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Maybe you saw today's LJW editorial that called food garden space
"silliness". Here it is - <a
href="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%7C637011706273637053&sdata=Xq16pT6aXlPqoma%2BZfTcQFtv%2BZTj%2B0VIZtKD6ktJL4c%3D&reserved=0" originalSrc="https://www2.ljworld.com/opinion/editorials/2019/aug/11/editorial-lawrences-big-gamble-that-could-increase-the-price-of-every-home/" shash="yGmEnXu+MO40WJioSX1dHbYuzKvfH+cZenWGerOqPwaaH6sSV3jDLwHABKuGxF4/FfYCDr4LuPGZgAf8qc2ghIRjIPgmnylq3pBN3/Ea/ctIM+BFgEaqmlZeY0RVks6K0Q3Jeh1VEm5sFTNskVAbYvNP32YA0MzOuda9x/5N3KI=">Editorial:
Lawrence’s big gamble that could increase the price of every home</a>.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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".<br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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 - <a
href="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%7C637011706273647046&sdata=qNEEqonrTTePze%2BOnL3RLJ2rtc%2Bl5rCCa7iWtM9R5Rk%3D&reserved=0" originalSrc="https://www.valuepenguin.com/average-household-budget" shash="WKuUycuNF7Q55Zo2Q0nycGko8xtWbzIsklP7ToTGO13/bwoZWnqlpaUehpuFG39Hbp4cw0PoTuer/LQZXNVnEvJx91F4PnPrCgAWlpUDgW9wUVjgai/Cp27BcDEOmyS8wkzqTrOVlotCbJ1P2lUsnj1+URCNo7p2qDBY41nKpV8=">Average
Household Budget</a>.<br>
<br>
<u>But, for low income people</u>, the food percentage jumps to
16.1%. Here's the link - <a
href="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%7C637011706273647046&sdata=AZiiHvyq9ASjMI4bPlrxHO%2BFrsvwVGjEgUYnxWfwRUU%3D&reserved=0" originalSrc="https://pocketsense.com/average-cost-food-household-budget-1817.html" shash="E4O/orsqxNIjCM9hVG2hBUDtc5wZ2q+kLqRy853ThvDt23d6169p9K+RW/YVBy3yrcDYGKFMmi6wkKTRyrNbTU8NeHUV+U8X7KizCIMq7obi6Nb0z9iu45M3gtkMveOhzpmjAkbsJJcTnV4vi59URXLfkgwjzz+VFxPPrltmlxw=">The
Average Cost of Food in a Household Budget</a>. That's because
you can cut back on some things, but not on food.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
Michael Almon, permaculture gardener<br>
1311 Prairie Ave.
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