Neighborhood Improvements for a Greener World

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There are major environmental concerns today that have been festering for decades. The new push for environmentalism that some claim has been misguided by money grabbers still has advocates who are attempting to address real concerns by action instead of talk. One of those advocates is called Urban Farming. The Urban Farming group takes empty plots of land in urban areas and plants vegetable gardens to help increase food supply with hopes of eradicating world hunger.

UrbanFarming.org lists all the current highly urban city gardens. The group began in Detroit and have spread to New York; New Wark, NJ; Los Angeles; Montego Bay, Jamaica; St. Paul, Minneapolis; St. Louis; and Raleigh, NC.

You do not have to wait for the Urban Farming team to come to your town, ending hunger in your community can begin in your backyard, in your window sills, on your roof, or in a public park. Putting together your own team and winning support from your community and local government is just the beginning to improving your city or town. The Urban Farming website correctly asserts that if 40 percent of America's food was grown at home in the victory garden area, it can be done again.

n/a Promotes Victory Gardens to save food and extend rations. Oh the Horror. image:40698:5::0

Another innovation that can be supplied by local neighborhood initiatives is the use of homemade ethanol gas. While it is not a solution to all energy problems, it can be helpful on a local level. The August 2008 issue of Playboy highlighted a home ethanol refining machine. The EFuel100 MicroFueler costs 9,995 dollars and generates gas made from sugar that can cost you as little as a buck a gallon. A neighborhood cooperation could easily afford to purchase and supply the fuel, however if that is just a little too much cooperation there are other cheaper purchases.

Brad Miller from Ridgeville, Ohio sells personal ethanol refining machines that range from $800 - $100,000. You can find his products on thefuelman.com. The website is also great for finding out how to save and make money off of your purchase, as well as tax breaks from the government and other ways of fueling your home energy needs off the grid.

The Fuel Man Fuel Man 25 Gallon Ethanol Refinery image:42040:0::0

There are many more ways to make a community more earth friendly. It is important to consider new zoning, revitalizing abandoned buildings or lots, and adding a green zone around the city to keep some natural land for animals to live. Planting trees, especially fruit and nut bearing trees not only helps the local environment, contributes to cleaner air, but provides food for the community.