Chico, Sustainable

Stay tuned. Chico, Sustainable hasn't disappeared. Its just that is a big, exciting world out there, and time on the blog-o-sphere has moved a bit lower on the priority.

So if you are ready this, here is my recommendation: Close the computer, go outside, breathe deep, and enjoy some summertime.

Cheers

Another slogan in the genre of nouveau gardening is the "vertical garden," the idea that you can trellis an entire buffet worth of fresh veggies on a plot of dirt the size of a kiddie pool, but extending 20' feet into the air. Melons, tomatoes, pumpkins and string beans droop off of this tower of healthfulness like a vegetarian's version of the candy room in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Or something like that.

My dream was a bit simpler: I envisioned a 10' x 10' wall of cucumbers, providing salad fodder while at the same time extending afternoon shade to an outdoor dining area.

After two attempts, I am now concluding that this does not work in Chico. At least not for cucumbers. Our afternoon sun, it seems, is too hot, and the vines stalled out in mid July after hitting about 4' in height. My "wall of foliage" droops in the heat like someone's sad attempt to tp my garden.

Don't get me wrong--I have had success with vertical gardening in Chico. For those that want to try it, I would suggest Armenian cucumber (a type of melon that is eaten like a cuc), trombetta di albenga summer squash, gourds, cherry tomatoes (just keep tying them to your trellis), and pole beans.

But leave the cucumbers on the horizontal.

The goal was corn, and one vendor was selling some healthy looking ears at last Tuesday's Enloe Farmer's Market. So I struck up what turned out to be a very brief conversation:

Do you spray your corn?

"No"

Then how do you keep the bugs from getting it?

"Well we do spray a little bit, but this corn has been tested, and it is 99.9% pesticide free."

At this point, I held my tongue, though in retrospect I regret not giving the farmer a piece of my mind. If he feels the need to spray chemicals on his corn, that's a bummer in my book. But (sadly) he has the right to do so.

However lying about it does piss me off.

A new farmer's market favorite: The Mickey Lee variety of watermelon. Cute, sweet, minimal seeds, and a diminutive $2 price tag for a dessert about the size of my 19 month-old daughter's head.

And what did she stuff into her head this evening? Mickey Lee watermelon.

This comes from a colleague of mine:

Tomorrow the Chico City Council is meeting Saturday from 8:30 to 2:30 PM) to discuss the economic element of the city's General Plan (see http://www.chicogeneralplan.com/docs/general%20plan%20public%20draft/Sections/7.%20Economic%20Development%20Element.pdf).

There seems to be a complete disconnect between this element and the sustainability element discussed in an earlier meeting. Nowhere in this part of the plan are farmers or agriculture mentioned. It also does not mention the value to the economy of promoting a thriving local food network. If the council's discussion of promoting environmental, social, and economic sustainability has any credibility, a viable holistic approach would make sure that each aspect of the economic plan is linked to sustainable land use and quality of life.

And from another colleague:

[This] point is very important and absolutely right that there's no connection between the draft Economic Development Element and the Sustainability Element. Economic sustainability, resilience and adaptation to change (e.g., climate, Peak Oil, world economic crisis, etc.) are totally missing. Outspoken advocates are needed Saturday to push to include local agriculture and food production as fundamentals of a sustainable economic base. It's our best renewable resource, a primary source of fresh and healthy food, food security, lots of jobs, potential for more, etc.

Sustainability concepts and food production must be added to the Economic plan for Chico. They'll need your help to get included.

This element is the third to be considered during those hours, following circulation (which will have many speakers and much controversy) and downtown plans. I don't expect economics to be considered before noon, but you never know, and speakers must sign in before the staff report is completed on that topic. So, if you can't arrive before noon (and possibly even later to allow a ½ hour lunch break), that's probably OK. But, to be sure, if you can arrive by 11 and stay most of the day, go for it, and you'll find it all interesting. I won't be surprised if the meeting runs beyond 2:30, if there's significant public input and discussion to follow.

