[Chapter_Fourteen] the fence

Thu Nov 11 11:04:36 PST 2010

To clarify, the open-unfenced-plaza like space I'm referring to wouldn't be
for the whole site.. I picture more of like a carved out space someplace in
the middle of the fenced in space that was accessible.

On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 11:01 AM, Jason Hiller <jdhiller at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I just read the thread from start to now. Going back to the conversation
> about the fence seems most useful. There is a general principle I'm sure we
> all know that when you are in an argument or disagreement with someone the
> best way to disarm them is to accept them.
>
> The fence is ragged. If it weren't for the children's posters hanging from
> them I think the farm would look more like a private place to me than a
> public place. Well, it still seems private and I think that is okay because
> there are commodities and things of value on the inside even if it is all of
> us that owns that stuff.
>
> The thing about crime is that you have to ultimately decide how much crime
> prevention is going to be apart of your life. If someone wants to commit a
> crime there is truly very little you can do to stop them. If they want to
> break in to your home or car the chances are that they are going to do it.
>
> Exactly which parts are we identifying as criminal here- or maybe a better
> phrase is disagreeable to the site. I think IV drug use is a concern and I
> could totally understand why Friend 2 decided to call whether you liked it
> or not. I have put my hands into the broccoli patch and harvested before
> anyone told me to be on the lookout for such a thing. I would be very upset
> to say the least if I got stuck by a needle. IV drug use transmits diseases
> and it is a very serious issue that you can't deliberate on too long. I'd
> hate to see a resolution wait until after someone gets hurt.
>
> But other than that, do we care if people make use of the land? Do we have
> obligations to prevent such access?
>
> I would propose two things to help make a solution. One- create an open,
> 24/7 public access to the site almost in a plaza-like feel. This gives
> people who need a place to sleep the ability to take advantage of it in
> non-destructive ways. Accept them instead of make them scale the fence.
> Greater access would have the benefit of letting the people who respect the
> fence enter. In other words, the people that are jumping the fence are the
> people that already don't mind acting criminally (although whether that is
> criminal is up to debate).
>
> The second thing I would propose is, yes put in needle drop boxes. I would
> be surprised if with a few phone calls to the Health Department if they
> wouldn't come out and give you what you need and organize the pick up of
> them too. It is a bio-hazard and I think it really best to let professionals
> deal with the collection and removal. But more importantly, how do you offer
> encouragement, support and information to users so they reconsider. A simple
> sign that gets the message of "if you are going to use here, at least follow
> these safety steps" could do wonders to reaching those folks so that they
> become aware that their actions, while not judging them, are causing others
> great concern.
>
> I'd be interested in helping figure out plans for these things if they seem
> viable to the larger farm group.
>
>
> On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 2:17 AM, margaretha haughwout <
> xmargarethax at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> hi all,
>>
>> i've been staying silent on here in the hope we might get some new voices
>> on this thread. this thread has initiated several conversations for me
>> outside of this list, one on one, which has been very interesting.
>>
>> one thing that has been gently pointed out to me is that the iv users are
>> not necessarily the homeless. they could easily be rich and unable to use at
>> home. i think i sort of conflated the two initially. i appreciate that i was
>> shown this, and that the showing was so gentle.
>>
>> and thank you rachel, these suggestions are very good. one of the
>> intentions behind starting this list was for people - newly forming farms,
>> gardens, and other groups - to get practical advice from people who have
>> experience working with alternative models of governance, economy, labor,
>> human relationship, etc. there are maybe 50 people on this list at this
>> point, and i'm hoping it will grow and that we can continue to advise each
>> other on good practices as well as helping to clarify the issues as a few
>> good friends have done offline in the past couple of days.
>>
>> clearly, we have a lot of work to do in terms of building relationships
>> and trust across the border between day and night. i look forward to this
>> work.
>>
>> i hope folks will continue to pipe in here. i'd love to further the
>> discussion about written contracts. very curious about this debate rachel
>> and i began, and hope someone might elaborate on peoples or practices that
>> are successful that don't have written contracts.
