Abstract
This paper explains that sustainability refers to a practice of farming that depends primarily or completely on practices, such as proper planting and rotation of the land without applying materials trucked in from afar to remediate what should never have been damaged in the first place. The author points out that Smit believed that urban food security in the relatively near future could rest partly on locally grown and sold food, with production based on renewable local resources, such as composting in the backyard rather than on fossil fuels. The paper argues that sustainable urban agriculture may become a national defense because even under siege for a very long time, residents of cities would not starve to death.

Table of Contents
"Traditional" Agriculture
"Sustainable" Agriculture
What's Best for the Future?

From the Paper
"Tilman et. al. suggest that sustainable agriculture must be accompanied by advances in energy use, transportation and so on. In short, they do not so much lobby for a scaled-down, friendly, homegrown sort of urban farming Smit outlined; rather, they seem to suggest that more attention should be paid to improving 'big ag.' Still, what they desire for big ag is not entirely without sustainability merit. They suggest multiple cropping systems with crop rotation and intercropping, with two crops grown side by side and simultaneously. That, they note, may improve pest control and water and nutrient efficiency."

Tags:disaster, siege, compost, local, low-income

Abstract
With all of the problems found in the adolescent sexuality of the inner city African American community, problems are just as common in more rural, more seemingly innocent, cultures such as that of the Amish. The paper shows that the simpler throwback Amish culture is one whose sexuality can be just as male-centric and just as harmful to its adolescents as that found in the big bustling looming city. This paper discusses the varied sexualities thrust upon youth in both the African American urban culture and the United States' small but noteworthy Amish culture, comparing and contrasting the two societies' beliefs.

From the Paper
"It's a concern for many, for researchers, city leaders, conservative and liberal politicians, community members, and distanced bigots: the rise in sexual promiscuity in the African American community. What is sometimes almost jokingly referred to within the black community as "babies having babies" is not a comical matter when the multitudes of unwanted or uncared-for children are counted, when the list of sexually transmitted diseases and complications is read, when the adverse and overarching effects of lost innocence and premature sexuality are admitted. Yet, with all of the problems found in the adolescent sexuality of the inner city African American community, problems are just as common in more rural, more seemingly "innocent" cultures, such as that of the Amish."

Tags:amish, africanamerican, sexuality

Abstract
This paper comments that, while living in cities provides obvious benefits such as art and culture, access to food and medicine and trade, there is an adverse effect as well. The paper refers to a number of articles by Brechin, Pena, and Foster, among others, who all write on the subject. The writer concludes that, while each article may have some value, the reality is that we do live in cities and, at least in the foreseeable future, will continue to do so.

From the Paper
"There must be few citizens of the 21st century - at least few who are citizens of both the 21st century and the First World - who do not view the city as a problematic accomplishment of humanity. Certainly, cities are the highest expression of human civilization, at least in some ways: They support the flourishing of the arts and culture, of haute cuisine and high-tech medicine, of universities and research labs. But cities are also the expressions of the worst that humans have created, both in terms of how we treat each other and in terms of how we treat the planet, as the readings that we are examining for this paper argue. The city is many things, but it is and always has been essentially a site of commerce, and the basing of relationships upon commercial grounds is never unproblematic."

Tags:consumer, community, public, farming, california, mexico

Abstract
This paper explains that both the Australian movies "Babe" (1995) and "Babe: Pig in the City" (1998) center on the title character, Babe, a cute talking pig that is continually thrust into extraordinary circumstances; however, despite both starring Babe, the pig protagonist, the movies themselves are very dissimilar. The author points out that (1) "Babe" is non-picaresque but 'Babe: A Pig in the City' is relatively picaresque, (2) 'Babe' features only a few and less varied animals but the animals in "Babe: Pig in the City" are more varied and (3) "Babe" takes place on a farm with Farmer Hoggett, the main human character, while "Babe: Pig in the City" takes place in the city with Mrs. Hoggett the main human character. The paper concludes that both stories are skillfully told, moral, entertaining, humorous and deeply satisfying.

