Where is Arcata at? ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
At 08:49 AM 9/3/97 -0500, you wrote:
>Chris wrote:
>>
>> The city that I live, Arcata, is the first in the history of the United
>> States to have a Green Party majority on the city council. Although we are
>> a very small city we have a very tight community and alot of support for
>> local business. Lot's of local farms that produce high quality food at low
>> prices, good schools and a very vocal community. It can happen if you are
>> willing to make personal changes. It's happening here, why not where you
are?
>
>Hi, Chris. A lot of us around the country were very excited over the
>victory of your Greens. It renewed our faith. Keep it up!
>
>You ask, "It's happening here, why not where you are?" Well, if I may
>answer what was probably a rhetorical question, Arcata is a college
>town, and many college towns (Boulder, CO and Madison, WI are others
>that come to mind) tend toward much more progressive politics than the
>rest of the country.
>
>Here in the midwest, where I've lived for the past six months, being a
>vegetarian is considered strange and somewhat suspect. People welcome
>the Wal-Mart and the other big box stores because they offer low
>prices. Retail developers have run rampant: the main retail streets are
>lined with huge billboards and very tall signage, and the stores are
>designed to sit at the back of the lot, so all you see when you drive by
>(and drive you must -- everything is spread out) is a sea of cars in
>parking lots. There are no bike lanes, let alone bike paths, and once
>you get out of the city, most of the streets don't even have shoulders.
>I'm in the middle of the farm belt, and there is no organized farmers
>market, and the supermarkets sell red peppers from Holland. The closest
>real natural food store where I can buy bulk beans and grains and
>organic produce is two hours away (in a college town!).
>
>Sorry if it sounds like I'm venting, but honestly, things are different
>out here! There's so much to be done, it's hard to know where to begin.
>I'm thinking the place to start is with a community garden, or getting a
>farmers market going. Has anyone out there ever worked on either? Your
>suggestions and advice would be welcome.
>
>Thanks,
>Zanne
>
>