>>
>> also continue to be curious about any suggestions we might have for
>> working with the nighttime community on site and more generally,
>> accountability structures that facilitate response - ability to the land and
>> to the city (and to each other - !)
>>
>> best wishes,
>> /m
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Nov 8, 2010 at 12:18 PM, Rachel A. Buddeberg <rachel at rabe.org>wrote:
>>
>>> I agree that we'd have to tread carefully when involving outside
>>> agencies.  HOT might be out because it's a City organization (though there
>>> might be people working for HOT who have "I wish we could" ideas that go
>>> beyond the standard way of thinking...).  The reason I suggested talking to
>>> other organizations is to learn from them.  Maybe some of them have figured
>>> out ways to address issues like addiction.  But I think the most important
>>> people to get involved in these discussions are the homeless themselves, so
>>> that Portland organization might be a good org to reach out to (
>>> http://www.dignityvillage.org/).  Maybe also Street Sheet (
>>> http://cohsf.org/streetsheet/).  Reaching out would be just to get ideas
>>> for potential solutions...
>>>
>>> On Nov 7, 2010, at 6:47 PM, Levi Maxwell wrote:
>>>
>>>  I feel that this issue is not only a farm issue but a city-wide issue as
>>> well.
>>>
>>>  I will not agree with any banning or invasion of an individuals home;
>>> HVF has for two decades been the workspace and living space for many people
>>> left with very few options in a city that cares only somewhat for Homeless
>>> people under 24 and women with children (Which is important as we are more
>>> likely to need special services that plague our demographic).
>>>
>>>  It is my belief in harm reduction as well as inter-community
>>> dialogue that the inhabitants and Farmworkers can come to a resolution.
>>>
>>> However I have no romantic notions about this; mental illness is rampant
>>> in my community, esp. in the camper community who either because of the
>>> feelings they have towards the shelter system or simply not understanding
>>> what is best for their health choose to live literally in the streets (the
>>> vast majority do not). There will be drunks, there will be heroin/meth/crack
>>> addicts, there will be people with mental disabilities; but if  we can work
>>> with everyone even with the cultural gaps of two disparate groups (because
>>> there are many cultures that belongs to homeless people) we can come up with
>>> something.
>>>
>>>  HVF must stand together with a single voice and come to a conclusion
>>> that can be agreed upon, so that there won't be some individuals calling
>>> police or disregarding new ground rules. We must not come off as saviors;
>>> neithier should we push our beliefs of what is right for them (that is
>>> alternative living situations); only suggestions.
>>>
>>>  Long term goals like building up security or breaking down the fence, I
>>> feel is too soon  to think about because we should make sure the demographic
>>> discussed is the one doing damage.
>>>
>>>  Right now a few feet away the staff and clients of a youth runaway house
>>> I am living at are talking about misidentification. We know the neighbors
>>> for the most part don't like or want us here (even though this building in
>>> one form or another has been a emergency home for 20 years and most
>>> residents have been here less then 5-10 years) and we have to be on our P's
>>> and Q's when outside because any time anyone who looks young makes noise or
>>> trouble we get blamed, putting our housing and future housing in this
>>> building and other buildings around the city for us in jeopardy.
>>>
>>>  The sons and daughters/students of this now gentrified, priviledged,
>>> & "hip" neighborhood walk around drunk, yelling at people, screaming,
>>> creating noise, yet we a demographic in need of services the most and
>>> understand our placement in these surrounding people's minds get blamed.
>>> Phone calls and complaints come to the program manager and he has to
>>> decipher out what was us and what was them (Even  though he can't know since
>>> he is never here in the building itself).
>>>
>>>  So remember think about what HVF does before we call any outside
>>> organizations or people; some folks just want to live their life and thread
>>> lightly and the ones who don't, those are the ones *we *need to speak
>>> to.
>>>
>>> On Sun, Nov 7, 2010 at 6:03 PM, margaretha haughwout <
>>> xmargarethax at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> dear rachel and everyone.
>>>>
>>>> thanks so much for writing and offering your insights and feedback.
