Friday 29 October 2010
Where did it all go wrong? "With Social Housing"
Friday, October 29, 2010 | 
Posted by
Unknown
This is an area and subject that intrigues me, inspires me towards making a meaningful and phenomenal difference in lasting sustainable legacy terms. Plus the need and necessity for change and to provoke enormous amounts of thought and contemplation on where did it all go wrong? An interesting parallel and comparison is Cuba and our allotment gardening culture, which has now been lost. Plus the role that modern architecture and urbanisation can vitally play in revitalising and invigorating social and "flourishing relationships" within communities that orchestrate and define healthy relationships that are built on a foundation of secure attachment and interaction between each other.
How did Cuba, a small island nation of 11,000,000 people, struggling with issues of poverty, the U.S. embargo, and devastating annual hurricanes, achieve this extraordinary distinction? And what can environmentalists in the World learn from Cuba's struggles and successes? Quite allot in actual fact, enormous amounts of knowledge and experience but the opportunity for imaginative creative ideas from their experiences, out of necessity they adapted, changed and reapplied old values and core self sufficiency principles. To encourage small scale food production in urban areas, the government gave unused land to anyone who wanted to cultivate it. Havana, with a fifth of the island's population, was a priority area for urban food production.
Cuba models, for the rest of the world, the possibility of obtaining a high quality of life, on a relatively small national budget, while utilising low levels of the planet's limited resources. This tiny island nation is showing us a possible way to live simply, healthfully, and sustainably on the Earth, whilst communicating, interacting and connecting with those around us within the residency and communities that we live, work and play in. Sadly over periods of time, the play aspect and interconnect, working together scenario has been lost by a whole multitude of simple reasons, through segregation and division, plus dependency on necessities outwith our communities.
Perhaps we need a renaissance in allotment culture, out of the box architecture and radical reforms in urbanisation, plus master planning attitudes, behaviour and realisation. Emphasise that this relationship with planting the seed, reaping a combined harvest and looking after our own purses, we can care for our country's till and the combined public purse through this necessary practicality of aspects and situations that involve the actual doing or experience of something rather than theories or ideas. The practice behind the theory has been proved not only by the Cuban experience but also pre and post War again out of urgent need, with our own struggles and successes, through ultimate necessity. During this era this type of lifestyle and attitude was not considered to be peasant like or merely just working class type behaviour and practices. It was vitally essential throughout all classes, if one wanted to feed oneself and your family, plus friends.
During these post tsunami "Global Financial Meltdown" extremely testing, plus demanding times "State Support & Benefits" strains and exasperated financial pressures. We need to reattain realisation of old values and principles. If it's fashionable and desirable for a whole mixture of social and class reasons, whether it be enthralling, enamouring, plus impressing ones guests at a dinner party. The traceability or locally sourced aspect of ones produce appertaining or contributed or influenced towards ones gourmet delights, the general attitude and behaviour, plus culture has changed through knowledge and education through a more informed and aware general public. Knowledge through education and awareness concerning organic produce verses increased awareness of environmental damage caused by intensive agricultural techniques has exploded, however governments, councils, local planners have not grasped this very basic or meaningful principle and value.
Then surely with an evident change in attitudes and behaviour primarily influenced by the likes of Jamie Oliver cooking at home, harvesting produce and ingredients from his own organic garden, whilst being filmed on camera to the captivated nation, whipping up yet some more gourmet and delicious nosh. Or those of privilege and wealth attaining the ability towards dinning at the likes of Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons by Raymond Blanc's two-Michelin starred Chef. Who emphasises and elaborates on the attributes and contribution in gastronomic and fine dinning terms via his vegetable and herb gardens that provide the kitchen with ultra-fresh, and often exotic, produce that helps keep the kitchens at the cutting edge of taste.
Then surely if these props, aids, or centre pieces, even show pieces are major influencing factors in educating us, even enlightening us but more so and importantly emphasising from a health and well-being perspective, with total self sufficiency and sustainability core attributes and values. Why is it that communal gardens, allotment garden, urban agriculture via architecture, urbanisation and design, plus master planning are not core or the hub "Ultimately the Heart Beat" of all social housing schemes? Historically they were our necessary artery and vibrant pulse. Now removed or pulse rate fading out? Presently not explored or inspired to be attained and achieved in the future for a whole variety of unexplainable reasons? As they offer an infinite amount of values and principles of health, wealth and well-being, plus sustainability "creating opportunity, choice and independence". Ultimately creating an easing of the current "State Support & Benefits Sabbatical" being witnessed via it's unsustainable and illogical attributes. Which would be an excellent way to have a break without worrying about getting a job, if you cant afford the luxury of going back to work, i.e. Disabled war veteran, invalidity, incapacity through mental health issues etc but what a fantastic way for residents to contribute, interact, connect through "flourishing communities and blossoming relationships".
Put quite simply "Spirit" if such a social housing community existed, totally self sufficient and sustainable with urban agriculture at it's core. "Intertwined with my constant mantra of cleantech/renewables" attributes as well. Which would be the pulse and heart beat of the community, would it be that everybody might perhaps wish and aspire to move there themselves? Or the interdependence and necessity of the "State Support & Benefits" would be void and invalid. Certainly long-term irrespective of initial capital cost, I am fairly sure and confident it wouldn't bankrupt the country by subsidising those less fortunate than ourselves in the long run!!!
Further more, could urban agriculture become the new fashionable and desirable purchase at your next farmers market? Now that would be something to apsire towards!
