Yardens

While killing some time in a local bookstore a few days ago, I came upon this book on the 'local interest' table. I flipped through a few pages of Novella Carpenter's Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer and quickly decided based on the extremely clear descriptions of how she 'harvested' her first rabbit, that I would never farm anything other than fruits or vegetables. I would however be willing to trade produce with someone that could handle those details for me.

Urban Farming has been on the tip of a lot of people's tongues lately, probably as a side effect to so many people wanting to know where their food comes from and lately it hasn't been isolated to the coasts. Time magazine has published articles here and here and I just noticed a piece in a recent People magazine about a young girl that provides a homeless shelter with produce that she grows in her family's backyard. I know that folks living in Northern California seem to be particularly keen on eating local produce and meats. In 2005 four women from the San Francisco Bay area declared themselves Locavores and "urged people to buy, cook and eat from within ... their own foodshed, based on where they live." This "100-mile diet" challenge was taken by a handful of people around the world that year and has grown every challenge since then. In 2007 the word Locavore was chosen as the word of the year by the Oxford American Dictionary.

While the 100-mile diet isn't for everyone, something most of us can do is to grow some things ourself. Earlier in the year First Lady Michelle Obama had part of the White House lawn turned into a vegetable garden as a way to "teach children better eating habits by helping them understand where food comes from." Suddenly the idea of growing our own food didn't seem quite so crazy after all! If we each dug up a small corner of our yard or planted a pot on our patio to grow one thing, we could be one step closer to knowing where the food we eat comes from.

This summer, one of my neighbors did exactly that. After spending a couple of weekends pulling out a row of unruly juniper bushes they built four raised beds and filled them with soil and seeds. Before long the 'Yarden' across the street was sprouting things all over the place; more than the family that lived there could possibly eat. As a result everyone in the neighborhood has been the recipient of a bag of vegetables at some point since then. They definitely knew what they were doing and planted things that would produce all summer and into the fall. Even today, things are still going strong.

Now I recognize that some of us may have perfect growing spots, but not the know how to cultivate. And that is where organizations like San Francisco based Urban Farmers come in. Their goal is "to help families reduce their carbon footprint, reduce their water use, avoid agricultural chemicals in their food, and enjoy nutritious food that taste good -- one garden at a time." Once contacted, they will come take a look and help you get things set up in a way that is both productive and that looks nice. If all you can do is contribute land, that's fine too. This particular group has connected with a city sustainability organization to pilot a program where they plant 'Yardens' in order to grow fruits and vegetables that in turn can be distributed to the community.

Most of us have a space that we can have a container to put a cherry tomato plant and some basil. Add a little more space and there could be beans, cucumbers and a pepper plant. Those of us that are fortunate enough to have yards can plant a profusion of fruits and vegetables and share the bounty with friends, neighbors or even those that may not have the means or ability to grow their own. We've tried grass lawns and English gardens and rock gardens; why not try yardening and see if we can taste the difference.

eGroceries

Recently, I read an article in the Sunday New York Times magazine titled 'Faster Slow Food'. The author theorized that online grocery shopping could promote saner eating habits. As I considered what other implications there might be to buying my groceries online I came up with this; online shopping might be a way to reduce greenhouse gasses by removing cars from the roadway. On the other hand, if I did all of my shopping that way, I would have missed out on meeting and interacting with some really interesting people.

Some researchers in Finland have looked into whether or not online shopping is good for the environment and in 2003 published the results of their review in MIT's Journal of Industrial Ecology. One of the conclusions they reached was that in theory, having groceries delivered means fewer car trips. This makes sense. If every house on my street had their groceries delivered once a week, that's approximately 12 less car trips! Internet Marketing Consultant Dave Chaffey lists several other environmental benefits of eCommerce including fewer vehicle miles, less printed material, and less waste due to digitization of things like software and music.

After thinking about it, I decided that I would want to use grocery delivery as a kind of personal shopping service. Items could be purchased from a mass market grocer, a natural foods store, an outdoor market, or a specialty store like Trader Joe's. One charge to my credit card later, it would all be delivered to my house where all I would have to do is put it away. The time saved by not needing to drive to each store, park and shop and then put it all away would be worth the delivery fee. My car would also be removed from the road and the trip the truck makes to my house would be optimized by consolidating all deliveries from my area together. I already use online stores for commodity items that just need replacing to reduce my trips, so it stands to reason that this would work for me as well.

