Slums of Detroit: A Look At The Heart of America’s 2nd Most Deserted City

[pamela]

This article is from the Breaking News Page on the site and I wondered if we could talk about it a bit.
When reading this article, I couldn't help but think of "what if?"
one comment in the comments section at the end struck me.

“One local church pastor recently said that the only way to save Highland Park is to pave the way for subsistence farming.”

You Americans are so lucky to have this oppertunity. That pastor hit the nail on the head. Dirt cheap land, services less than 10 mins bicycling away. And unlike other countries you are allowed to protect yourselves with guns. If i was a yank Detroit would be golden land of oppertunity and adventure you wouldn’t be able to keep me away from.
(I’m not being sarcastic, Billions around the world would give their kidneys for a chance like this)

what if an area like that could be reformed and remade into something better?
how would it be done?

just wondering about it and thought maybe we could talk about some of the things in that story.

[pamela]

something like this, this was linked in the comments section.

http://www.utne.com/Politics/Detroit-Urban-Farming-Paradise-5211.aspx

[Grower]

They could set up "homestead plots" and people could migrate there and try to make something of a life.

[pamela]

I like that idea Grower.
I think also that maybe they might consider either making the area "dry" or limiting the number of liquor stores.

[TheDignityofStruggle]

I think it's worth a shot, but there are a lot of hurdles. 

1. The large portion of uneducated poor who couldn't distinguish a carrot from a potato.
2. The tainted soil.
3. The oh so harsh Detroit winters.

[pamela]

good points Dignity.
I wonder if they did something like Grower's idea, of giving awarding homesteads to people with the stipulation that the land be worked in some way.
Maybe not all the soil it too damaged or the soil that is could be used for grasses or green manure crops and left to grow until the poisons were removed.
Maybe raised beds.
I think that the people that are interested, could be taught about gardening. If they showed an interest, that's the biggest step in learning, having an interest in learning.
the winters, not much can be done about that one!
I guess whenever I hear of a situation like what is talked about in that article, I just can't help but wonder what if?

[Grower]

I just had a student do a research paper on the pros and cons of urban farming. There are a lot of sources out there for that kind of thing. If you have time, there are crops that you can plant to leach out soil contaminants. You can build raised beds in the meantime on other areas, and just do it in sections.  Along with other ideas.

Right now would be ideal, since people don't have to live off them, necessarily.

A pipe dream, probably.

[TheDignityofStruggle]

I think they should definitely give it a shot.  Hurdles can be jumped so long as they are anticipated.  I mean, they aren't doing anything else, they might as well get busy farming.  Hell, bring in some animals too.  They should dedicate huge areas to this, if only so we can all enjoy the irony of a horse drawn plow working the fields of Detroit Motor City.

[pamela]

At this point, it looks like they have nothing to lose by giving it a shot.
but, they would have to do it in such a way that Big Money couldn't come in after it was all cleaned up and working, and take it away and start the madness all over again.

[Grower]

Ha! I agree, but if it became profitable, you can bet your sweet ass somebody will take it away and sell it back to them.

[TheDignityofStruggle]

Ha! I agree, but if it became profitable, you can bet your sweet ass somebody will take it away and sell it back to them.

Keep all the profits in their bellies.

[Chesyre]

people who are use to shuffling down to the mini mart with their EBT cards and getting their HFCS fix on, are not going to adapt very well to a you no work , you no eat community lifestyle.  /posits that detroit will burn to the ground lock stock and two smoking barrels before any subsistence farming lifestyles are able to get going.

[onemintomidnight]

Jesus what a sad story.

wonder how long before we see that in more metro areas.

really some sort of raised beds could be done but then how do you pay for the dirt in an area that has no money.

I would also comment on areas where whole blocks are already cleared of houses. leave them clear and let the community around it garden. or build one building for the whole block. or for several blocks.

[Chesyre]

as an aside how much of that shit is actually safe to grow food in ?  have some asbestos/lead/what ever the fuck decades of industrial fallout has put in the ground with your peas n carrots 

[pamela]

that's part of the problem Ches, getting the soil rebuilt.
what about just planting trees?
maybe let them go "wild" sort of.