From: rls900@netspy.anu.edu.au (Richard Siggs)
Newsgroups: misc.rural
Subject: Re: Community Supported Agriculture
Date: 13 Oct 92 04:21:26 GMT
Organization: Australian National University
NNTP-Posting-Host: 150.203.4.31

gil@Gilsys.DIALix.oz.au (Gil Hardwick) writes:
>In article <1992Oct9.193732.3785@samba.oit.unc.edu> london@calypso.uucp writes:

> > A current hot topic here is community supported agriculture.  Do any of you
> > know where I can find published material on this phenomenon?

	The Permaculture International Journal, May 1989 has an article about
community gardens, however, the details of the article have long left my mind
so I'll post again tomorrow about it. However, this is a topic close to my
heart, as you'll gather from this post..

>I have a research program currently queued for for the 1993/94 R&D
>budget period entitled, "An Ethnographic Survey of the Community Base
>of Rural Production in Western Australia".

	I'm currently involved in establishing a small (2 acre) community
garden through Friends of the Earth, Snowy Mountains (in south-east New South
Wales, Australia.. for those not 'down under') in the town of Cooma, NSW 
(approx. 110kms south of the national capital, Canberra).

	The land for the gardens has been donated for 4 years (so far) by a
local family and so far 4 local small businesses have given seeds &/or viable
plants to the gardens. We've got the cooperation of the local high school
through interested individual teachers bringing classes out to the gardens for
activities ranging from RiverWatch (a state-wide program being run by schools
to monitor the water quality of local rivers) through to "hands on" digging &
planting to begin the long task of establishing the gardens.

	The project has only been running for 6 months & still relies of the
continuing energies of a core of people to keep it going, but we're finding
more and more favourable & eager people interested in growing food & gardens
in a community context.

>Yes, it is a "hot topic" at the moment; for many of us who have been
>working in this field for so many years finally the window of interest
>in our work is opening. Well, better late than never. Any articles or
>references you can send me would be very welcome indeed, and further
>discussion on the net with others I would actively encourage.

	I agree. I'm particularly interested in how individual wishes are met
by the community garden as a whole. In regard to people who wish to have "their
own plot" in the garden as opposed to general garden beds. In our situation, 
we have set aside a small area for individual beds, with much of the 2 acre
block being general use within an overall flexible plan for the block which
already has an established orchard area of 30 fruit trees forming a canopy and
cultivation of various species under these trees.

>Please, let us try to network on this also. I am very happy to
>establish a mailing list as well, since I am (honorary) consulting
>anthropologist to the Land Management Society and the Greenhouse
>Village Project here in W.A. We have many people here literally
>starving for information and support following such massive social
>breakdown and rural depopulation during the past 10-15 years.

	A mailing list would be great! Put me on it for sure..

	We've found (when I say 'we' I do mean FOE Snow & our involvement in 
this community garden concept) that there is a great deal of concern in the
small rural town community as to what is happening to social structure of these
towns.. The gradual suburban trend and dying neighbour relations has decimated
what I can only call "community spirit" - Dog Eat Dog simply doesn't work in
such small towns.

>Enquiries have also come into us here from South Africa, concerned
>with the post-apartheid/post-industrial rehabilitation of the rural
>populations from fringe townships. They are still cut off from their
>neighbours and are looking to Australia as a clearing house for
>information . . .

	This also interests me, through my 'real' work as a Permaculture
designer and teacher I know of many other highly qualified people who travel
overseas & teach communities sustainable attitudes.. I would if I could, but
I'm young, my mortgage for my co-owned farm has 2 years to go & I must continue
to earn a salary until then. sigh.. chained to the grindstone yet :-)

>Please help, anyone who can.

>Gil

>--
>Gil Hardwick                                      gil@Gilsys.DIALix.oz.au
>Independent Consulting Ethnologist                            3:690/660.6
>PERTH, Western Australia                                 (+61 9) 399 2401
>   * * Sustainable Community Development & Environmental Education * *
-- 
Richard.Siggs@cscgpo.anu.edu.au
Australian National University, Computer Services Centre
"Hey, I'm just glad you guys pay me to do this!"