Are we all "Sheeple" or "Content Wolves"

[Melensdad]

You see a crazy person on the street, shouting, acting the fool. Or maybe on a bus or a train. You sit there and just watch silently, saying nothing.

The government regulates shower heads . . . maybe you complain on the inter-webs or bitch at the barber shop?

Maybe crime in your city skyrockets because the judicial system operates as a 'catch & release' system?

Are you a "sheeple" who just goes along, silently? Or are you just not pushed far enough so you are still comfortable, you have your shower head, don't need to buy a new low-flow shower. The crazed guy in public left you alone. So you just are in your comfort zone. And as long as you are in your comfort zone you are content, comfortable, and not ready to pounce, like a pack of wolves who stay quiet at the edge of the woods.

I would contend, that most people are actually comfortable or content wolves. Most people have not been pushed far enough. So we are temporarily just sitting back and watching. But to suspect that the mass population is filled with SHEEPLE is probably very inaccurate, at least that is what I think.

​

I'm not looking for an angry debate, not looking at politics, just curious what peoples ​

opinions are on the thought about the nature of people as I have postulated above. ​

​

Temporarily comfortable wolves -- or -- Sheeple waiting for slaughter?​

Take a look at the farmer revolts around Europe:

• Dutch farmers took their tractors to the streets and shut down the country. Admittedly a small nation.
• Canadian Truckers effectively did the same thing, with quite a bit of public support.
• Jan 6 a bunch of people protested in Washington DC, perhaps slightly inappropriately.
• French farmers have circled the government buildings in Paris.
• German farmers & truckers are dumping manure, shutting down traffic, and camping out in mass protests.

Just one of dozens of articles:

‘I want a total change to the system’

spiked meets the German farmers and truckers revolting against the green elites.

www.spiked-online.com

 

[FrancSevin]

Most of us would rather just go on with our lives and not meet the world with confrontations. The revolution of 1776 didn't start in 1774. Remember, George Washington was once an officer in the British army.
Loyalty to the "King" was sacrosanct.

As for the general population the concept of "freedom", as we now enjoy it, was nonexistent.

It took decades of disgust with the Crown before enough emotion welled to create our first and famous "Insurrection."
And to the point of the OP, only about 10% of the population was mad enough to pick up weapons and act.
As much "bitching" as we see in the press, on TV and our internet forums, we ain't there yet

 

[pirate_girl]

I'm not a sheeple, and never have been.

 

[chowderman]

I buy a nice shiny new shower head - and remove / drill out the restricter.
same with kitchen faucets and spray nozzles.

after many years of "Navy showering" I have NO patience with government telling me how much hot water I can use . . .

 

[m1west]

Nothing will happen until it get too uncomfortable for the masses, before the Revolutionary war was the same. One of the catalysts was forced quartering of British soldiers in private homes. How you feel about housing some illegals? Thats already been mentioned in some areas. Oppression and attacks on farmers could be another or when they come to seize guns or property. I would have thought messing with peoples kids in school with the sex and gay crap would have, but it didn't, so who knows what the limits will be or not.

 

[FrancSevin]

Nothing will happen until it get too uncomfortable for the masses, before the Revolutionary war was the same. One of the catalysts was forced quartering of British soldiers in private homes. How you feel about housing some illegals? Thats already been mentioned in some areas. Oppression and attacks on farmers could be another or when they come to seize guns or property. I would have thought messing with peoples kids in school with the sex and gay crap would have, but it didn't, so who knows what the limits will be or not.

Good points.

Our society today is quite different than the white Christian dominated society of 1776. Most especially the upper-class civic leaders like Jefferson, Revere, Madison and John Adams. These guys weren't saints. But there was a degree of what was publicly acceptable values and morality. Much different than public opinion seems to be today.

Perhaps that is why nothing about abortion or sexual orientation is present in the Constitution.

 

[Melensdad]

Nothing will happen until it get too uncomfortable for the masses, before the Revolutionary war was the same. One of the catalysts was forced quartering of British soldiers in private homes. How you feel about housing some illegals? Thats already been mentioned in some areas. Oppression and attacks on farmers could be another or when they come to seize guns or property. I would have thought messing with peoples kids in school with the sex and gay crap would have, but it didn't, so who knows what the limits will be or not.

This is to the point I was trying to question. WHEN and even IF people will stand up, or lay down.

