[Electronic-lan] Great. Food garden space is now considered "silliness"

[Paradigm Design]

Maybe you saw today's LJW editorial that called food garden space 
"silliness".  Here it is - Editorial: Lawrence’s big gamble that could 
increase the price of every home 
<https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.ljworld.com%2Fopinion%2Feditorials%2F2019%2Faug%2F11%2Feditorial-lawrences-big-gamble-that-could-increase-the-price-of-every-home%2F&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C5a92f6e90d29460b5ab808d71ec59511%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C1%7C637011706273597072&sdata=rQ7gii8waENtwHYYivgxFvc9UnfLYAp7zVn5LN20a0U%3D&reserved=0>.

The editorial was about the Brook Creek Neighborhood objections to a 
zoning change that would create lots too small for food gardens. The 
purpose of the zoning change is for affordable homes.  We have no 
objection to affordability, and have supported it for years.  But we do 
object to excessively small lots, for a number of reasons.

First of all, it's food gardens we're talking about, not flower 
gardens.  The LJW author distorted it by saying "home garden space", 
even though our letter to the City Commission clearly stated "food 
garden space".

Food security is the real concern we're fighting for here.  In terms of 
land use and lot size, that translates to space to grow food - 
significant space to grow a meaningful amount of food.  And urban 
agriculture is more than just vegetables.  The urban ag code we fought 
for 5 years ago also allows chickens, ducks, goats, sheep, and 
honeybees.  These take room.

Food insecurity is of major concern in our low-mod income 
neighborhoods.  According to the Douglas County Food Policy Council 
report (attached USDA map and data), Brook Creek is in a food desert, 
meaning 42.4% of people in our neighborhood lack adequate access to 
fresh healthy food.

If anyone should have the ability to grow their own food, it's our east 
side neighborhoods.  This is a huge social justice issue. Bureau of 
Labor Statistics data says that food is one of the biggest parts of 
average household budgets at 10%, bigger than credit card debt, health 
care, clothes, and entertainment.  The other big ones are mortgage and 
property tax at 16%, transportation at 14%, income tax at 12%, and 
utilities at 11%.  Here's the link - Average Household Budget 
<https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.valuepenguin.com%2Faverage-household-budget&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C5a92f6e90d29460b5ab808d71ec59511%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C1%7C637011706273597072&sdata=kNlxDgFu5UzVOhuzIGibXFgjX08ZyVgVL%2BrhR93dPvY%3D&reserved=0>.

_But, for low income people_, the food percentage jumps to 16.1%.  
Here's the link - The Average Cost of Food in a Household Budget 
<https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpocketsense.com%2Faverage-cost-food-household-budget-1817.html&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C5a92f6e90d29460b5ab808d71ec59511%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C1%7C637011706273597072&sdata=lFMaGt2QYoQPBEskoJXww0xjfzTdcs%2BGXB05nkgC8EQ%3D&reserved=0>.  
That's because you can cut back on some things, but not on food.

Another way to describe what we're talking about is "non-impervious 
surface", or open land free of pavement and roofs.  THAT is the heart of 
the density issue.  Tiny lots crowd the buildings and pavement too close 
to each other, so they cover most of the land. Neighborhoods need large 
enough lots, to allow for outside storage and for play equipment and for 
three trash carts, etc. Neighborhoods need large enough lots, to allow 
storm water to sink in rather than run off and flood neighbors.  
Neighborhoods need large enough lots, for meaningful urban food 
production.  Food on our plate is as important as a roof over our 
heads.  We can't sacrifice one for the other.

Michael Almon, permaculture gardener
1311 Prairie Ave.
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