Environment170’s Weblog

I was intrigued by the way that Mr. Smith decided to approach and expand his business, Urban Green. By using the 3 permaculture ‘core ethics:’ care for the people, care for the earth, and fair share, Mr. Smith has built a food business based on sustainability and the “human connection.” I was impressed by Urban Green’s use of only personally grown food that was supplemented by farmers markets, and if needed vendors only within a 10 mile radius. Food distribution is an area of great concern for the sustainability of our environment, and Mr. Smith’s use of farmers markets shows us just one of the many possible solutions for that problem. Additionally, by buying specifically from farmers markets he is not only being more environmentally friendly, but is also stimulating the business for farmers in these farmers markets, helping to ensure that they stick around through the high competition prevalent in the food industry today. Though he does mention that the extensive use of farmers markets is something unique to California I think we need to work on spreading farmers markets around the US in areas where the climate and fertility permit. The land use solutions presented also appealed to me, particularly the usage of foreclosed homes as areas that could be made into edible gardens, at least until the real estate agencies were able to sell them to a new homeowner. Though Mr. Smith did acknowledge that he’s experienced some issues with the complaints that it would be a waste or urban land, I find conversely that the idea is an incredibly creative solution to a growing land-availability issue as well as the problems of what to do with the mass quantities of foreclosed homes. Similarly, the use of rooftops and state parks helps to increase available, usable land without the need to create more space in this extremely urbanized environment. Overall, I was impressed by the steps Mr. Smith has made to create a sustainable, green business and in the additional ‘green work’ he has done through the nonprofits he couples with as well as his work with using architectural devices, such as the prefab homes. With even the packaging of his products being compostable (banana and tea leaves) he is exemplifying what the next step is for many businesses to be more environmentally friendly. If more businessmen approached their businesses in similar ways to Mr. Smith we would be working more efficiently toward a green economy.

Sarah Y