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Nature's Strips

Social interaction and co-operation: food localisation in the EBD.

Utilising the iconic features of the Australian nature strip, we propose the introduction of a localised food production & distribution system based on urban agriculture, where residents of the EBD will be responsible for the cultivation, maintenance and distribution of the community's own fruit and vegetable supply. By radically redesigning the current ‘Food Production & Distribution System’ we will be significantly reducing food miles, heightening user involvement and in doing so increasing the sustainability of the system through taking full advantage of the currently wasted green spaces which are our nature strips.

Nature’s Strips has sparked a strong increase in user touchpoints within the food production & distribution system. By creating meaningful, tangible experiences, and providing sources of leisure, exercise and relaxation, users are able to ‘reconnect’ with nature. Through the maintenance processes, responsibilities are allocated to users based on their individual strengths and abilities. As a result, users are involved in the system well before the final stage of consumption. Even at the simplest level, users strengthen their involvement via the ‘Nature’s Strips composting system’ - returning nutrients back to the soil in their gardens, and contributing to the waste & harvest cycles.

system comparison: There are significant differences between the commercial systems map and that of ‘Nature’s Strips’. The commercial food and distribution system is much lengthier and more complicated, relying on a significant amount of external inputs for its success as well as intensive transportation processes. In ‘Nature’s Strips’ production model, all stages occur internally and are more efficient, producing an improved, sustainable system. There are also major differences in user-engagement possibilities.

cultivation: Inter-cropping is the agricultural practice of cultivating two or more crops in the same space at the same time.(6) The practice will be maximise the use of available land within the EBD. ‘Nature’s Strips’ will cultivate diverse crops, which are produced in the ground, on the ground and above the ground. The tallest trees/plants will act as protective canopy for the lower crops, providing shade where required. Inter-cropping also encourages biodiversity, which can limit pest outbreaks.

cross section: ‘Nature’s Strips’ will adopt a drainage system that uses a perforated drainage pipe for efficient water distribution, and ‘cleanstone’ to cement and ground all elements, whilst filtering all water and leaf catchments. In order to protect the produce from external elements, a protective UV stabilised netting such as narrow mesh sidenetting, used on grape vines, will be implemented where required.

stage 1 production: Plantations (from seed to fruiting size) will be part of the initial EBD site development – with all management and implementation undertaken by the EBD council. The council will draw upon skilled and professional members of the community, for example horticulturists and landscapers.

stage 3 harvesting & distribution: Harvesting responsibilities will be based on a seasonal rotating roster, to ensure equal and fair user involvement within the system. Additionally, council-recruited fruit and vegetable pickers (sourced from groups such as community service participants and commission housing workers) will also assist in harvesting any remaining produce once fully mature.

Once harvested the produce will be distributed to the EBD Farmer’s Market where it will be made readily available for EBD residents to collect. Depending on availability, residents will be allocated free portions of fruits and vegetables based on their residences’ needs, RDI and market availability (for example, it is estimated that an average 4 person family would be allocated 2 baskets of fresh produce per week). If however, residences require additional produce a surcharge will apply.

stage 2 maintenance: EBD residents will manage their own ‘Nature’s Strips’ and will be provided with the education and tools in order to do so (e.g. e-publications, detailing when to grow crops, benefits, how the system will operate and the delegation of responsibilities). It will not be uncommon to find arrangements where more than one household shares or subdivides a garden site. Responsibilities will be allocated based on the abilities of residents, horticulturists living and/or working within the EBD (to be relied upon for advice regarding the improvement and management of crops etc.), as well as trained council workers to fulfill any other remaining roles.

Maintenance procedures will be based on the ‘Organic Food Production System’ and achieved with minimal external input. Organic fertilizers (e.g. chicken, cow manure and compost obtained via household food waste) will be utilized as pest deterrents. Weeds and plant diseases will be controlled by hand weeding and manual crop rotation.

stage 4 consumption: Upon arriving at home, the consumption process remains the same, with the user in control of what they choose to eat or dispose of as waste. It is at this ‘household level’ that a responsible composting system will be introduced. Organic waste from the user (e.g. Fruit and vegetable scraps, yard trimmings) within the system can be recycled, returning nutrients to the soil and enabling the ‘Nature’s Strip’ cycle to continue.

research: As of 2008, over 50% of the world’s population live in cities; however the footprint of most cities is much greater than the land area they take up.(1) With this, major problems such as continued rising food and oil prices, increasing international pressures and climate change has made it impossible to ignore the growing need for a localised ‘food production and distribution system’ within the VEIL EBD implementation.

research: The environmental, social and economic costs of food transportation is estimated to be $19.8 billion per year. If all foods were sourced within 20km of our homes, Australia would save $4.4billion per year.(2)

research: CO2 emissions used to produce, process, and distribute vegetables consumed by a family of 4 are 8 tons a year.(3) One tomato alone travels 1,618km and contributes an estimated 870 tons of CO2 gases per destination.(4)

research: The organic food production system’s sustainability outweighs the commercial - with a reduced energy consumption of 80% from farm to fridge as well as increased nutritional benefits for the end user (e.g. 1 organic tomato has the nutritional equivalent of 4 commercial tomatoes).(5)