FOOD

Conditions in 2030

Food shortages occur as a result of crop decline and the high cost of farming. Many areas become unsuitable for agriculture as a result of climate impacts (e.g. reduced soil moisture, less water from snowmelt and heavy erosion in winter storms. Raising cost of fossil fuel based fertilizers, pesticides and transport, has also caused large agricultural enterprises that were serving global markets less viable. Funding for agricultural subsidies is less available.

Alternative Vision for 2030

Each region grows the food it needs for its surrounding population. The number of small farms increases and farmers plant a diversity of crops to service the region and use natural systems to replace fertilizers and pesticides.  Within the County each geographic area grows the types of crops that fit its climate and available water supply. Homeowners also grow some of their own food, raise their own poultry, store food, and barter and share with neighbors. Community and neighborhood gardens are built along natural water drainage areas. Neighbors garden together, take down fences and bring surpluses to local food exchanges. Crops are traded between areas. People shop regularly at farmer markets. Some people buy a monthly food service (Community Supported Agriculture) directly from farmers, so they get to know the people who grow their food. Cooperative meals become a regular occurrence with neighbors sharing their food.

Actions To Achieve Vision

Regional Actions

1. Encourage the County Board of Supervisors and Agriculture Commissioner to develop a plan to address the food needs of the region. Identify available land supply, crops that will grow in each area, available water resources, and potential types of crops and animal products that are likely to be in short supply. Present a strategy for engaging the farming community in working together to produce the products that will be needed for the surrounding population. Identify the crops that can be grown in residential neighborhoods and community gardens to help supplement agricultural products and start campaign to encourage residential garden construction.

2. Seek support for farmers who diversify and provide needed crops (grains, nuts, etc.) using the Community Supported Agriculture model and others.

3. Identify specialization areas for community food growing to maximize the area’s assets and increase trade opportunities: for example, Carmel Valley – vegetables, fruit and nut trees; Monterey – fisheries, vegetables; Pacific Grove – poultry, cool weather crops (e.g. lettuce, spinach, chard, artichokes, asparagus); Salinas Valley – vegetables, fruit, grains, cattle; North County – grazing animals, etc.

4. Advocate for tax credits for people who grow food and make products locally.

5. Urge Supervisors to prohibit the use of GMO crops. Request the development of regional seed banks to store seeds.

6. Start a campaign to encourage people to eat sustainable fish. Campaign for restaurants and stores to end their purchase of threatened and endangered fish.

7. Research what crops are subsidized and advocate for changes.

Local Community Actions

1. Develop an ‘Eat Local’ program.

2. Identify the microclimates in each city or unincorporated area and determine where crops and trees of different varieties can best be grown.

3. Ask City Councils to make a portion of parks and open space available for community gardens. Encourage surrounding neighborhoods to work on planting community gardens. Identify natural drainage areas where storm water can be captured to irrigate neighborhood gardens.

4. Ask City Councils to reduce the use of pesticides on parks and playgrounds so that they can be suitable for gardening.

5. Plant fruit trees throughout town in parks, edge areas, etc. Contact nurseries and find bulk buying opportunities, and develop a community bulk buying program.

6. Develop community compost areas where restaurant and neighborhood food wastes can be made into compost.

7. Provide information and assistance to homeowners in planting home gardens, planting fruit trees and raising poultry.

8. Establish a pruning assistance and gleaners group to help the elderly and others who unable to care for trees their yards.

9. Learn and collect heritage seeds, propagate seeds.

10. Develop community seed exchanges, start community seed bank. Hold a seed and cutting exchange. Invite seed and garden experts to meetings.

11. Hold canning workshops; invite experts in storage to meeting. Teach how to can, smoke, dry and other food preservation techniques.

12. Hold solar cooking workshops and educate about how to reduce the use of fuel in cooking.

13. Encourage schools to add food growing and preservation skills to school curriculum, plant a school garden.

14. Hold community suppers to share food, recipes and learn about how to grow food from one another.

15. Educate about the amount of resources (fossil fuels and water) required to raise cattle and the need to eat lower on the food chain.