My experiment to produce a drought tolerant tomato plant is off to a successful start. The "tom" that I planted in an 18" - deep muddy hole at the end of May is doing fine despite having received no water for almost three weeks. The plant has plenty of yellow flowers; the key question is whether it will produce salad-worthy fruits.

Click the link to see how this experiment began.

I attended the first 2.5 hours of the Chico General Plan meeting on June 22. Of the 17 speakers from the public who contributed, it was Luke Anderson's comment on population growth that cut to the heart of one of the toughest challenges faced by the lofty goals and vision of the 2030 General Plan.

Paraphrasing, Luke asked how Chico will be able to maintain or reduce air pollution, water pollution, water consumption, energy use, greenhouse gas emissions etc, while at the same time add 40,000 new residents by 2030. Said Luke: "I don't see how those dots are connected."

But what kind of control does the city truly have over population growth? Certainly infill projects and high density housing impact resources less than other types of growth, but they still impact. With the present population prediction, simple math dictates that in order to just maintain our existing state of air quality, water quality, etc. everyone in Chico will need to reduce their consumption of all resources by a third.

How are other communities dealing with this issue? Is it possible to determine a "carrying capacity" for Chico, California?

And what about those of us (like me) who plan on being residents of Chico beyond 2030? This issue of population growth will not disappear in 20 years.
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The next opportunity for public comment on the General Plan will be on July 24 starting at 8:30 a.m., when the Council and Planning Commission will take input on the plan's circulation, downtown, and economic development elements.

A couple of years ago I wrote that I had been fortunate enough to not have to deal with gophers. At the time, I cited the prevalence of two plants in my yard, datura (a.k.a. Jimsom Weed) and spurge (euphorbia sp.) as likely deterrents to the little furballs, according to a couple of gardening websites.

Well, the datura is gone (I didn't have that much to begin with), but the spurge continues to self-seed, and forms patches of 3-foot high thickets around the yard and among the garden beds. And I can now personally attest to its toxicity, having gotten some of its white sap in my eyes last summer while pulling some up. I was quite miserable for about 12 hours.

And the pocket gophers? Let's just say this is a good lesson of why you shouldn't trust what you read on the internet. The spurge no longer works, if it ever did. I have now joined the club: I hate gophers.

My new suggestions of how to deal with gophers in the garden in a sustainable manner:

1) Plant in raised beds lined with metal hardware cloth
2) Train a pet to go after them (preferable a gopher snake)

No fewer than four emails found their way into my inbox, reminding me about the opportunity to give comment on the City of Chico General Plan tomorrow. The City Council and Planning commission will be reviewing the plan's introduction, sustainability, and land use elements.

Yes, I will be there, giving my input on chickens, community gardens, and the need for definitive language within the general plan document.

Public Meeting:
Joint City Council and Planning Commission
2 p.m. Tuesday, June 22
City Council Chambers,
421 Main St.

Due to time constraints this summer, I will not be coordinating the Gardeners' Swap Meet Program this season. (I am happy to train a replacement coordinator, if anyone wants to volunteer. . .)

But do not despair! You are still welcome to get together with friends and neighbors to swap excess veggies and fruits.

And then there's the new Share Your Harvest program, which is stepping into the void:

Why Share Your Harvest?
One out of six Americans need food assistance, but can't get fresh produce from local food pantries. Help diminish hunger in our community by sharing the excess bounty from your garden.

· Plant a little extra this year for those in need.
· If you know someone that doesn't use the fruit/vegetables on their property, talk to them about sharing.
· Going away in the middle of the summer? Let us use your unattended produce rather than let it spoil.

Who will use the fresh produce?
Deliveries will be made in the summer months to the Esplanade House, the Well Ministry, Salvation Army, Skyway House, Torres Community Shelter and others.

How Do I Participate in Share Your Harvest?
Just call or email Meg Bogue (530) 899-8797 and let her know...
1. What veggies/fruits you are willing to share
2. If you need assistance picking/delivering your bounty