Hippie commune or practical economical sustainable model of logic, for socially disadvantaged?
How did Cuba, a small island nation of 11,000,000 people, struggling with issues of poverty, the U.S. embargo, and devastating annual hurricanes, achieve this extraordinary distinction? And what can environmentalists in the World learn from Cuba's struggles and successes? Quite allot in actual fact, enormous amounts of knowledge and experience but the opportunity for imaginative creative ideas from their experiences, out of necessity they adapted, changed and reapplied old values and core self sufficiency principles. To encourage small scale food production in urban areas, the government gave unused land to anyone who wanted to cultivate it. Havana, with a fifth of the island's population, was a priority area for urban food production.
Cuba models, for the rest of the world, the possibility of obtaining a high quality of life, on a relatively small national budget, while utilising low levels of the planet's limited resources. This tiny island nation is showing us a possible way to live simply, healthfully, and sustainably on the Earth, whilst communicating, interacting and connecting with those around us within the residency and communities that we live, work and play in. Sadly over periods of time, the play aspect and interconnect, working together scenario has been lost by a whole multitude of simple reasons, through segregation and division, plus dependency on necessities outwith our communities.
Perhaps we need a renaissance in allotment culture, out of the box architecture and radical reforms in urbanisation, plus master planning attitudes, behaviour and realisation. Emphasise that this relationship with planting the seed, reaping a combined harvest and looking after our own purses, we can care for our country's till and the combined public purse through this necessary practicality of aspects and situations that involve the actual doing or experience of something rather than theories or ideas. The practice behind the theory has been proved not only by the Cuban experience but also pre and post War again out of urgent need, with our own struggles and successes, through ultimate necessity. During this era this type of lifestyle and attitude was not considered to be peasant like or merely just working class type behaviour and practices. It was vitally essential throughout all classes, if one wanted to feed oneself and your family, plus friends.
During these post tsunami "Global Financial Meltdown" extremely testing, plus demanding times "State Support & Benefits" strains and exasperated financial pressures. We need to reattain realisation of old values and principles. If it's fashionable and desirable for a whole mixture of social and class reasons, whether it be enthralling, enamouring, plus impressing ones guests at a dinner party. The traceability or locally sourced aspect of ones produce appertaining or contributed or influenced towards ones gourmet delights, the general attitude and behaviour, plus culture has changed through knowledge and education through a more informed and aware general public. Knowledge through education and awareness concerning organic produce verses increased awareness of environmental damage caused by intensive agricultural techniques has exploded, however governments, councils, local planners have not grasped this very basic or meaningful principle and value.
Then surely with an evident change in attitudes and behaviour primarily influenced by the likes of Jamie Oliver cooking at home, harvesting produce and ingredients from his own organic garden, whilst being filmed on camera to the captivated nation, whipping up yet some more gourmet and delicious nosh. Or those of privilege and wealth attaining the ability towards dinning at the likes of Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons by Raymond Blanc's two-Michelin starred Chef. Who emphasises and elaborates on the attributes and contribution in gastronomic and fine dinning terms via his vegetable and herb gardens that provide the kitchen with ultra-fresh, and often exotic, produce that helps keep the kitchens at the cutting edge of taste.
I quote from the garden to the plate l'art de vivre du manoir du jardin à l’assiette “Timperley Early” Rhubarb “Muscat de Provence” Pumpkin “east indian” lemon grass globe artichoke “cynara scolymus “Even as a child I understood – from my work in the gardento the taste of the food my mother prepared – that life is rooted in the changing seasons. My vision of Le Manoir is based on this, a place of joy, in sustainable harmony with its surroundings, and complete deliciousness.”
Then surely if these props, aids, or centre pieces, even show pieces are major influencing factors in educating us, even enlightening us but more so and importantly emphasising from a health and well-being perspective, with total self sufficiency and sustainability core attributes and values. Why is it that communal gardens, allotment garden, urban agriculture via architecture, urbanisation and design, plus master planning are not core or the hub "Ultimately the Heart Beat" of all social housing schemes? Historically they were our necessary artery and vibrant pulse. Now removed or pulse rate fading out? Presently not explored or inspired to be attained and achieved in the future for a whole variety of unexplainable reasons? As they offer an infinite amount of values and principles of health, wealth and well-being, plus sustainability "creating opportunity, choice and independence". Ultimately creating an easing of the current "State Support & Benefits Sabbatical" being witnessed via it's unsustainable and illogical attributes. Which would be an excellent way to have a break without worrying about getting a job, if you cant afford the luxury of going back to work, i.e. Disabled war veteran, invalidity, incapacity through mental health issues etc but what a fantastic way for residents to contribute, interact, connect through "flourishing communities and blossoming relationships".
Put quite simply "Spirit" if such a social housing community existed, totally self sufficient and sustainable with urban agriculture at it's core. "Intertwined with my constant mantra of cleantech/renewables" attributes as well. Which would be the pulse and heart beat of the community, would it be that everybody might perhaps wish and aspire to move there themselves? Or the interdependence and necessity of the "State Support & Benefits" would be void and invalid. Certainly long-term irrespective of initial capital cost, I am fairly sure and confident it wouldn't bankrupt the country by subsidising those less fortunate than ourselves in the long run!!!
Further more, could urban agriculture become the new fashionable and desirable purchase at your next farmers market? Now that would be something to apsire towards!
Hippie commune or practical economical sustainable model of logic, for socially disadvantaged?
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