On the other hand, if I got all of my groceries by shopping online I would miss out on the interactive experience of going to my local farmer's market every week. For the past eight years or so, my neighbors and I have gone to the Walnut Creek Farmer's Market at nine o'clock every Sunday morning. We have favorite stands and try to spread our shopping dollars around evenly each week. Through this experience I have made good friends and met people that I might not otherwise have had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know. We know who grew the lettuce in our salad (Hi Barbie & Laurie), the peaches and apples in our lunches (Hi Michelle) the flowers on our table (Hi Stan), and who slaughtered the chicken that we roasted for dinner (Hi Hunter). It also makes me feel slightly less guilty about not growing all of this myself - - well, except for the chicken.

Buying as much as I can from the farmer's market is a way to 'be green' because I know that the items purchased there have not traveled hundreds (or thousands) of miles to get to our table. It also helps to support the local economy which is never a bad thing. In the end, we each have to decide for ourselves what will work best for our situation. But I can't help but think that by balancing grocery shopping at local markets (both farmer's and general grocery) with eCommerce I am acting in a sustainable manner towards both the economy and the environment.

(all images author's own)

An Idea Whose Time Has Come *

Here in the good 'ole United States of America most of us that live in urban areas have the luxury of a sewer system to take care of all that pesky storm water runoff that inevitably happens when H2O falls from the skies.

Generally speaking property owners are charged for this service via a variety of fees tied to water usage. This method assumes all properties in a service area are created equal and rewards those with poor storm water management strategies with a lower fee than they would be charged if each parcel was assessed individually. This unfairly subsidizes those that pour concrete and divert runoff directly onto their neighbors lot or into the storm drain system. As storm sewer systems are deteriorating in this country it is time to change how we handle run off. One way to begin to change could be to make it more attractive to property owners to install a passive storm water management system in the form of planted or permeable surfaces.Planted surfaces can slow the speed of run off leaving a property and reduce any pollution in the water as it filters through plants and soil. A properly planted green roof, green wall or native plant garden allows you to contribute mightily to your corner of the eco-system. Recently I toured the Vauban neighborhood in Freiberg, Germany during a steady downpour. The law in Germany state that each property owner is responsible for managing any storm water that arrives on their property. In Vauban this is accomplished in several ways; green roofs, lots of permeable surfaces, and landscapes that follow the natural curves of the land are used to capture any run off. I was surprised to see areas in the neighborhood that would normally be paved, planted with a sturdy ground cover. However as we continued to walk through the rain, I realized that there appeared to be no streams of water in a gutter that needed to be jumped as we crossed streets. In fact, there were not really any gutters as we know them to speak of, merely a curb to delineate the road from the walkway. This works!

Here in the United States we need to start to change how we think about our land and water management. It would be a start to think about how we can help to manage storm water on our own properties. Eliminating slabs of solid concrete, native plant gardens, and green roofs are several easy ways to do this. (well the green roof is not so easy, but once installed, it's very easy) Not only does this work to help absorb storm water, the plants will work to offset CO2 and will be an attractive contribution to the area. A patio constructed from interlocking or permeable pavers, is not only nicer looking than a slab of concrete, it is a permeable surface that allows water to flow through natural aquifers and into the watershed.

There have been several high profile commercial developments in Northern California that installed a green roof with much fanfare. In 2000 Gap Inc. built an addition to their headquarters campus in San Bruno that featured a green roof whose profile mirrors the surrounding hills. The redesigned California Academy of Sciences features a green roof that not only absorbs almost all storm water that falls on it, but also provides a habitat for native plants and a variety of wildlife. Other features in this particular roof include photovoltaic cells and skylights used to provide natural light as well as cool the building below. We have heard that the new Transbay Terminal building is planned to have a green roof. As we start to see success with commercial projects and fees associated with a deteriorating sewer system, more home owners may be inspired to install this type of roof.

(image courtesy of www.greenroofs.org)

Planting a native garden and eliminating non-permeable surfaces are a more likely choices for those looking to make a difference without major construction. Patio areas can be installed using open cell concrete block with a low, creeping ground cover planted in the cells or with interlocking pavers. Both options allow water to flow through and be absorbed into the ground underneath. Any neighborhood plant nursery should be able to provide a list of native plants for the area as well as being a source of the plants themselves. Ask when the best time to plant is and plan your purchases accordingly. Once established a native plant garden will be a low maintenance way to both stabilize the soil, absorb storm water, and a small refuge for all wildlife, including yourself!

