Archive for July, 2010

Some interesting articles from around the country: Getting the Lead Out:  The Hazards of Urban Farming Reduced with Simple Solutions - Cleveland.com Pay Dirt - Maggie Ginsburg-Schultz, Madison Magazine Cultivating Healthy Living - The Salem News

It’s been a while since I’ve posted some photos of the balcony garden.  Here’s the latest updates: There are some produce that I started with that I’ve pulled up because of the heat – lettuce, snow peas, zuchinni, and radishes.  The Zuchinni were hard to get rid of because they were so beautiful, but they just weren’t producing anymore.  I’ll put some more in at the end of August. There are some new items:  Sunflowers, Nasturtiums, and Marigolds.  I also rearranged and cleaned up the garden as you can see from the pictures below.  I was away for two weeks, and while the self watering planters held up well in the heat wave, the garden needed some tending to. Before: After:

The heat is taking a toll on my plants (more on this in a later post), but they’re still producing beautiful basil, tomatoes, and peppers.  Once (if?) we make it through this heatwave, I’ll expct a second round in late August, and, probably, through October. What did I make with all the basil?  PESTO!  (It’s in my freezer now.)

DC’s Councilmember, Mary Cheh, is introducing a new bill to establish a “grocery embassador” in DC. From the Washington Business Journal: “The bill would establish a program to attract grocery stores to the District, renovate grocery stores in certain areas of the city, require some stores to employ D.C. residents, establish a program to expand access to healthy foods and other related measures, including environmental incentives for stores. Included in the bill is the intent to designate a “grocery ambassador” (was “grocery czar” already taken?) who would assist grocery retailers with various measures.” Richard Layman, fellow urban planner, and owner of the magnificent Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space blog argues that rather than look just at the supermarket, DC might benefit from taking the approach of ther cities (including Toronto), and establish a Food Policy Council.  You can read his entire post at his blog. I would tend to

Michael Burlando, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, is an architect and urban designer based in Chicago, IL. After studying Architecture and International Relations at Lehigh University, he went on to earn a Masters of Architecture and Certificate in Real Estate Design and Development from the University of Pennsylvania. Since graduation, he has worked on a variety of projects at the Chicago office of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. A lover of books, sailing, and cycling, he gardens as best he can from a high-rise apartment in downtown Chicago.  Growing Power’s main Milwaukee site is a 2.5 acre lot on the northwest side of the city. The store, barn, and greenhouses were part of a farm which was eventually overtaken by the city. The site is the last tract of land in the city to have a farm zoning. Growing Power has partnered with the local electric utility to install a large photovoltaic

One of my first and favorite posts was titled “Gardening with Children: A Lifetime of Engagement.”  In the post, I argue that once a child is turned on to the joys of gardening and the wonders of nature, they never forget it.  At least, I never have.  That’s why, on a recent trip back to Staten Island, I took extra time to reflect on how my parents backyard has changed over the past several years, and how it’s changed me.  The backyard has eroded and changed, become overgrown in places, but the lessons it taught me have definitely taken root!

It’s exciting to think we’re at the forefront of a movement – one that’s rooted in old traditions, but yet feels new and is owned by the new generation.  Using food, gardening, and the arts for economic development (and, by extension, urban revitalization), seems here to stay, and I’m happy that this blog can be part of that movement. When I first got into urban planning, I was excited about the interdisciplinary nature of the profession, but wasn’t sure how to “connect all the dots” of my interests (urban design, sustainability, food, art, economic revitalization).  This blog has been one outlet, and has been a great way to connect with organizations and individuals that have the same passions.  We’re being forced to look at old problems in new ways, and planning is a great tool for that! As The New York Times reports this morning, many “old-guard” institutions – namely,