Everyone
wants to live their lives in different ways. Some people long for that Big City
life, whereas others hope to avoid the mass amounts of people and prefer the
close knit, small town life. Personally I am fond of large cities, but I can see
why others may feel differently. Living in a community where everything is
close-by, neighbors are friendly, and green does sound intriguing. And the people
who enjoy this style of living would want to fend of these city folk from
transforming and cluttering their living space. This can be done through the
concept of New Ruralism.
New
Ruralism is “a response for those rural areas on the urban edge that are most
at risk for the encroachment of suburbanization, environmental degradation and
industrialization.” (Stratton) The idea of New Ruralism is the combination of
both “smart growth and sustainable agriculture.” (Stratton) With these trends,
New Ruralism hopes to re-connect with the land.
The
basic principles that create the foundation for what New Ruralism should
contain are characterized in Stratton’s article. First off, “the rural area
needs an identity rooted in the agricultural, ecological, geographical, or
cultural attributes to be preserved.” Next, “the primary use of the land
dedicated to farming should be small to medium scale agriculture integrated
with areas for wildlife and habitat management.” Another important principle of
New Ruralism is “maintaining a public environment that is accessible to
residents and visitors alike form all segments of society.” Last but not least
comes the most important concept of New Ruralism. They must be “high-density
mixed land use in the areas where development occurs.” These principles are the
main components in having a defined and successful example of New Ruralism. By creating more self sufficient
neighborhoods it will help to improve the spread of the sprawl. By becoming a
community that doesn’t rely on use of coal and other resources it will also provide
a better way of living, meaning less cars, more walking and biking. (350.org)
Now
with all of this information comes the question, why? Why do we care about New Ruralism,
and what is it trying to do? The reason New Ruralism is becoming such an
anticipated type of community is because of the effects of urban or suburban
sprawl. What suburban or sprawl is, is the “unplanned,
uncontrolled spreading of urban development into areas adjoining the edge of a
city.” So with the development of New Ruralist communities, the hope is to
limit or remove the problem of sprawl. “There is a vaccine against sprawl, a
way to ward off the encroachment of those who see the land as an accessory and
not a commodity, and it is New Ruralism.” Sprawl contaminates the beauty and nature of a
community. But, if we keep communities clean and well maintained and have more
nature and trees, etc., then we will see New Ruralism in action and results
will be seen. With more nature based communities without the effects of sprawl,
Oxygen will be clean, will reduce noise pollution and much more. (Crop life)
The ways in which New Ruralism has
attempted to take a stand against this sprawl is through examples where some
concepts of these communities are being portrayed. A prime representative of these attempts is in
the city of Serenbe, Georgia. In this community there are “three distinctive
hamlets, with restaurants and retail shops, an organized farm, a wastewater
treatment plant and enough walkways that strolling has become more efficient
than walking.” (Stratton) They wanted to “flow with the natural terrain of the
land.
Through these examples, New Ruralists
have been able to see what concepts are working and what still needs
improvements. There are ways for communities to become New Ruralist
communities. There a few important steps that must be made for the transition. First,
the community must be “organizing the community around a vision to support the
conservation of existing green space, promote land values and encourage
sustainable development.” Next would be for the community to “develop a master
land use plan, delineating areas of development from those left for
conservation.” Then “zoning ordinances should be updated to allow for mixed
land uses and to create legitimate ways to advance walk ability over driving.”
Also, a development “cannot have more than four large-scale retail establishments”
for it to be considered New Ruralist. The key to creating a New Ruralist
development is by “establishing an apparatus to conserve the land in
perpetuity.” For any community trying to transform into a New Ruralist one,
these are the things that must be done for it to be considered New Ruralism.
The entire need for New Ruralist
communities derives from the fact that there is suburban sprawl. Whether or not
these communities will put a noticeable end to the sprawl isn’t guaranteed, but
hopes are high in having a decrease. This process will take time, but in the end
it will be beneficial for the environment and will create an easier lifestyle
away from the sprawl.
SOURCES:
climate solutions
Crop life
New Ruralism
Stratton, Emily M. "New Ruralism." University of
Georgia Land Use Clinic (2009): n. pag. University of Georgia School
of Law and School of Ecology, Fall 2009. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
Analytic Reflection
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