The World Economic Forum folks who just ended their meetings in DAVOS actually was worried that they are losing control over people. They lamented that they can't control the media anymore, which means they lost the ability to control messaging. They were discussing ways to manage "misinformation" and "disinformation" across the media.

I buy a nice shiny new shower head - and remove / drill out the restricter.
same with kitchen faucets and spray nozzles.

after many years of "Navy showering" I have NO patience with government telling me how much hot water I can use . . .

Not trying to confront anyone, but pointing out that that is more of a sheeple action and sneakily doing a work around. Like the black market economy in the USSR which lasted for several generations before the USSR finally collapsed. People did plenty of work arounds, few got caught. Sort of an open secret.

I'm not a sheeple, and never have been.

OK, so you march in public protests? You go to school board meetings to tell the school board to keep the drag queens and porn out of the grandkids school library?

I'm not arguing with you but just pointing out we can have personal attitudes and public actions and they can be different. Perhaps, that is, until people are actually pushed hard enough???

 

[pirate_girl]

This is to the point I was trying to question. WHEN and even IF people will stand up, or lay down.

The World Economic Forum folks who just ended their meetings in DAVOS actually was worried that they are losing control over people. They lamented that they can't control the media anymore, which means they lost the ability to control messaging. They were discussing ways to manage "misinformation" and "disinformation" across the media.




Not trying to confront anyone, but pointing out that that is more of a sheeple action and sneakily doing a work around. Like the black market economy in the USSR which lasted for 2.5 generations before the USSR finally collapsed. People did plenty of work arounds, few got caught. Sort of an open secret.



OK, so you march in public protests? You go to school board meetings to tell the school board to keep the drag queens and porn out of the grandkids school library?

I'm not arguing with you but just pointing out we can have personal attitudes and public actions and they can be different. Perhaps, that is, until people are actually pushed hard enough???

Perhaps I misunderstood your talking point.
What I am saying is I've always been one to march to my own drum.
Exception would be for example, the covid vaccine.
I didn't want to take it, was pissed when we initially thought we were going to be FORCED to take it, but in the end, I caved and got it, for the sake of my job.

Furthermore, I'm thinking more along the lines of being woke vs awake.
I'm awake.
Always.

 

[Melensdad]

Perhaps I misunderstood your talking point.
...

Yes, I was referring to ACTUAL and defiant action. Physically standing up. Public counter action. Not private acts/thoughts. Not clandestine private actions that don't affect others. But actually fighting back.

Not necessarily against the government. But also against unsocial behavior, pre/post civilized actions in public, private business practices that have 'gone to far' from the norm, etc etc etc

 

[pirate_girl]

Okay, I gotcha.
For a minute there, I thought you were messing with my sensible sensibilities

 

[FrancSevin]

Perhaps I misunderstood your talking point.
What I am saying is I've always been one to march to my own drum.
Exception would be for example, the covid vaccine.
I didn't want to take it, was pissed when we initially thought we were going to be FORCED to take it, but in the end, I caved and got it, for the sake of my job.

Furthermore, I'm thinking more along the lines of being woke vs awake.
I'm awake.
Always.

Like MelensDad said;
Not trying to confront anyone, but pointing out that that is more of a sheeple action and sneakily doing a work around.

This is an example of the problem. Being forced by the government, or our employer via the government, to do something against our will. We give up our liberty either all at once by capitulation to a superior enemy, or a little at a time incrementally.
Facing a superior military force is a simple decision of surrender or die. But we are losing our liberties via incremental incursions into our personal freedoms.

I was lucky. As the owner of our company I would not force compliance of the shot. I myself refused. My body my choice. As to masking, I wore it out of respect to the proprietor when needed, but usually opted to shop elsewhere. The paper mask was a worthless joke, almost insulting. And I said so to every medical person when at a medical center. Amazingly, though annoyed, they all agreed but it was a "policy." they had to enforce.

So even medical people, who had enough education to know better, insisted on "compliance" just to get along. And that is how we will be enslaved.

Look at the complacency over the January 6th "insurrection" trials of peaceful protestors. Hypocrisy on steroids. Hundreds, perhaps thousands go to jail for relatively misdemeanor so called crimes. Not a one has been convicted of "insurrection."

And no one is taking up arms.

COVID19 exposed the weakness of our population to subjugation. Because,in2021, we the people trusted out government and the media. This time around, not so much.
Hopefully that complacency is over.

 

[Melensdad]

And now the Scots are taking to their tractors in protest.

 

[Melensdad]

France

 

[pirate_girl]

I've not seen anything about this yet on any of the BBC channels.
They're covering the storms.

