Thomas Street

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Rye & White sourdough. Dan's been on another bakeathon.

3 Comments:

At 9:28 AM, Sholto Maud said...: Hello everyone,

I just received the email: In Defense of Suburban Permaculture from Dan. It looks like you have been very busy with urban-rental permaculturing.

I feel I can see something of both sides of the issue: Morally, people should be afforded the opportunity to feed themselves; Legally, if the permaculture is done without landlord's consent then it is illegal and landlord can sue etc.. (If the landlord gave consent then not illegal).

Thus step/priority 1. of urban rental-permaculture design: get consent of landlord.

If no landlord consent it is unlikely that an appeal to poverty and energy peak will be successful in residential tenency tribunal or the courts. And you will pay fines accordingly.

My suggestion is to write to the landlord with an extended profuse apology for 1. doing the ecological engineering without seeking approval. 2.not including them in the design process, as a key stakeholder. 3.Seek an extension of the time for re-ecological engineering the property. 4.Emphasise that you would like to make and maintain a beautiful flower garden that also provides some food. 5.And that in doing so your ultimate aim is to
improve the value of the property.
6.Although it may not be aesthetically pleasing, that you believe you have value-added to the topsoil.
7.That you would like include the landlord in the design process so that they may take advantage of the lovely new topsoil you have produced to make a beautiful flower garden.
8.You might like to cite backyard blitz for your permaculture inspiration. You might also like to note how the exhibition gardens use silverbeet in their floral gardens.
I hope this is of some use. Best Sholto.
At 2:46 PM, Anonymous said...: I have to completely agree with maud... I feel strongly about the principles at stake here with self sustaining living with regards to nutrition, energy, conservation etc etc however the law is generally laid out for all to see, and in the case of a rental contract, you are under legal obligation to maintain the premises as they are stated in the original property condition report, and this is something that probably should have been addressed at the beginning... However maybe the landlord is just pissed at the fact you've done something to their property without consent, and if you can manage to demonstrate to them the benefits of such a property as the one you've created, you may get off with a small fine.. but you need to find which buttons are the right ones to push - this'll be hard if they are acting through an agent and you can't actually speak to them. So with your proposal (and apology) in hand, appeal to all their buttons - financial rewards for them, exposure of said property on tv programme - if they are included in all these decisions it may just stroke their egos enough to let it slide, and you can also play on the environmental argument just enough to prick their conscience (if there is one). Letters of support from the community stating how this is an integral part of it's function may also help. Good luck!
The western Jacaranda (ask Cat)
At 2:54 PM, Anonymous said...: heya kids.
bring it on!
told the surrogate GP HQ in Parkville about your situation, we're all behind you guys. Call on us when you need our support for any community actions, or even just for cups of tea and hugs.
love your work. sam xo