WWAT: grank: suburban sustainability collective

Sat Nov 22 16:40:47 CST 2008

Bringing Appropriate Technology into the suburban consciousness...

Within the sphere of appropriate technology there is a lot of focus on getting out of the city, off the grid, and being more self-sufficient. Conversely, there is also a large urban greening contingent bent on making densely populated areas more sustainable. There are plenty of good reasons for both of these strategies: on the one hand rural life is usually much less restricted by health and building codes—you can put up a 50 foot windmill tower or build a composting toilet without having to convince anyone it's appropriate first. On the flip side, the more people you have in any single area, the more centralized the distribution of resources can be; and if those resources are harvested locally, you get the maximum human benefit for your greenback. So, in a certain way, one could see both these critically important fronts in the sustainable transition movement as the easy roads—both taking advantage of relatively favorable pre-existing conditions. The more daunting road, and the one less travelled to this point, is the one that goes through the suburbs, where one confronts the epicenter of resource misallocation and subsequent over consumption.

As suburban culture is so critically dependent on outside resources, it has recently been among the hardest hit by the wild swings we've seen in energy prices, food prices, housing prices, and general economic security. It may be easy to say that suburbanites have made their bed, so let them lie in it. However, aside from lacking any compassion, this outlook ignores the greater societal consequences of ignoring such a sprawling problem. Grank, a fledgling model of sustainable suburban restructuring, looks to deal with these shortcomings head-on. It is Grank's belief that with an emphasis on self-reliance techniques, a modicum of community-based reorganization would go a long way in stabilizing suburban existence—preserving (and improving) the useful infrastructure there, and actually bettering the quality of life by encouraging a multi-disciplinary populace and injecting a greater sense of purpose.

Grank is looking for...well, a lot...but mainly advisory board members and tenants (money wouldn't hurt either, but we are seeking funding from a variety of other sources). The strength of the WWAT community lies in each member's passionate and intentional commitment to action in pursuit of a better world...we are, after all, WORKERS for Appropriate Technology. It is this understanding that makes me so optimistic about finding great tenants and board members through this list-serve. Tenants of the Grank housing collective will be homeowners in the suburbs of St. Louis, MO. They'll take possession of the house for little to no monetary cost through an easement given by the local community land trust that holds the land. Just like any other home-owner, the tenants will be responsible for all maintenance and upkeep of the property, for all insurance and utility costs (as long as they choose to remain on the grid), and maybe a $25 monthly administrative fee owed to the land trust (still in negotiation). In exchange for this virtually free house, the tenants will be obligated, by a set of house bylaws, to initiate, advertise, and maintain certain projects and programs for the increased self-sufficiency and sustainability of the house and the neighborhood. These programs will improve the property, thereby directly benefitting the tenants, and will probably address general issues of food and water security, collective transportation, shared space, interdependence, permaculture, trust, fun, and neighborhood unity. This generic and unassuming suburban plot should come to be known in the neighborhood as a dynamic center for sharing, learning, connecting, healthy living, amusement, and empowerment. The ultimate goal would be for this property to become a replicable model for suburban restructuring everywhere. 

Whereas Grank values relevant experience, neighborhood diversity, and general handiness in choosing its tenants, candidates with enthusiasm and ambitious work ethics will move quickly to the front of the line. Selecting tenants will be one of the functions of Grank's independent Board of Advisors, a body for which Grank is also recruiting. Board members are chosen for their relevant knowledge, experience, and connections, as well as their enthusiasm and the ability to faithfully contribute their time to Board meetings (at least six meetings per year) and the various other Board obligations.

Sorry for the long post. Hopefully you've read this far because you are excited and want to participate. Believe it or not, there is much more to share about this new community development model. So if you are interested in participating in any way, even if it's just to offer general feedback, please get back to me as soon as you can. 

appropriately yours,
sean.
spnitch at msn.com

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