Individual Actions

1. Shop at Farmers Markets.

2. Limit diets to food obtained within 100 miles.

3. Eat lower on the food chain, use less beef.

4. Plant a home garden irrigated with rainwater cisterns, drip lines. Plant fruit trees.

5. Buy canning and storage supplies, can, smoke or dry foods.

6. Ask the City for permission to raise chickens, build chicken coops, raise chickens, share eggs with others.

7. Get a fishing pole and tackle, learn how to fish,

8. Advocate for grocery stores and restaurants sell only sustainably caught fish.

9. Participate in community food sharing fairs, seed exchanges, compost exchanges, etc.

10. Work in a neighborhood or school garden.

WATER

Conditions in 2030

Climate change causes more droughts and periods of severe water limitations and more intense storms causing both flooding and soil erosion. Water resources are stressed beyond capacity. The cost of water available from the local water company rises as cost of energy increase (pumping costs, desalination of water, etc). The use of water for irrigation for growing crops becomes very expensive. Water rationing is frequently required. Customers experience intermittent water service during periods of the year.

Alternative Vision for 2030

Communities rediscover their local watershed. Creeks and streams that have been diverted into rain gutters, culverts, and storm drains are brought above ground to provide water for local parks, residents and wildlife. Homeowners and businesses conserve water and install rain and spring water cisterns. Water from clothes washers and other fixtures is also diverted to gardens. By removing lawns and ornamental plantings, replanting with natives, and harvesting rain, spring, and gray water, there is enough water to run drip lines to home gardens. Small reservoirs are added along natural drainage areas and water is used to irrigate neighborhood gardens, school yards, parks, golf courses, and to re-create natural wetlands. Area farmers also implement a full range of water conserving practices and plant crops that are in-keeping with available local water resources. Water is treated as a precious resource.

Actions To Achieve Vision

Regional Actions

1. Research the extent to which drip systems are used in agriculture and urge the County Board of Supervisors and Agricultural Commissioner to advocate for growers to plant less water intensive crops.

2. Urge local officials to maximize the collection of storm and spring water, and facilitate rainwater roof collection. Push for policies that limit use of potable drinking water for outside non-food producing landscapes and increase the use of water already available within the watershed.

3. Urge County Environmental Health Department and the State to expand potential uses of gray water and support homeowner installation of approved systems.

4. Work with Monterey Business Council and others in developing educational materials to illustrate rainwater and gray water products and installation options. Help to simplify gray water permitting requirements.

5. Develop demonstration site to showcase how water can be collected and reused safely. Pursue potential hosting a watershed display, including rainwater cisterns and gray water systems at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History and other local community sites.

Local Community Actions

1. Learn about and map the watershed local area, identify creeks and streams. Meet with watershed experts to learn how urban watersheds can be reclaimed. Prepare watershed plan for the area, including potential areas for tanks and storage ponds. Identify areas appropriate for planting trees adjacent to wet areas; areas where water can be captured from curbs, swales, creeks; and how to encourage water saving devices, gray water systems, and rain and spring water collection.

2. Advocate for the construction of local reservoirs and other smaller projects to capture storm water. Support citywide program to install tanks and perforated piping along parks and golf course. Install curb cuts to drain water into local gardens. Construct small reservoirs or holding tanks to make water available for neighborhood gardens.

3. Help property owners install cisterns to capture rainwater and gray water systems to enable multiple uses of water. Distribute rain barrels and hold workshops to show how to plumb rain barrels.

Individual Actions

1. Learn how to use less water inside and outside; use less water when washing dishes, watering plants, showering, etc.

2. Install water saving devises, including shut off nozzles, low flush toilets, drip lines.

3. Observe where water flows in your yard during rainy periods, identify moist and dry areas, and potential areas to capture water, including roofs, curbs, dry creeks, etc.

4. Remove lawns and replace with edible or drought tolerant plants.

5. Install rain water cisterns or tanks and learn how to operate allowing the first rains to flush debris from roof.

6. Store water for emergency electricity and water disruptions, and think about where water is available, if there is no water in the taps.

7. Install systems to reuse gray water in irrigation.

HOUSING & LAND USE

Conditions in 2030

People seek housing closer to job centers. As the cost of gasoline raises many find that they are in need of housing. Credit problems have meant that many are unable to qualify for home loans and are in need of rental units. Families must double up in homes. There are more illegal units as people convert garages and other structures to accommodate more family members and friends. Many houses in distant suburban neighbors are become vacant and are abandoned.

Alternative Vision for 2030

People are able to find housing within vibrant walking communities. There is a mix of dense, affordable, and mixed use housing in our downtowns. Existing housing has been retrofitted to be energy and resource efficient. Adaptive reuse of buildings and underutilized urban lots have provided for more housing options. There are more public and communal areas that help facilitate community interaction. Each community has its own identity. Places of beauty and natural diversity are preserved and protected.