>>>>
>>>> a few brief responses with yes more to follow:
>>>>
>>>> sorry to link to the google doc; i mean to link to this:
>>>> http://www.sfgov2.org/index.aspx?page=2041
>>>>
>>>> and no, we don't have a fixed decision making process at the farm right
>>>> now, beyond the small groups that we at times work within. i work within a
>>>> few small groups at the farm. the one i work most actively within goes by
>>>> consensus with the bigger decisions, and a conversation- based ad-hoc style
>>>> for the smaller decisions. to be clear, the ad-hoc nature at the farm that i
>>>> described with the friends as an example has many advantages. it means we
>>>> can respond very quickly in some circumstances and act with some freedom.
>>>> i'm not necessarily arguing against it... is there someway we can have both
>>>> consensus and ad-hoc? i worked as a gardener for over a decade, mostly with
>>>> women; we would deliberate about what to do about an apple tree for a while,
>>>> and then one of us would make a move. similar things seem to be happening at
>>>> the farm, though there are more people, and not everyone is consulted on any
>>>> given issue. i'm sure you can imagine there are some circumstances that
>>>> arise where this may be more of a problem...
>>>>
>>>> in regards to Diana Leafe Christian, i'm so glad you brought her up. i
>>>> was hoping she would figure here. to be honest, i'm wary of written
>>>> documents, since they've been so successful of robbing native peoples of
>>>> their land. have you heard criticisms of the written document? what are the
>>>> pros and cons? what do non-literate cultures do?
>>>>
>>>> all the best wishes,
>>>> /m
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sun, Nov 7, 2010 at 3:54 PM, Rachel A. Buddeberg <rachel at rabe.org>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Wow!  There is lot to digest here, so I am only going to respond with
>>>>> some initial thoughts, probably more questions/reaction that I had when
>>>>> reading these...
>>>>>
>>>>> Sit/Lie passed on Tuesday.  To me this shows that the majority of the
>>>>> voting City does not want to see homeless.  Homeless remind us of the
>>>>> inequality we've created in this land of plenty where some don't even have a
>>>>> place to sit or sleep or wash.  To me this means that the farm represents a
>>>>> real opportunity to show that things can be different.  But it also means
>>>>> the prevailing winds we have to deal with: Homeless are mostly seen as a
>>>>> nuisance not as human beings with needs.
>>>>>
>>>>> As I was walking from the Farm yesterday to one of the cafes to use the
>>>>> restroom, I watched a homeless guy comb his beard and hair.  He seemed
>>>>> strangely dignified, as he was doing something so usual to us  - trying to
>>>>> maintain a resemblance of dignity in a very humiliating situation.  Are
>>>>> there maybe some homeless who are not addicts and could offer some
>>>>> suggestions and/or help?  Why are the people using drugs (beyond the
>>>>> addiction; addicts are very wounded people)? Would they get off drugs if
>>>>> they had hope for something?  Homeless are part of our communities.  Most
>>>>> people don't see them that way and we often don't talk to them to see if
>>>>> they have solutions.
>>>>>
>>>>> There is a garden very close to the Farm run by the Project Homeless
>>>>> Connect (it's on the other side of Octavia on Oak St).  Would working with
>>>>> them might help us figure out a solution?  Also, what did the HOT people
>>>>> say?  (It looks like you linked to a Google doc. If that's true, I am not
>>>>> able to access it).  Also, there's dignity village in Portland (
>>>>> http://www.dignityvillage.org/).
>>>>>
>>>>> I am not sure how to approach the communication issues other than
>>>>> mentioning a couple of reactions: Calling HOT seemed like a breach of the
>>>>> consensus and I am wondering if the person who called them realizes that; do
>>>>> you have a process set up for making decisions.  That's one thing Diana
>>>>> Leafe Christian talks about as one of the absolute necessities for a
>>>>> community: a written agreement on how important decisions are made.  To me,
>>>>> how to deal with the golden fence seems like a very important discussion
>>>>> that might need to be made more formally.