 

[Melensdad]

Italy and Poland

 

[Melensdad]

So we have all that type of stuff going on, with people standing up against policies.
But very little going on to actually protect people.
At what point with the lambs resist their own slaughter and (literally in some places) shoot back to protect their own lives?
This from England, where 3 Jewish men were almost beaten to death, but no right to self-defense there.

 

[Melensdad]

And to the point some have made about sex in schools, we have the media questioning a mom (leader of a parent group) how is she qualified . . . but mom at least is fighting back. She is clearly no longer a "comfortable wolf."

 

[Melensdad]

And here is an entire nation pushing back against a 'cashless' Europe. Never thought of Swedes as wolves. But maybe they are?

 

[Melensdad]

I've not seen anything about this yet on any of the BBC channels.
They're covering the storms.

Nor is it on the US news. Nor is it on France24. Nor is it really anywhere other than the "new media" sources. That is part of the problem.

One of our members lamented liberalism given the dominance of FoxNews. But FoxNews has very few actual viewers. And CNN and MSNBC combined have more than Fox. And all their viewers combined are still a tiny % of the US population.
So people who watch, almost exclusively, the legacy media sources, even the right leaning legacy sources, get only the news the corporate media wants you to see.

This is EXACTLY what the World Economic Forum hopes continues. But they also admit they are losing their grip.

 

[tommu56]

just my opinion

"SHEEPLE = RINO"
Until enough people get tired of paying $3.00 a loaf of cheap bread and $7.00 for a gallon of gas it will continue.

One could only inflation go's crazy from august till December and those voters will vote for their pocketbook in November.
And we have to get enough votes to override the crooked vote’s

 

[Melensdad]

"SHEEPLE = RINO"
Until enough people get tired of paying $3.00 a loaf of cheap bread and $7.00 for a gallon of gas it will continue.

RESPECTFULLY I would disagree.

I do think there are a lot of Sheeple who will accept whatever little they get.

But I think there are a lot of politically liberal who are "comfortable wolves" and just haven't been pushed hard enough. Look at all the people leaving BLUE states and moving to RED state. Many of them were pushed too hard and fled for greener pastures. Regardless of political leanings, those are wolves who got seriously un-comfortable. And studies show when they move to a new state they are politically awakened/changed.

Look at the moms who stand up to their school boards because they don't want their 8 year old child (3rd grade) to see books in the school library that show illustrations of strap on dildos or oral sex or read about incest. Many of these moms voted "D" all their lives. These moms had enough they are beyond uncomfortable and turned into wolves.

Look at the urban Blacks who are protesting against hand outs going to illegal migrants. Do you think those are Rinos? They grew up in the confines of the Democratic 'plantation' and were spoon fed union indoctrination and liberal "we will take care of you" policies for generations. But they have become very uncomfortable wolves and are showing their fangs, holding press conferences, marching in some cities, protesting outside city counsel chambers. They are not Rinos.

So no, I respectfully have to say that Sheeple are not Rinos

 

[FrancSevin]

RESPECTFULLY I would disagree.

I do think there are a lot of Sheeple who will accept whatever little they get.

But I think there are a lot of politically liberal who are "comfortable wolves" and just haven't been pushed hard enough. Look at all the people leaving BLUE states and moving to RED state. Many of them were pushed too hard and fled for greener pastures. Regardless of political leanings, those are wolves who got seriously un-comfortable. And studies show when they move to a new state they are politically awakened/changed.

Look at the moms who stand up to their school boards because they don't want their 8 year old child (3rd grade) to see books in the school library that show illustrations of strap on dildos or oral sex or read about incest. Many of these moms voted "D" all their lives. These moms had enough they are beyond uncomfortable and turned into wolves.

Look at the urban Blacks who are protesting against hand outs going to illegal migrants. Do you think those are Rinos? They grew up in the confines of the Democratic 'plantation' and were spoon fed union indoctrination and liberal "we will take care of you" policies for generations. But they have become very uncomfortable wolves and are showing their fangs, holding press conferences, marching in some cities, protesting outside city counsel chambers. They are not Rinos.

So no, I respectfully have to say that Sheeple are not Rinos

Instead of moving, which allows the liberals to gain more power over the sheep, they could have stayed and fought to change their government. Instead, they fled.

 

[Melensdad]

Instead of moving, which allows the liberals to gain more power over the sheep, they could have stayed and fought to change their government. Instead, they fled.

