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To the City Council of Carson, California
Dear Sirs: I am writing on behalf of Peter Rashkin. I have visited Peter's website at http://thedagger.com/garden/, and my only knowledge of his situation comes from his website, which includes several pictures of his yard, and your Notice of Code Violation, which says "The current state of your property is unsightly and out of harmony with the overall appearance of the surrounding neighborhood." I believe that this case is an instance of a growing trend towards confrontation between people who are wedded to the still dominant fashion of immaculate green lawns and sharply confined other vegetation, and people who seek a more ecologically and economically sensible alternative. More and more people are noticing that immaculate lawns demand great amounts of water, fertilizer, and herbicides. They also require frequent cutting, thatching, etc. yet despite the high water, material and labor inputs they have very little practical utility. They do very little to clean the air or soil, offer no benefits to wildlife, and all too often they provide a sort of no man's land which actually restricts contact between neighbors. Those people have started looking at alternative landscaping such as vegetable gardens, native plants, and mixed habitat such as Mr. and Mrs. Rashkin have chosen. Each of these alternatives uses less water and chemicals (in the Rashkins' case no chemicals) and provides a variety of benefits: food for humans and/or wildlife habitat, enhanced air cleaning, and, aesthetically, a break from the dull uniformity of largely unused lawns. Beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder, and the eye is often conditioned by the familiar. I note that the Rashkins live near both a freeway and an oil refinery, and that a gas station is right behind their property. Each of these could logically be regarded as far greater eyesore than the Rashkins' ecological garden, and all contribute greatly to the environmental degradation of the area. The Rashkins are making a small but significant contribution to offsetting the pollution created by our automobile culture, to providing some wildlife habitat, and at the same time offering a little oasis of real vegetation to their concrete-and-lawn neighborhood. Rather than being vilified, they should be applauded and offered as a positive example. I also visited your city website, where I read your Position Statement, which begins: "Carson is a vibrant city with a small town atmosphere where relationships are important. This is clearly visible throughout the community, from stable single family neighborhoods, which make up nearly eighty percent of the city's residences, to the partnership between business and volunteer driven agencies which strengthen the city's remarkable social fabric. "The social composition of Carson is California in miniature. It is a city with a balanced ethnic and cultural mix living together in harmony and prosperity..." I would suggest that environmental diversity is just as important as social diversity. It is no mistake that diversity is nature's principal strategem for survival, and all positive diversity should be fostered and encouraged. Sincerely, Caspar Davis 16 - 949 Pemberton Road Victoria, BC V8S 3R5 Canada |