>>>>>
>>>>>  On Nov 7, 2010, at 3:01 PM, margaretha haughwout wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>  Last night a few of us went to see Starhawk’s new movie called
>>>>> Permaculture: the Growing Edge  at Madrone Studios. One of the things
>>>>> Starhawk said during the panel discussion is that the edge is where the gold
>>>>> is. The margins, the fence line, the difficulties. It’s interesting because
>>>>> there’s a way in which all of our problems/ opportunities (in permaculture
>>>>> problems and opportunities are the same) at the farm can be tracked to the
>>>>> reality and the metaphor of the fence. How can we make the most of this
>>>>> edge?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Sun, Nov 7, 2010 at 3:00 PM, Jay <protojay at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> The morning after the “Attack on the Bees<http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/07/bee-murder-at-hayes-valley-farm-unknown-attacker-sprays-hives-with-pesticide.php>”
>>>>>> at Hayes Valley Farm, I was walking around the fence line looking for holes,
>>>>>> evidence of the vandalism, hoping to find a can of Raid or something that
>>>>>> could be fingerprinted or traced.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I met one of the farm’s neighbors on this walk, the property manager
>>>>>> of the building on Octavia and Hickory. I asked him about the holes in the
>>>>>> fence on Hickory Street, and mentioned the vandalism that had occurred the
>>>>>> night before.  He offered to keep an eye on the site from his window and
>>>>>> when cruising around the neighborhood in his car.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Since then, he has called me a few times.  The day after our first
>>>>>> encounter, there was a burglary at the site, someone stole 3000
>>>>>> pounds of cardboard<http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-07-23/bay-area/21994721_1_bee-colonies-vandals-sprayed>,
>>>>>> and my new friend called to let me know when the east gate was open and not
>>>>>> locked.  This is how I learned about the crime. After that, there were a few
>>>>>> other late night calls with thoughts on security, and a few neighborly
>>>>>> hellos over the summer.  We talked about the fence-line some more, the new
>>>>>> neighborhood-watch styled public safety group being formed to ensure safety
>>>>>> and security on the farm and in the neighborhood, and friendly small-talk.
>>>>>>  I invited him to participate in the Public Safety Meetings with the Hayes
>>>>>> Valley Neighborhood Association.  Later, I learned that he has lived there
>>>>>> for years, has been his old cars in the alley since the before the freeway
>>>>>> closed (he actually used to have more of them), and had even complained
>>>>>> about the farm (on behalf of his tenants?) in the earliest of days of the
>>>>>> project.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Two weeks ago a security specialist walked the site with me and
>>>>>> assessed areas of concern, mostly along the fence and in a few places within
>>>>>> the site. Just last week, during METHODS 101: Permaculture Design
>>>>>> Basics<https://docs1.google.com/document/d/1m2-j1YZPmjG-sh_s3PdcieqLL_wQqrW9Rwxr1dCYgC8/edit#>,
>>>>>> one of the students decided to address safety and security on the farm as
>>>>>> their design project.  During the site assessment, issues were identified.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> There were some trees and overgrown brush along the alley at Octavia
>>>>>> and Hickory Streets that were preventing any of the lights from the big
>>>>>> parking lot on Oak and Octavia from shining into the alley, creating a dark,
>>>>>> boxed-in area that was obvious to the both the security specialist and the
>>>>>> newest of observers as the easiest access point and biggest “hole in the
>>>>>> fence”.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The assessment continued to describe the problem with clean up here is
>>>>>> that the trees were hanging over the old cars.  Cars which belonged to the
>>>>>> same property manager.  Apparently he had been asked many times by the
>>>>>> community to move them, to help in clean up the alley, and he had always
>>>>>> ignored these requests.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Near the end of the METHODS 101 class, I noticed Robert parking in the
>>>>>> alley, and began to talk to him again from the top of the off-ramp berms.
