Nominations for Best Natural Family Living City - come post your favorite city! - Page 3

[meemee]

as a mother myself the first few years i would love to live in a city like portland, OR to find support myself. 

but once we are passed the bfeeding stage i would not want to live in portland, OR. because of the lack of diversity there. cultural and financial and even other kinds. personally for myself the weather is horrible. i cannot deal with the constant showers. 

i have come to the conclusion that i cant have it all. there is  no one city that fulfills all my needs. so i have prioritized my own needs. and diversity is a major one. it is enough to take portland OR off my list. 

[typebug]

I would have to nominate Vancouver, BC

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water. YES, YES and YES
2. Composting and recycling programs. YES
3. Affordable housing YES Co-op programs close to downtown with sliding scale rent for families
4. Diverse population YES
5. Good elder services YES
6. Good public transit YES buses lower and have ramps so strollers glide right on. Bus passes subsidized for low income families
7. Child friendly YES
8. Pesticides banned YES
9. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens. YES
10. Backyard chickens legal YES 4 chickens welcome. No roosters.
11. Homeschool friendly YES. Unschooling friendly even. We got tax breaks on school supplies with no strings attached. 
12. Midwives and homebirth legal YES and last I heard midwives are covered by the universal health care
13. Healthy birth culture YES
14. Philosophical exemptions for vaccines YES There are no vax laws. Lots of Doctors around who are anti-vaccines.
15. Alternative and integrative health practitioners YES and many are covered by health plans.
16. Breastfeeding friendly YES (government programs for this abound and there's an 8 month mat leave)
17. Clean air YES
18. Quiet YES
19. Great public library and affordable family activities YES Low income families have subsidized or free access to classes and gym, rink and pool at community centres
20. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup YES

[herbsmd]

Milwaukee, WI has 19 of the 20.  They do not officially ban pesticides--certain pesticides have been banned but there is not an overall ban on pesticide use.  

Maggie

[terraka]

For a lack of time, i would just say that New York City has done an incredible amount of effort to be eco.
Yes, it is not quiet if you live in Manhattan, but if uou live in Queens, then it can be.
Farmers markets: Show me one city that has anything remotely comparable to the incredible varieties at Union Square farmer's market. One time I was looking at 10 varieaties of eotic eggplant grown within two hours of the city.
Diversity: Yesterday I exchanged hellos with a Pashtun mother, chatted with a Vietnamese father, superevised play with an Ecuadorian couple, smiled at a Mexican mother, chatted about cloth diapers with a white mother, marveled at the turban of a Sikh grandfather, hung out with my Bulgarian friend, spoke to my half Ghanian half Bulgarian friend's daughter and listened to my Greek neighhbor sing a folk song.
And that is really a very brief description of the diversity here.
I do not know one family here that only speaks English at home. we should get a lot of points for that and for how incredibly hard the city is trying to be green.
There is a new public bycicle program as well. And what city can beat the MTA?
I think for the amount of people NYC services,, there is no other city that can show similar stats re: affordable housing, transportation, bike path miliage, parks.
I am surprised to see it not nominated.
A lot of the cities nominated are really small and do not have to tackle the kind of issues that NYC has successfully solved in the past.

[terraka]

Btw, I have lived briefly in Vancouver, BC and while it is an incredible city, I really would not call it diverse. Unless it has changed dramatically in the past 4 years.

[A&A]

I

Lots of great cities listed!!

[maydaymom10]

I'm surprised that Denver, CO hasn't made the list yet, and therefore I nominate it. I think it's a lot more NFL-friendly than most people realize:

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water. - YES. So many parks, the mountains are an hour away, and a wonderful trail system.
2. Composting and recycling programs. - Yes on recycling. I'd have to looking into composting programs. Most people I know do their own composting.
3. Affordable housing - Yes
4. Diverse population - Oh my, yes!
5. Good elder services - Yes
6. Good public transit - Wonderful bus and light rail system. Unfortunately it's not used by as many people as it should be.
7. Child friendly - Yes
8.  
9. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens. - Yes. Again, lots of options to choose from, especially Farmer's Markets.
10. Backyard chickens legal - Not sure on this one. 
11. Homeschool friendly - Yes. I used to teach in public schools, but am surprised how much the homeschool community is growing in Denver and the surrounding areas. There are also some wonderful charter school that focus on experiential education and similar philosophies.
12. Midwives and homebirth legal - Yes. I am planning a homebirth in March & considering pursuing midwifery myself.
13. Healthy birth culture - Yes. And it's growing. There are several pregnancy centers that have popped up that are offering natural-birth centered classes and services, as well as endorsing breastfeeding. 
14. Philosophical exemptions for vaccines - Yes
15. Alternative and integrative health practitioners - Yes on both
16. Breastfeeding friendly - Yes. I haven't had anyone voice concerns about breastfeeding in public.
17. Clean air - most of the time. We do have the "brown cloud" that rolls in occasionally.
18. Quiet - depends on what part of the city you live in, but most of the neighborhoods that are not right down town are nice, quiet, and family-oriented.
19. Great public library and affordable family activities - The library system in Denver is wonderful. There are also a lot of family activities organized by the city recreation district & local businesses, such as Yoga in the Park, free movies, art shows, etc.
20. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup - Yes to all

[typebug]

Originally Posted by terraka 

Btw, I have lived briefly in Vancouver, BC and while it is an incredible city, I really would not call it diverse. Unless it has changed dramatically in the past 4 years.

You mean ethnically or economically? I was thinking more about the amazingly rich cultural communities around us. I guess income wise the neighbourhoods are maybe less mixed than I've seen elsewhere. 

[spughy]

Victoria, BC!  We hit all the criteria except affordable housing.  You pay for paradise...

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
2. Composting and recycling programs.  (Well, composting starting soon...)
3.  
4. Diverse population
5. Good elder services
6. Good public transit
7. Child friendly
8. Pesticides banned (partially, and they are not used by any municipal landscaping)
9. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.
10. Backyard chickens legal
11. Homeschool friendly
12. Midwives and homebirth legal
13. Healthy birth culture
14. Philosophical exemptions for vaccines
15. Alternative and integrative health practitioners
16. Breastfeeding friendly
17. Clean air
18. Quiet
19. Great public library and affordable family activities
20. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

[Paigekitten]

We love Portland!  Outer SE is more diverse then the rest of it.

[Peggy O'Mara]

Clean air is important here. Can we say that Milwaukee and NYC, for example, have clean air?

[mom in the city]

I'd like to nominate Chicago, IL:

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
2. recycling programs.
3.  
4. Diverse population
5. Good elder services
6. Good public transit
7. Child friendly
8.  
9. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.
10.  
11. Homeschool friendly
12. Midwives and homebirth legal
13. Healthy birth culture
14. Philosophical exemptions for vaccines
15. Alternative and integrative health practitioners
16. Breastfeeding friendly
17.  
18.  
19. Great public library and affordable family activities
20. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

[terraka]

Originally Posted by terraka 

Btw, I have lived briefly in Vancouver, BC and while it is an incredible city, I really would not call it diverse. Unless it has changed dramatically in the past 4 years.

"You mean ethnically or economically? I was thinking more about the amazingly rich cultural communities around us. I guess income wise the neighbourhoods are maybe less mixed than I've seen elsewhere."

Apart from a sizable Chinatown, which seemed very contained in itself, I honestly don't remember feeling like I am in an ethnically diverse or ethnically integrated place. It felt like the city was really trying to appear aware of its tribal or "First Nations" past but that was more visible in an architectural and city art aspect rather than actual diversity of population. The city appeared a little desperate to be marketing itself as remembering "its aboriginal past" and being so inclusive of all its people, but for me the special energy that underlies the unexpected co-habitation of ethnically diverse groups mixing together wasn't there at all. If anything, it felt more like a European city wary of the attention of immigrants trying to preserve itself as much as possible.  

But that is just my experience from it- I lived there for only a few months therefore my impressions are not as in-depth and I am probably comparing it to Boston, Philiadelphia and New Orleans and it doesn't feel the same.

[LitMom]

Hanover, New Hampshire

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
2. Composting and recycling programs.
3. Affordable housing
4. Diverse population
5. Good elder services
6.  
7. Child friendly
8.  
9. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.
10. Backyard chickens legal
11. Homeschool friendly
12. Midwives and homebirth legal
13. Healthy birth culture
14.  
15. Alternative and integrative health practitioners
16. Breastfeeding friendly
17. Clean air
18. Quiet
19. Great public library and affordable family activities
20. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

I'm not positive how I feel about 11. NH has a fair amount of regulation, but from homeschoolers I know near Hanover, it's not difficult there.