Actions to Achieve Vision

Regional Actions

1. Advocate for development of walkable communities with a diversity of affordable rental housing units. Urge the Board of Supervisors and city councils to adopt general plans and housing elements that encourage the reuse of underutilized buildings and lots for affordable housing.

2. Urge legislators to build transit and bike and pedestrian lanes to facilitate travel without dependence on cars.

3. Support redevelopment of communal and public spaces to hold community events and support informal gatherings.

4. Advocate for the protection of agricultural lands that are needed to grow food for the surrounding population, keep urban areas concentrated so that the most important farmlands are not replaced by sprawling housing developments.

5. Work to maintain habitat areas so that biologically rich areas are protected,

Local Community Actions

1. Urge the city council to allow for higher densities in all zoning districts. Encourage the development of housing over retail, in commercial areas, and other underutilized sites.

2. Support building codes that encourage retrofits and remodeling without burdensome and expensive steps for homeowners.

3. Support infrastructure improvements that will be needed for higher densities (e.g. water, sewer collection systems enhancements)

4. Urge the protection of wild areas without cities to provide respite for urban dwellers and biodiversity for wildlife.

5. Encourage the day lighting of creeks to provide water and wetlands for wildlife and community gardens.

Individual Actions

1. Modify your home to accommodate more people. Better utilize our homes, simplify, reduce clutter.

2. Add energy and water efficiency systems to your home.

3. Move in with friends or relatives, decrease your housing size.

TRANSPORTATION

Conditions in 2030

Limited availability of fossil fuels. Gasoline is expensive and available intermittently. People are unable to travel to distant jobs sites. Most people travel less for vacation or non-essential trips. Air travel and truck freight are very expensive. Road conditions continue to worsen as local jurisdictions have less money for road maintenance.

Alternative Vision for 2030

People live closer to job sites and have to travel less to obtain goods and services. Travel for shorter trips is primarily accomplished by walking, biking, or using scooters/electric carts. Buses and rail provides the primary means of transportation for longer trips. Transport of freight occurs primarily by rail and ship. A local shipping network is organized to bring goods between Monterey and Santa Cruz and San Francisco areas.

Actions To Achieve Vision

Regional Actions

1. Encourage City Council and Supervisors to modify General Plans and regulations to encourage biking, walking, and use of transit.

2. Campaign for bus route expansion to job and commercial sites and connection to rail systems.

3. Advocate for reconstruction of rail systems and the development of high speed rail. Attend meetings, write letters to officials (regional, federal govt., etc), campaign in support of rail development.

4. Advocate for a national system of electric charging stations for electric vehicles.

5. Support development of sail transport network in Monterey.

Local Community Actions

1. Encourage cities to improve bike lanes and sidewalks, review bicycle plans to improve safety and circulation, remove barriers that limit bike use, request bike racks outside of stores.

2. Close streets to cars and encourage pedestrian use.

3. Establish car co-ops and riding sharing programs.

4. Develop bike sharing and repair programs.

5. Create local bike-delivery company to bring items to those unable to travel.

Individual Actions

1. Learn to rely less on your car. Try not using your car for a day, week, or month.

2. Carpool, combine trips.

3. Get in shape, ride your bike or walk whenever possible to get around town.

4. Get a basket or cart to carry groceries.

5. Take the bus or train for longer trips; learn how to connect to regional buses and trains.

ENERGY

Conditions in 2030

Natural gas and fossil fuels are very expensive or unavailable. Heating, cooling, cooking, lighting and electricity is more expensive. Local utilities struggle to keep up with energy demand. During hot days or storms customers are without services for long periods. Electrical reliability is uneven.

Alternative Vision for 2030

People reduce their energy use through conservation and installing better insulation. Community and residential solar and wind systems provide additional capacity to supplement regional energy supplies. Methane is harvested from landfills to power local infrastructure. People learn to use energy wisely and urge utilities to invest in renewable energy.

Actions To Achieve Vision

Regional Actions

1. Insist that regional utilities increase the use of renewable energies. Meet with PGE to develop program to enhance solar, wind, and other renewable sources.

2. Develop County financing program to assist homeowners in installing solar.

3. Promote and support the development of local energy projects ( wind, solar, tidal, etc.).

4. Partner with utilities to provide energy saving information to residential and business customers. Sponsor workshops and classes.