Well the other way to look at it is they took their resources before they were confiscated or the valued was destroyed and they started producing in a state that rewards work. Doing this leaves the old state weaker, the free markets will decide the ultimate victor, but when producers and wealth leave 1 state (or nation) and to elsewhere, they also take away the taxes that they would have been paid to the state they left, leaving it with a budgetary hole.

Moving is a legitimate form of voting with your feet. And your pocket book.

Just like passing by a store that has a sign in the window that may offend you. Pass it buy. Using your logic of staying in that state and applying it to a retail store, you seem to suggest you go shop in the store and then complain about the sign. The store says they are keeping the sign. You continue shopping there week after week. Sign is still there. You complaints are still there. So it is with some states and their policies.

At some point it is better to skip that store or move out of that state. Doing so deprives them of your income. If enough people do it, results happen naturally.

 

[Melensdad]

And along this theme, the "wolves" just won a round in court in Canada.

Trudeau's Orwellian Attack On Canadian Truckers Declared Unconstitutional | ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero

www.zerohedge.com

There is video and more at the ZeroHedge link above, but here is the story...

Trudeau's Orwellian Attack On Canadian Truckers Declared Unconstitutional​

Canada's Federal Court ruled on Tuesday that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's use of the Emergencies Act in 2022 to punish protesting truckers was both unreasonable and unconstitutional.​

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​

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"I have concluded that the decision to issue the Proclamation does ​

not bear the hallmarks of reasonableness — justification, transparency ​

and intelligibility — and was not justified in relation to ​

the relevant factual and legal constraints that were required to be taken ​

into consideration," wrote Justice Richard G. Mosley in his ruling.​

​

The decision follows an application for judicial review requested by the Canadian Constitution Foundation, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, and various other applicants who cried foul over the use of emergency measures to quell Freedom Convoy protests in Ottawa, which allowed the government to freeze the bank accounts of protesters, conscript tow truck drivers, and arrest people for participating in assemblies deemed illegal by Trudeau's government.​

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According to Mosley, Trudeau's regulations had violated Charter rights - particularly against freedom of thought, opinion and expression. The Emergencies Act order was also found to infringe on the right to security against unreasonable search and seizure.​

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"It is declared that the decision to issue the Proclamation and the association Regulations and Order was unreasonable and ultra vires the Emergencies Act," reads the ruling.​

​

​

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"It is declared that the decision that the Regulations infringed ​

section 2 (b) of the Charter and declared that the Order infringed ​

section 8 of the Charter and that neither ​

infringement was justified under section 1."​

​

The Canadian Constitution Foundation had initiated the judicial review, expressing concerns over what they deemed as a severe example of government overreach and violations of civil liberties during the pandemic.​

“The Trudeau government’s use of this extraordinary law may be the most severe example of overreach and violations of civil liberties that was seen during the pandemic,” said Van Geyn at the time. ​

“The use of this powerful law was unauthorized because the legal threshold to use the law was not met. The Emergencies Act contains a last resort clause: it can only be used when there is a national emergency and there are no other laws at the federal, provincial and/or municipal levels which can address the situation. Parliament cannot use the Emergencies Act as a tool of convenience, as it did in this case.” -TNC.news​

The government plans to appeal the ruling.​

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Things are going great for Trudeau, eh?​

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​

 

[Kevlar]

The thing is with Trudeau is nothing will come of it, absolutely nothing. There have been people in positions of power to have stopped this idiot years ago but did nothing at all. His career is over and everyone knows it, so now the courts and everyone who could have tossed that piece of garbage in jail are trying to make it look like they give a $hit now so it looks like they are doing their job and appease whoever gets into power next. Just because something looks like it’s getting done albeit years late is nothing more than theatrics . No different than Biden now addressing the border crisis.

 

[FrancSevin]

Well the other way to look at it is they took their resources before they were confiscated or the valued was destroyed and they started producing in a state that rewards work. Doing this leaves the old state weaker, the free markets will decide the ultimate victor, but when producers and wealth leave 1 state (or nation) and to elsewhere, they also take away the taxes that they would have been paid to the state they left, leaving it with a budgetary hole.

Moving is a legitimate form of voting with your feet. And your pocket book.

Just like passing by a store that has a sign in the window that may offend you. Pass it buy. Using your logic of staying in that state and applying it to a retail store, you seem to suggest you go shop in the store and then complain about the sign. The store says they are keeping the sign. You continue shopping there week after week. Sign is still there. You complaints are still there. So it is with some states and their policies.

