With the interest in turning Detroit's vast tracts of empty blocks into urban farms, I reflect on my Iowa/South Dakota boyhood and wonder what 40 acres of corn would like west of City Airport? I know it would look like: 40 acres of corn west of City Airport. This interesting idea of reusing idle land reminded me of two television series with a "Back to the Land" theme. Green Acres and The Good life. Let's have some fun with a thought experiment.
In Green Acres Redux, Oliver Wendell Douglas, now a Detroiter, could have kept his downtown law practice and had his hobby farm. Of course, Lisa would have been happy to keep a high rise penthouse on the waterfront and let Oliver commute. Also, being a lawyer, Mr. Douglas would at least have a shot in getting 40 acres with a clear title in Detroit!
In The Good Life 2010, Tom and Barbara Good, would not only be able to turn their own lawns into vegetable gardens, but could also put both adjoining lots into cultivation. In this case, we would have to find a comedic element other than the clash with the neighbors. For, even if the neighbors were rigidly upper middle class, they would applaud the Goods for doing the right the thing! I can see Tom replacing Lenin the chicken with a flock of pheasants; however, he would then need to reinforce the fencing to keep out the coyotes. Pheasants and coyotes, which use to make me think of South Dakota, actually are abundant in the Urban Prairie.
My mind races on, could Hoss and Little Joe graze cattle on the West Side?
In Green Acres Redux, Oliver Wendell Douglas, now a Detroiter, could have kept his downtown law practice and had his hobby farm. Of course, Lisa would have been happy to keep a high rise penthouse on the waterfront and let Oliver commute. Also, being a lawyer, Mr. Douglas would at least have a shot in getting 40 acres with a clear title in Detroit!
In The Good Life 2010, Tom and Barbara Good, would not only be able to turn their own lawns into vegetable gardens, but could also put both adjoining lots into cultivation. In this case, we would have to find a comedic element other than the clash with the neighbors. For, even if the neighbors were rigidly upper middle class, they would applaud the Goods for doing the right the thing! I can see Tom replacing Lenin the chicken with a flock of pheasants; however, he would then need to reinforce the fencing to keep out the coyotes. Pheasants and coyotes, which use to make me think of South Dakota, actually are abundant in the Urban Prairie.
My mind races on, could Hoss and Little Joe graze cattle on the West Side?
No comments:
Post a Comment