Urban Permaculture:
Design an Abundant Future
for AllKevin Bayuk
Sept. 2009
Presentation Objectives
What is Urban Permaculture?
What are common urban techniques and strategies?
A little insight, a little inspiration
A little laughter and fun
What did you bring with you?
- Mark Henson
What is Urban? urbanized area denotes an urban
area of 50,000 The US Census Bureau defines an
urban area as: "Core census block groups that have a population density of at least 1,000 people per square mile (386 per square kilometer)
About 70% of the population of the United States lives within the boundaries of urbanized area (210 out of 300 million).
Combined, these areas occupy about 2% of the United States. The majority of urbanized area residents are suburbanites; core central city* residents make up about 30%
of the urbanized area population (about 60 out of 210 million).
50% + global humans – homo sapiens urbanis
What is Urban?
DENSITY: SQUARE MILE UA PD Core Suburban % Dif. Cases
Australia & New Zealand 3,600 6,000 3,000 50% 6Canada 4,600 11,500 3,600 31% 6Japan 12,000 22,100 7,300 33% 8United States 3,100 7,700 2,700 35% 31Western Europe 8,100 18,800 6,200 33% 41. Outside United Kingdom 7,700 20,200 5,300 26% 35. United Kingdom 10,800 10,900 11,900 109% 6Overall 6,300 14,000 4,700 34% 92
Urbanize at What Scale?
Context is crucial Declining energy
production Commute GHGs Social justice implications Mass transit options “Smart growth” vs.
“Degrowrth”
Problem is the Solution?
Cities draw in and accumulate resources
Cities are walkable Microclimates Can we decentralize and
localize needs production?
Assessment
Site history Reading the landscape
and the resources What is in abundance in
the city? Importance of invisible
structures
All Forms
Temporary
Light?
Food
6 Month Transition6 Month Transition Wean off packaged foods
Farmers markets and/or CSA Bulk from cooperative grocers
Begin to seek out space to grow your own
Research nutrition Assess diet Basic gardening training
GFE Basic cookery training
Try baking or fermenting or …. 50% + meals at home
Water
6 Month Transition6 Month Transition Monitor and measure current
water usage by month Implement basic conservation
Low flow shower heads Mellow yellow Bulk to toilet tank Check for all leaks Dishwashing basins Wash clothes less 5 gallon bucket in shower
Source food from local soil building farms
Downspout diversion
Energy 6 Month Transition6 Month Transition Monitor and measure current
kwh and/or therms use Basic conservation
LED or CFL bulbs Plug strip habit Fill refrigerator with water
containers Launder cold Solar clothes drying
Examine insulation/leaks Move from car to bike or public
transit for 75% of trips Research car sharing
Research moving closer to workplace
Eat more raw, fresh food
Shelter and Material
6 Month Transition6 Month Transition Monitor and measure “trash” and
recycling Research basic composting Remove toxins from household
Cleaners, paints, etc. Bring plants inside to clean the air
Create space in shelter by giving “stuff” away
Consume less Accumulate less
Thrift Retrofit with reused materials (e.g.,
Building Resources) Begin to research natural building
techniques and materials options Begin to research crafts/hobbies
Shelter and Material
12 Month Transition12 Month Transition Focus purchases of material
from Reused or recycled or “waste”
materials Locally offered goods and
services Support worker owned coops
Try to eliminate packaging Use libraries or create your
own library for sharing media with your community
Set up vermi-composting and/or other composting as appropriate
Research cooperative housing and become member of community land trust
Community and Economy
6 Month Transition6 Month Transition Self inquiry – right livelihood ID reference points Host a potluck at appropriate
scale Begin planning street closure
event ID local neighborhood
organizations and attend meeting Begin to explore NVC or similar
training Consume less Reduce all expenditures if possible
BioFuel
Weed Wackers
Waste?
Focus on the Kitchen
City Scale
Good Fences Make...
Backyard Orchard Culture
Compost Systems
Use & Value Diversity
Use Edges & Value the Marginal
HVF
Sidewalks
www.plantsf.org
Decentralize - E.g., Food
Use of Space
Urban Food Forests?
Backyard: Before
After
F U E L (e.g.)
How Many?
Backyards?
www.sfvictorygardens.org
Unaccepted Streets
www.sfpt.org
HVF
Animals
Water
Source to Sink
Passive Solar Design
Community and Economy
Community and Economy
Transitioning Urban StrategiesTransitioning Urban Strategies Join Timebank
http://timebank.sfbace.org/ Meet with reference points,
mentors and others for livelihood guidance
Host a regular, periodic potluck File block party application and go
door-to-door on block Create blog for block with asset and
skills inventory (under guise of disaster planning)
Join board of local neighborhood group
Support localization initiatives Practice NVC
Transitioning Urban StrategiesTransitioning Urban Strategies Join Timebank
http://timebank.sfbace.org/ Meet with reference points,
mentors and others for livelihood guidance
Host a regular, periodic potluck File block party application and go
door-to-door on block Create blog for block with asset and
skills inventory (under guise of disaster planning)
Join board of local neighborhood group
Support localization initiatives Practice NVC
Community and Economy
Evolving Urban StrategiesEvolving Urban Strategies Organize urban ecovillage
resource share Form worker owned cooperative or
independent cottage craft “career” Work in and from your “village”
owned in trust Evolve neighborhood group to seek
autonomy Advocate for municipal
decentralization Initiate service projects in your
neighborhood with your community to provide support for those requesting help
Practice NVC and CELEBRATE!
An Ecotopian Vision
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