At some point it is better to skip that store or move out of that state. Doing so deprives them of your income. If enough people do it, results happen naturally.

Of course you are right.
However, States like Californica and New York will never learn the lesson from the folks who stay, comfortable and happy in their subjugation.
And still voting liberal. Their huge state winning national elections.

 

[Melensdad]

Of course you are right.
However, States like Californica and New York will never learn the lesson from the folks who stay, comfortable and happy in their subjugation.
And still voting liberal. Their huge state winning national elections.

And both states actually LOST representation in the US House of Representatives while a few Red States gained those seats.

 

[FrancSevin]

And both states actually LOST representation in the US House of Representatives while a few Red States gained those seats.

That was because of the 2020 census. The census happens every ten years. The political realignment from people leaving the state is glacial.
Half the population could leave Californica or New York this year could leave, and the Congress would not change until 2032.
BTW, they lost seats in 2021 because California did not grow as fast as other states.

What everyone is getting wrong about Calif. losing a House seat

California may have lost a seat, but it gained 2.2 million people since 2010.

www.sfgate.com

 

[Melensdad]

Yes it was the 2020 census, and it will occur again in 2030.

But that doesn't mean much as we see the "content" or "comfortable" wolves being pushed ever harder. And the point I'm making is that people will only get pushed so far. And then they will push back, in unison, with alliances that would have been unrealized a decade or two ago.

Suburban mom's kids are being "trans'd" while inner city mom's kids are in schools that are abject failures. Those moms have something in common. The dollar has been deflated and now food is becoming unattainable for many, heat unaffordable for those who have homes, and homes out of affordability reach of those in apartments. All this while crime escalates from inner city pockets to the white collar city neighborhoods and spilling out into the suburbs. These workers of all incomes see unfettered illegal immigration as a common problem that is putting pressure on housing prices, straining all resources, and increasing crime.

The editorial below is all pro-Trump, but it also makes some solid points that we see happing in the news every day. Are the content wolves waking up?

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2024/01/24/its_almost_morning_in_america_150374.html

It’s Almost Morning in America​

COMMENTARY​

Boston Globe/Suffolk​

It might not seem like it right now, but it’s almost morning in America again.

​

Americans of all sides are waking up. Democrats, Independents, and Republicans are uniting around shared concerns.​

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Big city mothers aiming to rescue their children from failing schools and suburban moms losing their kids to woke educators are both waking up to the broken education system, where administrators get bigger and bigger salaries while kids suffer.​

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Meanwhile, both “granola” foodies and conservative farmers are becoming aware of the broken food system, where small farmers struggle, and it’s impossible to ban chemicals we know harm our kids. Despite citizens trying to effect change, their efforts are in vain against the flood of lobbying dollars.​

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Tucker Carlson and Bill Maher share deep concerns about a flawed justice system, where due process is diminishing and trust in the FBI and the Department of Justice is waning. Independents from Georgia and liberals from Chicago unite in their dissatisfaction with an immigration system that prioritizes foreigners over Americans.​

​

These diverse groups are seeking an outsider, a problem solver. One candidate can cut through the noise and address these significant issues. President Trump remains untethered to special interests, unswayed by partisan press, and driven by the principle of “America First.” His unique position enables collaboration across party lines for the benefit of all Americans.​

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These unusual alliances offer the greatest opportunity for unity in our nation. Yet, some of my neighbors still say, “I liked what he did in his first term, but I don’t agree with his antics.”​

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President Trump’s unconventional methods, which yielded success in his first term, are why a diverse group of Americans believe he can once again deliver on the changes they so desperately desire.​

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My late husband, Foster, often said, “My success in building a billion-dollar business came from harnessing people’s strengths and ignoring their weaknesses.” President Trump is far from perfect (aren’t we all), but tens of millions of Americans feel that nobody is listening to them except Donald Trump. Where conventional politicians left broken promises, President Trump delivered.​

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Notable accomplishments include an 87% reduction in illegal border crossings where President Trump’s wall was built, the replacement of NAFTA with trade deals prioritizing American workers, brokering peace between Israel and Arab-Muslim nations, the bipartisan First Step Act – the pioneering criminal justice reform legislation aiding former inmates in rejoining society.​

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Unemployment rates for women, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and those without a high school diploma all reached the lowest rate in nearly 70 years. And along with the largest tax reform package in history, your gas was around $2 a gallon.​