Outline
Introduction and Thesis Statement
Non-picaresque ("Babe") vs. Picaresque ("Babe: Pig in the City")
Animals in "Babe" vs. Animals in "Babe: Pig in the City"
Farm Setting of "Babe" vs. City Setting of "Babe: Pig in the City"
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The Hoggett farm where Babe (1995) mainly takes place is, after all (notwithstanding the presence of a whole cadre of talking animals) a rather ordinary farm. However, the city where Babe and Mrs. Hoggett find themselves, within "Babe: Pig in the City", is no ordinary city. It features the Hollywood sign, the Sydney Opera House, and the Statue of Liberty, for example, all in one. It is, overall, a rather heartless city, but it still possesses a hotel with an owner kind enough to accept and care for, many animals, a sort of "homeless shelter" for unfortunate creatures."

Tags:anthropomorphism, farm, dissimilar, animals, moral

Abstract
Wang Anyi's "The Destination" depicts the struggle of a former zhiqing trying to cope with his return to life and his family in Shanghai after ten years in Xinjiang. This paper discusses the autobiographical elements from the novel. It shows how the story of the protagonist parallels the life experiences of the author as a teenager, who left her family for a decade to attend military farms in the Chinese countryside.

From the Paper
"Fearful that Chen Xin will marry and claim his half of the one room, the older brother starts maneuvering to get a ration card, which will entitle him and his wife to the room permanently. The sister-in-law goes so far as to suggest that Chen Xin should consider marrying someone he feels is totally unsuitable in order to take advantage of the room the prospective bride's parent's are dangling as bait to get someone to marry their unattractive daughter."

Tags:Chen, Xin, Aunt, Shen, Yuan, Red, Guard

Abstract
The paper states that in Iceland, traditionally, farm labour and fishing were the primary sources of income for many citizens. These types of labor took place in the countryside and in small fishing villages, hence drawing a specific people to live there. Whilst city dwellers tended to have more qualified jobs, the poorer families lived off of the land. The paper notes that this led to a certain stereotype of the countryside 'peasants'. The paper further comments that Icelandic literature often discusses both town and country citizens, comparing the differences in lifestyle between the two, and how each is represented. The paper analyses several Icelandic novels featuring the Icelandic people living in farmhouses compared to those living in the towns. The paper then assesses whether one group of people is seen as inferior to the other, and the differences between them, and how each group is viewed by the other, or by those outside of Iceland.

From the Paper
" Those in the countryside were forced to lead more serious lives, and had far too many day-to-day worries concerning their survival to engage in frivolous conversations that had no real purpose or meaning to them. We can tell this immediately from how serious all of Bjartur's children are. Whilst in the cities, Bjartur describes young women as "brazen-faced young sluts...fit for nothing but parading the streets and living on their parents like parasites" , his children, with their country upbringing, are expected to work sixteen hour days."

'

Tags:magnificence, brazen-faced, young, sluts, common, punishment

Abstract
This paper explains the land use and management strategies of the Anoka Sandplain, which can be used for light industry such as sand and gravel mining, community districts such as business and residential areas and farming of alfalfa. The author believes that, when managing sandplains, we should take a cue from Mother Nature, which requires no outside inputs. The author feels that the best management is xeriscaping, which is landscaping that involves using plants that have minimal water requirements once established and require very little maintenance in general.

From the Paper
"Land management through erosion control is also important on the Residential and Commercial level. Practices in these areas include, the use of barriers preventing surface erosion from building sites to enter the natural environment. Also by using erosion blankets on loose soil, planting native grasses to hold soil, and by using retaining walls to hold critical slopes."