>>>>>>  We talked about the trees and the light and he offered to help.  We talked
>>>>>> about his cars being in the way, and he offered to move them.  He went on to
>>>>>> to tell me why there were so many paper plates near the corner of the farm’s
>>>>>> fence. He explained he had been feeding some cats who patrolled the farm at
>>>>>> night by.  We talked a little bit about how the pile of plates weren’t
>>>>>> really the best thing for the plants growing on the fance, and that maybe we
>>>>>> could figure out another way.  Feeding them on the outside wouldn’t work,
>>>>>> putting a dish on top of the fence wouldn’t work.  He liked the idea of a
>>>>>> feeding tray attached to the inside of the fence, that he could pour food
>>>>>> into...
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Then, we talked about the tomatoes.  He was very impressed with them
>>>>>> and I gave him a handful to enjoy, here is the shot I took through the fence
>>>>>> -  http://protojay.tumblr.com/post/1489300766.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -Jay
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sun, Nov 7, 2010 at 2:59 PM, margaretha haughwout <
>>>>>> xmargarethax at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> That story reminds us that our presence is new on this site. Homeless
>>>>>>> folks have been on site for much longer than we have, and this is an
>>>>>>> uncomfortable positioning. Many of us know the narratives of gentrification
>>>>>>> and marginalization that frequently come with the creation of urban gardens;
>>>>>>> the white people come and make a robust and pleasing green space, the rents
>>>>>>> go up and so does intolerance. And yet we also have an obligation to the
>>>>>>> city government for permitting us to be on site, and an obligation to the
>>>>>>> neighborhood, to look “respectable.” We need to protect the daytime
>>>>>>> community from getting hurt, and the tomatoes from getting trampled. How do
>>>>>>> the permaculture values of earth care, people care, and fair share figure
>>>>>>> here? How do we care for all the people that tread across this site? What is
>>>>>>> the fair share? Who gets the food? Who recognizes it as food? Is it too far
>>>>>>> fetched to think this farm might help the drug addicts that trespass here?
>>>>>>> Today Jay and I discussed designing a safe enclosed space with small trees
>>>>>>> and other food forest layers for the nighttime users.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Another acquaintance regularly meets with the upper crust designers
>>>>>>> in Hayes Valley (of which there are many). These are people who don’t know
>>>>>>> permaculture, never come to the farm, but think they know urban design. She
>>>>>>> says they frequently ask what the hell is going on over there. Why doesn’t
>>>>>>> it look good? Our fence line is in flux right now. There’s a big area we’re
>>>>>>> sheet mulching and there’s a lot of cardboard. It looks like trash because
>>>>>>> it is! We’re closing that loop, turning trash into nutrient and resource. We
>>>>>>> start all of our plants from seed, rather than buying big full plants, so we
>>>>>>> aren’t transforming overnight. We’re a farm.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Somehow to me the fence is emblematic of our unique positioning as an
>>>>>>> inner city farm. It is a constant reminder of the larger national,
>>>>>>> civilized, and urban infrastructures we operate within: of land ownership,
>>>>>>> upper class values, of real and perceived dangers that come from class
>>>>>>> divisions and unequal distribution of resources.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>  /m
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Sun, Nov 7, 2010 at 2:49 PM, Jay <protojay at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> My good friend tells this story:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> “Last fall, a group of us would meet for brunch on Sundays.  This
>>>>>>>> was before we were given permission to open the gates (to activate
>>>>>>>> the space and provide the community with access to it). We were
>>>>>>>> dreaming about "Volunteer Work Parties" on the giant lot.  After brunch, we
>>>>>>>> would walk around the perimeter fences to observe the site.  After a few
>>>>>>>> walks, we had met quite a few neighbors, who loved to talk about the
>>>>>>>> potential for the space and what they had been observing over time.  We came
>>>>>>>> to know the fence line very well.  We would admire the recently dumped
>>>>>>>> furniture, look for freshly cut holes in the fence and other signs of life.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Along Laguna Street, at the west gate, two large gates locked with a
>>>>>>>> formidable chain and series of married locks.  The fences were all topped
>>>>>>>> with barbed wire. At the south gate, along Oak street just east of Laguna,
>>>>>>>> there was a hole in the fence big enough to crawl through but not so big
>>>>>>>> that you could push a shopping cart through.  The hole in the cyclone
