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Of course I'm describing the country. Or, more correctly, the encroachment of sprawling suburbs into the country.
I'm well aware that urban sprawl doesn't have livestock or hay fields. I do. And urban sprawl is slowly destroying them.
I agree with you. Nature is being choked out of the US. We are rapidly seeing the demise of those pristine places. I like the idea that they have in Great Britain. They have wide green places throughout the island and have outlawed building on them. You are never really too far from country. I wish we had that here.
I agree with you. Nature is being choked out of the US. We are rapidly seeing the demise of those pristine places. I like the idea that they have in Great Britain. They have wide green places throughout the island and have outlawed building on them. You are never really too far from country. I wish we had that here.
Have you been to the UK? The UK, especially England, has few pristine places. While a lot of American cities have lots rural areas near the immediate cities due to sprawl, outside there often lots of undeveloped land. The northeast (the densest part of the country) is full of forest and relatively undeveloped land not too far out from the cities. I was in NYC this weekend and took a train ride 55 miles north (1hr 20mins or so) to go hiking. It was rather undeveloped countryside, mostly forest and a few fields with small mountains, a couple towns in the distance but otherwise felt in the middle of nowhere. I doubt London has something as empty. And the amount of undeveloped land in the western US is a whole level above the northeast. I was 80 miles west of Seattle once on the top of a mountain by myself and no sign of any sign of human or anything human made in the view which stretched on for dozens of miles.
I agree with you. Nature is being choked out of the US. We are rapidly seeing the demise of those pristine places. I like the idea that they have in Great Britain. They have wide green places throughout the island and have outlawed building on them. You are never really too far from country. I wish we had that here.
In Illinois we have forest preserves throughout the area. Lots of nature for people to enjoy. There is one county that chose to preserve land not for public use, but to keep it as farmland, an idea I do not support.
In Illinois we have forest preserves throughout the area. Lots of nature for people to enjoy. There is one county that chose to preserve land not for public use, but to keep it as farmland, an idea I do not support.
I like the idea of preserving farmland. It's good to have some farmland around, there can be public use land elsewhere (we have lots of state forests and just forests in general). No need to have the towns sprawl into farmland.
In Illinois we have forest preserves throughout the area. Lots of nature for people to enjoy. There is one county that chose to preserve land not for public use, but to keep it as farmland, an idea I do not support.
Actually in many Northeastern metros there is much preserved farmland; I think I read that Bucks County PA (suburban Philly) preserved more than 9,000 acres of farmland last decade alone. It makes for odd development patterns as there are vast spaces of open land sorrounded by development. On the whole I like it
I would prefer that land be preserved for public use; hiking, picnicking, exploring, etc. Farmland does not offer that. If farmers want to place covenants on their land prohibiting any other use, that is their business. But I disagree with taxpayer funds being used to protect farmland.
I would prefer that land be preserved for public use; hiking, picnicking, exploring, etc. Farmland does not offer that. If farmers want to place covenants on their land prohibiting any other use, that is their business. But I disagree with taxpayer funds being used to protect farmland.
Fair points; though many times the taxpayers vote to purchase the farms from the specific area and deed the land very cheaply to the farmers so they can sustain. Also at times developers of other areas close assist in purchasing.
This does offer at times some more public use. Areas to pick your own crops, pumpkin patches, educational aspects, farm fresh dairy, cheese etc. (also many times a local produce/dairy/organic store is involved) Also some also include open space (non farmed) but see your point.
The other aspect is they really dont stop sprawl by any means just intersperce it. I can say though this area is also very lucky to have ample parkland as well already in place.
Often the best land for farmland is in the same spot as the best land for development. For example, in Western Massachusetts both the farmland and development is concentrated in the valleys while the hills are mostly forested (was farmed a long time ago in many cases though, now abandoned to forest). It's worth preventing the development and farmland from competing with each other, and I like having farmland nearby.
Have you been to the UK? The UK, especially England, has few pristine places. While a lot of American cities have lots rural areas near the immediate cities due to sprawl, outside there often lots of undeveloped land. The northeast (the densest part of the country) is full of forest and relatively undeveloped land not too far out from the cities. I was in NYC this weekend and took a train ride 55 miles north (1hr 20mins or so) to go hiking. It was rather undeveloped countryside, mostly forest and a few fields with small mountains, a couple towns in the distance but otherwise felt in the middle of nowhere. I doubt London has something as empty. And the amount of undeveloped land in the western US is a whole level above the northeast. I was 80 miles west of Seattle once on the top of a mountain by myself and no sign of any sign of human or anything human made in the view which stretched on for dozens of miles.
Some less-urban photos nearby American cities:
50-55 miles north of NYC
is quiet yet accessible by train. Train tracks are a bit noisy, but once you get away.
55-60 miles west of Seattle:
No sign of human anywhere...
25 miles east of Portland (noisy from interstate):
What do people think of my photos of no sprawl near American cities?
I think the wide open spaces and lots of preserved land is what makes America truly unique compared to Europe. But a lot of conservatives who keep saying America is so different and special from Europe fail to mention the most important thing.
A great country needs lots of open land.
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