5. Support the use of bio-fuels made from vegetable oil and waste energy projects to maximize energy from waste.

6. Conduct research on the true costs associated with commodities (growing food, making clothing, housing construction, etc) and educate the public regarding items that require less energy to produce.

Local Community Actions

1. Encourage cities, schools, and other large building owners to install solar panels to provide a portion of their own energy needs.

2. Establish teams to help people install clotheslines, insulation, and other energy saving devices. Insulation of homes and steps to reduce energy use in the home can substantially lower energy bills.

3. Ask City Councils to adopt ‘green’ building ordinances that include steps for remodeling.

4. Ask City Councils and Board to limit external use of lighting in building and landscapes.

Individual Actions

1. Try a day without using energy. Plan what you would do during a long energy disruption including how to keep warm, cook, wash, read, etc.

2. Do an energy audit; make the changes that are suggested, including insulating your home, changing light bulbs, converting to dual pane windows, adding curtains.

3. Contact a solar expert and determine whether solar would be right for your home.

4. Install a clothesline.

5. Get a barbeque or camping stove and build an outside oven.

6. Install a clean burning stove.

7. Reduce home heating, wear warm clothes.

WASTE

Conditions in 2030

Recycling levels remain low and landfills reach capacity and close. New landfills are needed and trucking of waste to distant areas is necessary to dispose of area waste. The ocean’s health is in jeopardy because of plastics and contaminants.

Alternative Vision for 2030

Recycling takes place on a large scale as people become aware and have easy access to recycling opportunities. Organic waste is composted at home or in school or community compost centers. Items that can be reused are collected at central drop off locations. People become used to carrying their own bags and insist that packaging be reduced. Plastic packaging and bags can be prohibited. Medicinal and other wastes are no longer flushed down the drain.

Actions To Achieve Vision

Regional Actions

1. Work to prohibit the use of styrofoam and plastic bags, campaign to promote use of cloth bags.

2. Research the amount of waste associated with products, develop campaign to target greatest offenders and contact companies to ask for reduced waste, have consumers asks stores to carry products that use less packaging.

3. Encourage the development of a regional program to require composting of organic waste. (San Francisco model)

4. Develop programs to prohibit medicals and other toxic substances from entering the sewage system.

Local Community Actions

1. Establish zero waste school lunch programs.

2. Develop on-site composting of food waste in home, school, and neighborhood gardens.

3. Create local areas to stockpile used materials for reuse.

4. Hold worm bin construction and care workshop

5. Conduct local campaign to request less packaging; write joint letters with store owners asking companies to reduce packaging.

Individual Actions

1. Recycling items.

2. Get a worm bin, compost organic wastes.

3. Recycle old clothes and all reusable items.

4. Use cloth bags.

5. Leave excess packaging at stores; ask stores to request less packing.

JOBS & ECONOMY

Conditions in 2030

Many large companies close (airlines, automobile, financial, etc.) As property, income and sales tax revenue continue to decline, the public sector contracts. Unemployment is high. Consumer credit is difficult to obtain as fewer people have jobs or the ability to pay back. Goods are more expensive and in short supply as transport and manufacturing costs rise.

Alternative Vision for 2030

Local economies are transformed to serve local residents. New local manufacturing is started. Apprenticeship programs develop to allow people to learn real skills that are needed in the community. Local barter and exchange systems allow people to offer services and obtain needed goods and services. Local currency is developed to help keep money circulating within the community.

Actions To Achieve Vision

Regional Actions

1. Conduct research to learn about where items are manufactured and identify items that are likely to be in short supply as fuel costs rise, determine what alternatives might exist locally, and support the development of local manufacturing.

2. Develop training programs in needed skills. Rethink jobs so to provide people with more opportunities than currently being utilized.

3. Provide incubator programs and other support for people to develop new skill sets and create their own businesses.

4. Develop apprentice programs to teach basic skills. (Home construction, repairs, baking, garden help, food storage, home repair, etc.)

5. Create local currency that is used for trade within the Monterey Area.

6. Create barter systems and local time bank exchanges.

7. Research how to the true cost of items, including disposal, can be identified. Work on legislation requiring companies to help support the cost of disposal.

8. Advocate for a new mentality about wealth and giving, the truly wealthy can demonstrate their wealth through the support community projects.