[TorreyMomma]

I have to second Bellingham, WA.

• Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
• Composting and recycling programs.
• Affordable housing
• Diverse population
• Good elder services
• Good public transit
• Child friendly
• Pesticides banned--While pesticides in Whatcom County are not banned, there are more organic operatives than "traditional". And there are 2 sites to help you find organic if you aren't growing your own: http://www.pugetsoundplatter.com/farm-fresh/meat-poultry/ and http://www.wcfarmfriends.com/external/content/document/1579/183269/1/farmmap_2007.pdf  Almost all the feed stores carry organic gardening supplies, the 4-H clubs promote organic, many restaurants only buy local and organic: http://www.happycow.net/north_america/usa/washington/bellingham/
• Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.
• Backyard chickens legal
• Homeschool friendly
• Midwives and homebirth legal
• Healthy birth culture
• Philosophical exemptions for vaccines
• Alternative and integrative health practitioners
• Breastfeeding friendly-- Be prepared to see most kids under the age of 2 either in a diaper or naked. And there are plenty of "drive-by" nursings by toddlers. You will see kids nursing pretty much everywhere, except not so much at the hospital. Probably why homebirths are so popular there.
• Clean air
• Quiet
• Great public library and affordable family activities
• Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

  Pretty much all of Whatcom County meets the requirements. Lynden a little less so, not quite as open about breastfeeding in church. And public transportation goes out into the rural county one day a week, you just have to call 48 hours in advance to schedule a pick-up from your front door. We lived on Moorman Manor Farm from 2003-2009, and for most of the time I didn't own a car!

[TorreyMomma]

Homebirths in NC are illegal. You can be prosecuted for child endangerment. CNM's are legal, and Chapel Hill has one of the best freestanding birth centers, but UC and homebirth are VERY illegal. Wake County (right next door) was home to my dear friend Mary Rose Tully, who worked wonders to normalize breastfeeding in NC, and around the world! Mary Overfield still lives there.

[TwilightJoy]

I nominate Des Moines, IA.

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
2. Composting and recycling programs.
3. Affordable housing
4. ...
5. Good elder services
6. Good public transit
7. Child friendly
8. ...
9. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.
10. Backyard chickens legal
11. Homeschool friendly
12. ...
13. Healthy birth culture
14. ...
15. Alternative and integrative health practitioners
16. Breastfeeding friendly
17. Clean air
18. Quiet
19. Great public library and affordable family activities
20. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

Edited by TwilightJoy - 8/18/12 at 11:16am

[LoveToBeMom]

Originally Posted by TwilightJoy 

I nominate Des Moines, IA.

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
2. Composting and recycling programs.
3. Affordable housing
4. ...
5. Good elder services
6. Good public transit
7. Child friendly
8. ...
9. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.
10. Backyard chickens legal
11. Homeschool friendly (not sure)
12. Midwives and homebirth legal
13. Healthy birth culture
14. Philosophical exemptions for vaccines (not sure)
15. Alternative and integrative health practitioners
16. Breastfeeding friendly
17. Clean air
18. Quiet
19. Great public library and affordable family activities
20. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

Hi TwilightJoy, I want to chime in to clarify a few...

Regarding #12 above: Unfortunately direct entry midwifery is NOT legal in Iowa. There is an active group in Iowa City trying to change this however, called Friends of Iowa Midwives. There are nurse midwives that can work legally in hospitals, but they may not attend home births; this is considered malpractice. It's so frustrating.

#11: Lots of homeschoolers in Iowa! It's legal and there is support.

#14: Nope, you can only be exempt for religious or health reasons; "philosophical" is not recognized. 

[A&A]

Just commenting on the Farmington, Utah nomination...........if you move to Utah, you'll want to live in Salt Lake City itself, not anywhere outside of it.  You'll find more diverse opinions and more cool stuff to do in Utah's capital city.   (You'll deal with bad air in the winter in Utah, though, unfortunately.)  

[TwilightJoy]

LoveToBeMom- Thanks for your feedback and I edited my post. I do know of several women who have homebirths in Des Moines.