>>>>>>>> fencing was hastily cut and sharp of the passageway.  The more formal double
>>>>>>>> doors at the east gate was unlockable.  The frame of the doors was
>>>>>>>> stationary and the fencing slid open like a shower curtain.  It was clear
>>>>>>>> people had been camping under one of the Melaleuca trees.  A tent and tarp,
>>>>>>>> piles of trash, and a dumpster lined the path. On one section of the fence
>>>>>>>> near the east gate, an entire section of the fence was removed from pole to
>>>>>>>> pole.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On one beautiful sunny day last December, we visited the site with a
>>>>>>>> good friend who was excited to shoot some "before shots" of the site for a
>>>>>>>> documentary. We parked in the Octavia and Oak street parking lot, turned on
>>>>>>>> the camera, hauling tripods and some extra gear, and approached the east
>>>>>>>> gate.  As we "slid back the curtain" of the fence and walked right in, we
>>>>>>>> were immediately warned off by a barking dog.  The large, gray black lab-mix
>>>>>>>> was protecting its owner's campsite. We continued, and proceeded along the
>>>>>>>> ravine.  We took video of the homeless' camp, the tents and trash that lined
>>>>>>>> the inside of the path. And the broken bottles and needles that lie all over
>>>>>>>> the place.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> We slowly walked through the site and up towards the west gate.  We
>>>>>>>> had been there for a little while, testing different lenses and lighting and
>>>>>>>> shooting some footage of the ramps.  At one point, while heading back down
>>>>>>>> the offramp, we noticed something "going down" at the east gate.  A couple
>>>>>>>> of more people were now assembling there, milling about behind the parking
>>>>>>>> valet shack that was stationed right outside the gates.   We wanted to get
>>>>>>>> out of there, but all of this new action was happening at our entrance (and
>>>>>>>> planned exit).  With some adrenaline, we remembered the hole in the south
>>>>>>>> gate and decided we should try to squeeze through their rather than "run the
>>>>>>>> gauntlet" of the barking dog, the camp, and the new gang forming at the
>>>>>>>> gate.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I went first through the hole, to show my documentarian friend how
>>>>>>>> to get low and avoid the spikes.  As she got through, she started to stand
>>>>>>>> up and scratched her arm on the fence.  It looked pretty bad.  That night,
>>>>>>>>  after showing her family what happened, she never came back to the farm.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> So, the footage is in an archive somewhere (for now) and one day she
>>>>>>>> might come back to shoot some "after" shots...”
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> -Jay
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>> http://protojay.tumblr.com/
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>   On Sun, Nov 7, 2010 at 2:47 PM, margaretha haughwout <
>>>>>>>> xmargarethax at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>   On our farm we find heroin needles in between the broccoli
>>>>>>>>> plants. We have a barbed wire fence that wraps around the entire 2.5 acres
>>>>>>>>> of our "freeway food forest" -- a food forest that is rising from the ruins
>>>>>>>>> of a freeway that collapsed and then lay dormant for 20 years. At night
>>>>>>>>> there is a pregnant cat that makes the place her own (all the sheet mulching
>>>>>>>>> has stirred up the mice and rats). Other folks crawl through the fence at
>>>>>>>>> night too. With perhaps one exception, the people that come at night aren't
>>>>>>>>> the same people that come during the day. Often “fresh” needles appear in
>>>>>>>>> the morning. The stories we write about here all have to do with the chain
>>>>>>>>> link and barbed wire fence that was on site when we arrived. The forces it
>>>>>>>>> is meant to keep out, the forces it is meant to contain, the edge it creates
>>>>>>>>> around our site, the fact that it is there at all.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> There are regular potlucks Tuesday evenings on the farm. Last week
>>>>>>>>> I didn't go, but I live really close by, so I got a text message from a
>>>>>>>>> friend saying she way stopping by. She came up saying she wouldn't stay long
>>>>>>>>> as she was getting up at 5:30am tomorrow morning to let H.O.T. -
>>>>>>>>> Homeless Outreach Team<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1m2-j1YZPmjG-sh_s3PdcieqLL_wQqrW9Rwxr1dCYgC8/edit?hl=en>through the gates to talk to the folks that were sleeping there. "I guess
>>>>>>>>> someone called them,” she said. I said I’d get up with her. I was curious. A
>>>>>>>>> few minutes later I got another text message from another friend leaving the
>>>>>>>>> potluck. "Coming over!" it said. Friend no. 2 came up and we told her how we
>>>>>>>>> were getting up early for the Homeless Outreach Team. "Oh," friend no. 2
>>>>>>>>> said; "I called them. That was me."