​

The alternative is a president who has willfully neglected his constitutional duty to protect Americans and secure our borders, turned a blind eye to a reckless Department of Justice, and failed to restore order to our schools and our cities. His focus? Ukraine, benefits for illegal immigrants, and taking away your gas stove.​

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I’m supporting an agenda that is focused on securing the border, fixing immigration, transforming the educational landscape, and “cleaning house” to restore trust in our government. President Donald Trump can lead that agenda and unite our country around solving big problems.​

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The fog is breaking, and dawn is coming. The time has come to invest in former President Trump’s reelection. I invite you to join me. It’s almost morning in America!​

 

[Melensdad]

Not sure who was watching the World Economic Forum in Davos.

One speaker advocated that farming, fishing needs to be outlawed.





Well now we have this story. Urban gardening has 6x the carbon footprint of commercial farming. Home gardening (presumably in the suburbs), as outlined in other stories has a carbon footprint 5x greater. So are they coming for your heirloom tomatoes, your pumpkin patch and your pickling cucumbers now? YES. YES they will be!

What wonderful timing for this study to be produced, the 'experts' at Davos, who want to control our every moment in life, say we are committing "ecocide" and that needs to be stopped. When will the wolves be pushed far enough, or are we all sheeple who will grumble among ourselves and then comply???


Hometown food 5x larger carbon footprint . . .

Carbon footprint of homegrown food five times greater than those grown conventionally

Growing your own food in an allotment may not be as good for the environment as expected, a study suggests.

news.yahoo.com

Carbon footprint of homegrown food five times greater than those grown conventionally​

Mon, January 22, 2024 at 2:02 PM CST​

​

Growing your own food in an allotment may not be as good for the environment as expected, a study suggests.​

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The carbon footprint of homegrown foods is five times greater than produce from conventional agricultural practices, such as rural farms, data show.​

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A study from the University of Michigan looked at how much CO2 was produced when growing food in different types of urban farms and found that, on average, a serving of food made from traditional farms creates 0.07kg of CO2.​

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The impact on the environment is almost five times higher at 0.34kg per portion for individual gardens, such as vegetable patches or allotments.​

Study finds that urban agriculture must be carefully planned to have climate benefits

A new University of Michigan-led international study finds that fruits and vegetables grown in urban farms and gardens have a carbon footprint that is, on average, six times greater than conventionally grown produce.

news.umich.edu

FULL STORY at the link above ^

Food from urban agriculture has carbon footprint 6 times larger than conventional produce, study shows​

Preparing seedlings for planting at a collective garden in London, England. Urban food production spaces like this can provide numerous social and community benefits but require careful crop selection and management to cut the carbon footprints of cities. Image credit: Victoria Schoen​

A new University of Michigan-led international study finds that fruits and vegetables grown in urban farms and gardens have a carbon footprint that is, on average, six times greater than conventionally grown produce.​

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However, a few city-grown crops equaled or outperformed conventional agriculture under certain conditions. Tomatoes grown in the soil of open-air urban plots had a lower carbon intensity than tomatoes grown in conventional greenhouses, while the emissions difference between conventional and urban agriculture vanished for air-freighted crops like asparagus.​

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“The exceptions revealed by our study suggest that urban agriculture practitioners can reduce their climate impacts by cultivating crops that are typically greenhouse-grown or air-freighted, in addition to making changes in site design and management,” said study co-lead author Jason Hawes, a doctoral student at U-M’s School for Environment and Sustainability.​

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“Urban agriculture offers a variety of social, nutritional and place-based environmental benefits, which make it an appealing feature of future sustainable cities. This work shines light on ways to ensure that urban agriculture benefits the climate, as well as the people and places it serves.”​

. . .​

Despite strong evidence of the social and nutritional benefits of urban agriculture, its carbon footprint remains understudied. Most previously published studies have focused on high-tech, energy-intensive forms of UA—such as vertical farms and rooftop greenhouses—even though the vast majority of urban farms are decidedly low-tech: crops grown in soil on open-air plots. ​

. . .​

Three types of urban agriculture sites were analyzed: urban farms (professionally managed and focused on food production), individual gardens (small plots managed by single gardeners) and collective gardens (communal spaces managed by groups of gardeners).​

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For each site, the researchers calculated the climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions associated with on-farm materials and activities over the lifetime of the farm. The emissions, expressed in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents per serving of food, were then compared to foods raised by conventional methods. . . ​