Designing Towns

around the Growing of

Food

The Transect: Guiding Principles

The Transect is a system of classification deploying the conceptual range rural-to-urban to arrange in useful order the typical elements of urbanism.

The Transect is a useful ordering system, as every element easily finds a place within its continuum. This gradient when rationalized and subdivided, becomes the rural-to-urban Transect, the basis of a common zoning system.

• Applies same strategies of Design and Coding

• Takes the benefits of sustainability, individual and community health to higher level

• Potentially marketed to developers as a niche product (eg. the new golf)

• Ensures food security

Agrarian Urbanism

There are at least four significant reasons in favor of growing food within communities

1. Health – Physical health from the control of food sources (what food is

being consumed)– Physical health from participating in food production (exercise)– Social health from the integration of multiple sectors of society

on a common goal

2. Safety - Independence or quasi-independence from oil-based food sources

3. Economy- Potential for job creation

4. Sustainability

There are at least as many arguments against growing within populated areas

1. Noise

2. Smell

3. Appearance

4. Health/safety • Particularly in regard to unregulated meat and vegetables,

disposal of waste

5. Lack of knowledge• Particularly in regard to live animals, integration of pest or

disease controls, or potential introduction invasive plants

Considerations for Agrarian Urbanism

• There are valid reasons people moved away from producing their own food

• New layer of resource use, including potential heavy demands on water, utilities, waste and services. The potential to decrease the demands on all of these systems also exists

• When not coded, agricultural zoning has the potential to become sprawl.

• In general, larger cities are doing a better job than small towns. In most instances, towns would have the easier time supplementing food supplies.

To have both successful agriculture and urbanism, places must be designed and

coded to ensure both.

Four Agricultural

Models

1. Agricultural RetentionOperates at the scale of the region.

The ideal is to keep farmland in use (farmland trusts), which can be very difficult.

An array of techniques deployed to save existing farmland.

2. Urban AgricultureCultivation within existing cities and suburbs.

May use underutilized or distressed space.

Usually a secondary activity for people concerned primarily with other economic pursuits.

Urban agriculture (roof and allotment gardens) now viewed as public good.

3. Agricultural UrbanismSettlements equipped with working farms.

Agriculture economically associated with community, but not physically or socially integrated.

Few participate in the productive activities (CSA management).

4. Agrarian UrbanismSettlements where entire society is involved with food in all

aspects: organizing, growing, processing, distributing, cooking & eating.

Physical design of the settlement is integral to an intentional agrarian society and settles people back on

the land.

Pragmatic – what will work best in long-run.

Forgeable Land

Agricultural Precinct

Market Structure

Community/Allotment Gardens

Large Farms

Green Wedge

“Toothed” Edge

Existing Urbanism

Small Farms

AgrarianVillage

The Transect: Supporting Agriculture and Urbanism

Agrarian Urbanism Guidelines

• 1/3 land is developed, production of the whole is tripled

• All households participate in some way towards the growing of food, either through monetary contributions and/or labor

• An agricultural board and master farmer hold significant responsibilities

SOUTHLANDS PROGRAM

• Agricultural Precinct Program – 1/3 minimum

• Open Space Amenities – 1/3 minimum

• Development – 1/3 maximum

T6 Urban Core

T2 Rural

T3 Sub-Urban

T2 Rural

T4 General Urban

T5 Urban Center

T5 Urban Center

A. The farmyard, for agricultural operations.B. The barn, which is also the meeting house.C. The administrative offices and instruction rooms.D. The processing areas, grocery store and dining hall.E. The farmer's market.F. Shops with dwellings above.G. Residential buildings.

Town and Economic Center Detail

1-acre / Building density

1-acre / Building density

Sky, Florida

Retrofitting the Village Centre

Ag. Plots / Phased Development

www.dpz.comGarden Cities, can be purchased at www.amazon.com

The SmartCode and Modules can be downloaded at www.Transect.org

DPZ-Charlotte, NC. DPZ-DC Metro Area DPZ-Miami, FL DPZ-Boston, MA