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> This call was predicated by several debates in our community about
>>>>>>>>> the homeless. Some feel we should let them sleep in the farm, others are
>>>>>>>>> more wary. Personally, I like the idea of city worn homeless people finding
>>>>>>>>> the soft sheet mulch to sleep on, and maybe even helping themselves to some
>>>>>>>>> cherry tomatoes. For a farm built on the principles of people care and fair
>>>>>>>>> share as well as earth care, we are torn by what it means to give them the
>>>>>>>>> boot. Youth education coordinators despair over the fact that a child might
>>>>>>>>> come across a needle before they do, and since we lost our bees
>>>>>>>>> this summer from a senseless act of violence<http://www.hayesvalleyfarm.com/blog/324-two-killed-and-one-attempt-at-the-farm.html>,
>>>>>>>>> we are all a little more skittish. The last time I sat with the women who
>>>>>>>>> were at my house after the potluck, we had heated debate on the topic around
>>>>>>>>> another table at another house in the neighborhood. It ended with all of us
>>>>>>>>> agreeing if there was such a thing as a needle drop box that was configured
>>>>>>>>> in a way that you couldn't reach back in and use the old needles, it would
>>>>>>>>> be a good idea to install a few of those around the perimeter. We also
>>>>>>>>> agreed that eventually we should probably just take the fence down.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> The obvious issue at hand in this story might be how to handle the
>>>>>>>>> issue of homelessness and nighttime drug use on our urban farm. The not so
>>>>>>>>> obvious issue in this story, but one that we want to tease out and explore
>>>>>>>>> is how we decide what to do about the homelessness and the needles
>>>>>>>>> - and the fence. In the scenario above, some of the farmers debated it at
>>>>>>>>> length and then one person took action ad-hoc without really having a method
>>>>>>>>> of checking in with the rest of the community. Also, the way in which the
>>>>>>>>> conversations occurred were very ad-hoc, and happened at a variety of nodes
>>>>>>>>> located not only on the farm but in the neighborhood around it - both inside
>>>>>>>>> and outside the farm. There is a lot to say here about how we make decisions
>>>>>>>>> on the farm, particularly when they negotiate between the farm and the city,
>>>>>>>>> the inner and the outer, day and night, permacultural and urban. A lot of
>>>>>>>>> times decisions happen exactly in the manner I’m describing above. This is a
>>>>>>>>> thread someone might pick up for discussion: the thread of decision making
>>>>>>>>> and accountability when our values ask us to be responsible to the land, the
>>>>>>>>> common people and the terms of our lease asks us to be accountable to a
>>>>>>>>> larger hierarchy. I love the unfolding at play in the story above, but what
>>>>>>>>> if friend no. 2 decided to call the cops instead of H.O.T.?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> ♫ Spread the word, please help us support the farm on
>>>>>>>>> Kickstarter! http://bit.ly/hvf-kickstarter
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Lead Researcher, Hayes Valley Farm
>>>>>>>>> http://www.hayesvalleyfarm.com/
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Lecturer, Film and Digital Media
>>>>>>>>> University of California Santa Cruz
>>>>>>>>> Communications 151
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> chapter fourteen<http://lists.beforebefore.net/listinfo.cgi/chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net>
>>>>>>>>> http://www.beforebefore.net/
>>>>>>>>> http://www.bitterpattern.net/
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I am best contacted by email:
>>>>>>>>> xmargarethax at gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net mailing list
>>>>>>>>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net at lists.beforebefore.net
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> http://lists.beforebefore.net/listinfo.cgi/chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>> "If we're not working together, we're destroying each other."
