To further the discussion about plastic bags and shopping in general, Patty over at Morning Ramble has been posting a bit about the demise of walking, a whole book was written about the rise of sprawl and its impact on the nation, and I just came across an article on Treehugger which bemoams the ever-increasing Suburban Sprawl:
Ten Things Wrong With Sprawl
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05. 7.07
Treehugger often says that cities are the most sustainable way to live. The converse is that suburban sprawl is probably the worst. Preston at Jetson Green points us to James M. McElfish of the Environmental Law Institute, who lists ten problems with sprawl:
1. Sprawl development contributes to a loss of support for public facilities and public menities.
2. Sprawl undermines effective maintenance of existing infrastructure.
3. Sprawl increases societal costs for transportation.
4. Sprawl consumes more resources than other development patterns.
5. Sprawl separates urban poor people from jobs.
6. Sprawl imposes a tax on time.
7. Sprawl degrades water and air quality.
8. Sprawl results in the permanent alteration and destruction of habitats.
9. Sprawl creates difficulty in maintaining community.
10. Sprawl offers the promise of choice while only delivering more of the same.
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So, what can we in Suburbia do about it? I have two commercial grocery stores within walking distance of my house, but it's not a comfortable walk and they are not the best shopping for organic, healthy foods. For that store I need to get into my car and drive. I so wish lived somewhere that I could walk to easily, pick up fresh items needed for that day, ala the "French way." Since I'm not in the position to move right now, are there other options? I'm open to thoughts and ideas, dear readers.
3 comments:
Well that's a subject I can't help with much. Suburbia is pretty foreign to me (though I lived in a suburb as a small child for a few years.) Have you read this blog: http://pathtofreedom.com/journal ?
Scroll down until you see some photos of their amazing yard... filled with raised beds for veggies and herbs and fruits. It is inspiring!
Suburbia is the name of our city, if you ask me! We have the largest city by acreage in the US. Our city covers some 600 square miles if all added up. It's ridiculous.
We don't have a grocery store closer than 3 miles away. It's very inconvenient and down-right exhausting to live in Suburbia.
In order to try and save gas, and the environment, one tip I use is that I rarely, if ever go out of the house on errands to less than one store. I try to fit in my grocery and errand stops on my way home from work since I am already in the car, and I try to pick somewhere relatively "on the way".
I'm not sure it helps any and our local transportation pretty much stinks - it would take me hours to get there and back if I used that method.
What have we done to ourselves and our earth in the name of sprawl?
Aisling, very cool blog, thanks so much! Lots to see & learn there, I'll definitely be spending some time perusing.
Grace, it is just so frustrating, isn't it? I hope that someday I can escape Suburbia but for now I have to make the best of it. I'm always open to suggestions, perhaps we can some up with some solutions?
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