will bounce back in previous places like Detroit or Pittsburgh. I think he's right but I'm not sure exactly when it will happen.


Wow, that's really great brain. I'll go let the unemployed of Detroit know they can stop worrying because someone wrote a book saying it will all be ok. I am sure the fact that you think he is right will be a great comfort to them.



Boi, they can name a street after him, "Brain Damage Avenue."



auditguy -> RE: The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 7:28:36 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: popeye1250

That won't happen for a hundred years. The world is awash in oil.


Not sure about the world, but the Gulf is literally awash in oil.  Ohh, man that was too easy of a setup.

Although being serious for a moment biological origins of oil are a bunch of BS, except for maybe a few thousand barrels here and there.  Abiogenic oil is where it is at. 



popeye1250 -> RE: The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 7:34:33 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: auditguy

quote:

ORIGINAL: popeye1250

That won't happen for a hundred years. The world is awash in oil.


Not sure about the world, but the Gulf is literally awash in oil.  Ohh, man that was too easy of a setup.

Although being serious for a moment biological origins of oil are a bunch of BS, except for maybe a few thousand barrels here and there.  Abiogenic oil is where it is at. 


Audit, there were two enourmous discoveries off the coast of Brazil last year, one about the size of the Eastern U.S.
And Russia has untold reserves!



BoiJen -> RE: The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 8:02:18 PM)

Ok...I'll confess...I'm a big fan of urban farming. Currently, there are already 13 large plots of multiple vacant lots being used for urban farming in Detroit.

In fact, before we left, MsKitty and I had a chance to talk with Taja Sevelle of urbanfarming.org about this type of project. It's been successful on small levels in major cities including Detroit, Atlanta, and LA. Most often, the land used hasn't gone to bank, rather it's gone to the county for non-payment of taxes. And Wayne County is so over burdened right now, they simply don't have the man power or will to force out productive use of any land in Detroit. In fact, they're just pretty happy not to have worry about burning buildings on those plots.

The UrbanFarming project is a little different than incorporating a small farm in that it's community run and the food is free to the community.

Elsewhere in the nation, successful urban farmers get together for inner city and neighborhood farmers' markets.

One successful urban farmer of Detroit was featured telling a brief bit about his story in the recent documentary Requiem for Detroit, which I highly recommend seeing. Anyone attached to the city of Detroit emotionally will likely need some tissues and something to hit. The farmer featured is simply looking to prove that a person can live and live well off of an acre of land. He states that he is currently making about $500/wk at different markets and saving money by not having to shop for his own produce or being able to barter with different farmers.

As far as city implementation of such a project, I'm unsure, but I would love to see the details behind some of these ideas.

Having done only a tiny bit of personal gardening, the soil in Detroit is astoundingly productive for growing produce. We were quite surprised by the gigantic zucchini we got two years in a row and practically had to give away tomatoes both years as well. So I see no reason as to why someone else couldn't expand upon this idea and be very successful.

farmer boi

PS. Taja...smokin hot. Just sayin....



TheHeretic -> RE: The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 8:04:49 PM)

Well, it depends on what sort of "farms" they are talking about. In terms of families making a living off the land, probably not. If, on the other hand, they are going to rezone to allow God-awful wealthy people to have their McMansions, and horses, and kennels, and hobby gardens, and big garages full of toys, quick and convenient to an urban center, it could pay off handsomely.



BoiJen -> RE: The idea of turning Detroit into farmland... (5/7/2010 8:06:51 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

Well, it depends on what sort of "farms" they are talking about. In terms of families making a living off the land, probably not. If, on the other hand, they are going to rezone to allow God-awful wealthy people to have their McMansions, and horses, and kennels, and hobby gardens, and big garages full of toys, quick and convenient to an urban center, it could pay off handsomely.


HAHAHAHA!!!!!

Dude I about pissed my pants reading that. When was the last time you drove through Detroit? I mean seriously?



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