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net mailing list
>>>>>>>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net at lists.beforebefore.net
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> http://lists.beforebefore.net/listinfo.cgi/chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ♫ Spread the word, please help us support the farm on Kickstarter!
>>>>>>> http://bit.ly/hvf-kickstarter
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Lead Researcher, Hayes Valley Farm
>>>>>>> http://www.hayesvalleyfarm.com/
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Lecturer, Film and Digital Media
>>>>>>> University of California Santa Cruz
>>>>>>> Communications 151
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> chapter fourteen<http://lists.beforebefore.net/listinfo.cgi/chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net>
>>>>>>> http://www.beforebefore.net/
>>>>>>> http://www.bitterpattern.net/
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I am best contacted by email:
>>>>>>> xmargarethax at gmail.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net mailing list
>>>>>>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net at lists.beforebefore.net
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> http://lists.beforebefore.net/listinfo.cgi/chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> "If we're not working together, we're destroying each other."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net mailing list
>>>>>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net at lists.beforebefore.net
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://lists.beforebefore.net/listinfo.cgi/chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>>
>>>>> ♫ Spread the word, please help us support the farm on Kickstarter!
>>>>> http://bit.ly/hvf-kickstarter
>>>>>
>>>>> Lead Researcher, Hayes Valley Farm
>>>>> http://www.hayesvalleyfarm.com/
>>>>>
>>>>> Lecturer, Film and Digital Media
>>>>> University of California Santa Cruz
>>>>> Communications 151
>>>>>
>>>>> chapter fourteen<http://lists.beforebefore.net/listinfo.cgi/chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net>
>>>>> http://www.beforebefore.net/
>>>>> http://www.bitterpattern.net/
>>>>>
>>>>> I am best contacted by email:
>>>>> xmargarethax at gmail.com
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net mailing list
>>>>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net at lists.beforebefore.net
>>>>>
>>>>> http://lists.beforebefore.net/listinfo.cgi/chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net mailing list
>>>>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net at lists.beforebefore.net
>>>>>
>>>>> http://lists.beforebefore.net/listinfo.cgi/chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>> ♫ Spread the word, please help us support the farm on Kickstarter!
>>>> http://bit.ly/hvf-kickstarter
>>>>
>>>> Lead Researcher, Hayes Valley Farm
>>>> http://www.hayesvalleyfarm.com/
>>>>
>>>> Lecturer, Film and Digital Media
>>>> University of California Santa Cruz
>>>> Communications 151
>>>>
>>>> chapter fourteen<http://lists.beforebefore.net/listinfo.cgi/chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net>
>>>> http://www.beforebefore.net/
>>>> http://www.bitterpattern.net/
>>>>
>>>> I am best contacted by email:
>>>> xmargarethax at gmail.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net mailing list
>>>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net at lists.beforebefore.net
>>>>
>>>> http://lists.beforebefore.net/listinfo.cgi/chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net
>>>>
>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net mailing list
>>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net at lists.beforebefore.net
>>>
>>> http://lists.beforebefore.net/listinfo.cgi/chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net mailing list
>>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net at lists.beforebefore.net
>>>
>>> http://lists.beforebefore.net/listinfo.cgi/chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> ♫ Spread the word, please help us support the farm on Kickstarter!
>> http://bit.ly/hvf-kickstarter
>>
>> Lead Researcher, Hayes Valley Farm
>> http://www.hayesvalleyfarm.com/
>>
>> Lecturer, Film and Digital Media
>> University of California Santa Cruz
>> Communications 151
>>
>> chapter fourteen<http://lists.beforebefore.net/listinfo.cgi/chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net>
>> http://www.beforebefore.net/
>> http://www.bitterpattern.net/
>>
>> I am best contacted by email:
>> xmargarethax at gmail.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net mailing list
>> chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net at lists.beforebefore.net
>>
>> http://lists.beforebefore.net/listinfo.cgi/chapter_fourteen-beforebefore.net
>>
>>
>
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