Community Sustainability Group Actions

1. Encourage people to change their patterns of consumption, reuse materials, salvage useable items, produce items needed in their community. Hold workshops to teach how to produce our own items from old materials.

2. Develop a shop local program. Urge local stores to carry items that are needed for daily activities. Stop shopping at regional shopping centers. Keep the consumer dollar within the community

3. Create a local program to support young people in starting needed businesses.

4. Conduct research to learn about local companies and identify how the community can best support their development and success, and promote creation of new local jobs.

Individual Actions

1. Shop locally. If an item is not available locally, ask a local store owner to carry it. Before buying new items, look for used, hold exchanges; give unwanted items to second hand shops.

2. Learn how to fix things, share your knowledge, keep materials for the future, before discarding review whether it is possible to keep screws, bolts, etc.

3. Learn carpentry and metal working.

4. Create a local barter networks, create a local time bank exchange.

5. Train to become a local specialist. Types of people that will be needed include: Gardeners/ Farmers, Seed and Grafting Specialist, Orchard Keeper, Bee Keepers, Organic Recyclers/Composters, Fishermen/women, Poultry Farmer Herder and Animal Specialist, Canners and Storage Specialists, Bakers and Cooks, Tools/ Building Supplies, Repair Specialist and Innovators, Carpenters and Other Builders–Salvage Yard Operator, Plumbers, Solar, Wind and Tidal Specialists, Exchange and Local Currency Coordinator, Bio-fuel Producer, Delivery People, Boaters, Police Fire and Protection, Herbalist, Public Health and Medical Specialists, Teachers

ARTS & EDUCATION

Conditions in 2030

Government can no longer fund library, parks, museum, and recreation programs. Funding for non-profits not readily available due to lack of large donors. People are not able to afford expensive theater, concerts, cable television, magazines and newspapers. Entertainment industry is substantially reduced.

Alternative Vision for 2030

Entertainment can be local. People gather in the evening to share their music, performances, and art. Weekly movies are shown in a central location and annual art events are held throughout the region to invite all to share their talent. People volunteer their time to help keep libraries, museums, and other cultural sites open. Story telling becomes an important art foam for encouraging positive visions for the future.

Actions To Achieve Vision

Regional Actions

1. Support programs to recruitment of volunteer music teachers, community theater, dance instructors

2. Hold regional talent contests.

Local Community Actions

1. Establish volunteer programs to help in staffing recreation, library, parks.

2. Play music together.

3. Hold neighborhood talent contests, show outdoor movies.

Individual Actions

1. Learn to play an instrument, play with others.

2. Learn to act, join a theater group.

3. Become a story teller.

4. Learn how to paint, draw, carpentry, ceramics, sewing, needlepoint, knitting.

HEALTH

Conditions in 2030

People are unable to afford health care. Fewer have insurance. People seek lower cost alternatives or forgo elective surgeries. Fewer specialists are required. Hospitals must close wings or close altogether.

Alternative Vision for 2030

Health promotion and prevention help to reduce the number of people with diabetes, cancer, heart problems, etc.

Diets change as a result of relying more on locally available vegetables and fruit. Movement and exercise is a large part of our daily activities. As diets become healthier and people exercise, there are fewer people with chronic diseases.

Actions To Achieve Vision

Regional Actions

1. Hold regional health promotion fairs to encourage healthy lifestyles - diet, exercise, and stress reduction.

2. Advocate for health care financing reforms to enable all to be able to purchase health coverage.

Local Community Actions

1. Hold local sport and exercise events, encourage movement.

2. Hold workshop with a herbalist to teach about plants that will help with health.

Individual Actions

1. Change your diet and educate others about the need to eat locally grown whole foods.

2. Increase exercise by biking, walking, yoga, and other forms of exercise.

3. Learn how to identify medicinal plants and prepare for use.

SECURITY

Conditions in 2030

Tax revenues lower. Government unable to fully fund police and fire. Increased potential for violence due to high unemployment and food shortages.

Alternative Vision for 2030

Neighborhood Watch programs develop to help to supplement strained public services. People are trained to respond to emergencies and how to stock provisions for periods with lack of water, electricity, or gas. Community generators and central food sites are identified to help during emergencies.

Actions To Achieve Vision

Regional Actions

1. Work with the County Office of Emergency Services to hold training for those responding to energy shortages and extreme climate events.

Local Community Actions

1. Request and help cities hold emergency preparedness training in anticipation of energy shortages and extreme climate events.

Individual Actions