Tags:xeriscaping, inputs, commercial, residential, alfalfa

Abstract
The paper examines Chapter XLV of Theodore Dreiser's "Sister Carrie" and describes the literary realism that depicts how the character of Hurstwood must survive the grim reality of poverty in the city. The paper also looks at Hamlin Garland's short story "Under The Lion's Paw" from his work "Main Travelled Roads", which uses literary realism to reveal the grim reality of farm life.

From the Paper
"The first reason why literary realism exists in the work of garland's "Under the Lion's Paw" is the way that he defines the life of farmer's, and the often brutal conditions that they must work within as poor workers of the land. The reality of the farmer's life is apparent in Mrs. Council's narrative:
""Yes, I do my own work," Mrs. Council was heard to say in the pause which followed. "I'm getting purty heavy t' be on m'laigs all day, but we can't afford t'hire (Garland, p.491)."

Tags:farm, city, Hurstwood

Abstract
This paper examines how horses played a major role in the development of Canada in the era before Confederation and for some time after that date. It looks at how horses were a major means of transportation in the wild areas of Canada, how they were used to draw various forms of transportation in towns and cities and how they served as well as work animals on farms and in other capacities. It looks at how horses were a commodity and were early part of the trade settlers in Canada conducted with the United States, providing horses to buyers from the south. It also discusses how the horse served as a symbol and became a key part of various Canadian institutions, with the "mounted" section of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police being a key remainder of the importance of the horse in the past and today.

Outline
Introduction
Early Need for Horses
The Re-Introduction of the Horse
The Canadian Horse
Discussion and Conclusion

From the Paper
"Throughout North America, three staple trades helped open the northern regions to economic activity. Those staples consisted of fish, fur, and timber. Later, agricultural settlement established permanent economic, social, and political life in the new regions. Settlers discovered that what was critical for the earliest European colonies in North America was that they be reasonably self supporting in terms of food production: "Farmers 'put down roots' in ways that fur traders and timber operators did not" ("The Wheat Staple and Early Agriculture"). Agriculture is usually seen as a necessary component for economic development and as the most basic element of all. Observers of the Canadian experience state that the issue is more peculiar in the Canadian case for several reasons."

Tags:farming, transport, commodity

Abstract
The paper examines the Shakers, the Oneida settlement, and George Ripley's Brook Farm, an experiment in American Fourierism. The paper describes how each of these societies flourished for a while, and had specific ideas about work, education and social structure. The paper clearly shows how these utopian communities were all couched in religious beliefs and spirituality of some sort, they all desired a life away from the city and based on the community, and they all wanted to be economically successful.

Outline:
The Shakers and Female Equality
The Oneida Community and "Complex Marriage"
Brook Farm and American Fourierism

From the Paper
"The official name of the Shaker sect was the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing. They were popularly known as the "Shaking Quakers" because of their shaking and dancing during their religious services, which led to their popular name of Shakers. The initial group emigrated from England before the American Revolution, and they gained a wide following by the 1830s. Even though they believed in celibacy, they are one of the longest surviving utopian societies, although there are only a handful of practicing Shakers living in a small community in Maine today. They are known for their craftsmanship and their longevity in the utopian community. One author notes, "'No other community created and sustained its own modes in music, the crafts, and even in architecture as did the Shakers'" (Foster, 1991, p. 17). The sect was founded by Ann Lee, later called Mother Ann, and was often led by female leaders. They practiced celibacy, so women were free of childbirth and could focus on other aspects of society and religion (Foster, 1999, p. 18). The Shakers lived a remarkably structured and restrictive life, where they ate together, worked together, worshipped together, and lived together in same-sex housing. While they did promote female equality in their religion, their society was so restrictive that true equality did not exist. Author Foster continues, "In short, the degree of equality that existed between men and women in religious leadership occurred in the context of a tightly controlled, celibate structure that sharply restricted individual freedom" (Foster, 1991, p. 19). Therefore, Shakers gave up individual freedom for the good of the group, and the group survived because of this lack of individual freedom."

Tags:Shakers, Oneida, George, Ripley, Brook, Farm, Fourierism