* a thank you to Victor Hugo for his quote...

(images all property of author unless otherwise noted.)

The Social City

The town of Waldkirch sits on the banks of the river Elz in Baden-Wuttemberg, Germany. As a member of the Citta Slow organization, the city has worked hard to promote its people and products in the region. Along with a shared vision of empowering all its citizens young and old, Waldkirch has a goal for all to live and work ecologically. Power is provided by a utility company formed by the town which allows it to be more efficient in its use of renewable energy sources and new building is centered within easy walking and/or biking distance or near public transit hubs.

The Rote Haus Community Center provides a gathering place for all generations by offering clubs, classes and fun activities for all ages. Assistance in learning German, finding housing, jobs and most other social services can also be found at the facility. The team working there respects the individuals that they serve; operating under the assumption that each person has a skill and talent that can be leveraged. In 2009 the WABE network, one of the many private/public social programs Waldkirch supports; won a European Enterprise Award for its success with integrating unemployed members of the community into the workforce.

The children of Waldkirch benefit from an all day school program developed by Headmaster Thomas Kanstinger at the Kastelberg Schule. The three principals that guide the school's educational approach are as follows:

• Support and develop the child holistically
• Develop confidence in the children and fun in learning
• Individuality as created within a framework of rules and guidelines

Unlike other schools in the area, children attend school all day and are taught using a more holistic approach. Learning soft skills are just as important as traditional subjects and these lessons are integrated to ensure that what is learned can also be applied.

Waldkirch is most well known for the manufacture of Barrel Organs and as part of the city's efforts to keep old traditions alive, has a museum and a tri-annual festival dedicated to the history and culture of these fun machines. The tradition of these organs and the supporting industries lead to a high participation in music education in the community. The oldest city run music school is located here!

Because of a relatively stable leadership - Richard Leibinger has been the mayor since 1983! - the city of Waldkirch has been able to execute a vision of social equity that is held up as a model for others to adopt. They have shown that by respecting each individual they can successfully integrate everyone into this community.

Indigenous Creatures

Rarely seen by the human eye, the common Toilet Paper Fairy or TPF works to ensure a full roll of toilet paper is installed in every WC. We know they exist by the results of their hard work to make certain there is a always a full roll on every dispenser in a building. Toilet Paper Fairies like to keep busy and as such are usually found only in places where there are many dispensers to keep filled, usually hotels or office buildings. Occasionally the TPF is found in a private residence, but only when the owner has bribed them to stay with the promise of an unlimited supply of rolled paper product. More often private homes are not lucky enough to have a TPF, although some do have part time Fairies that flit through each place they are responsible for to check the status of the rolls, taking action as appropriate. Sadly, in a place that does not have a TPF on staff, the people living or working there must take it upon themselves to do the Toilet Paper Fairy's work. Most find that devising some sort of system to make sure that there is always a back up roll nearby helps eliminate problems when there is an unexpected outage.

As our lives become filled with hobbies and other experiences outside the home, the TPF workload has become heavier and the expectation of a full roll appearing on every dispenser as if by magic has become folly. Do your part in helping to keep the workload manageable for the TPF, keep your dispenser full and devise a back up system for those times where you just need to have more. Your local, hardworking Toilet Paper Fairy will thank you.

The Green City

Freiburg im Breisgau is located in the southwest corner of Germany in the Black Forest, approximately 25 miles from the French border. The city is a university town and as such is filled with a well informed citizenry. Most people know the city of Freiburg for leadership in the field of environmental sustainability, specifically alternative energy sources. In addition to all the policy, research, development and manufacturing done in Freiburg, the city plays host to 'solar tourists' from all over the world and is the home of the International Solar Energy Society, a not for profit group that "supports its members in the advancement of renewable energy technology, implementation and education all over the world."

This city promotes environmental sustainability and has offered incentives to the residents to update older buildings with the latest technologies. The city core has been closed to automobile traffic since 1973 when the unique 13th century water channels, or Bächle, were reopened for all to use. The fresh water that runs rapidly along the sides of the walkways provide a fun place to cool off after a long walk through the city or a hard day at school.

Cobblestone streets and walkways have been restored to their former state with modern touches in order to accommodate necessary parking signage.

Before I left the United States I read an article in the New York Times about the Vauban neighborhood in Frieburg. We were fortunate enough to get a guided tour from one of the City Planners that had worked with the neighborhood and knew it quite well. The neighborhood operates as a car free zone with most needs being met within a short walk, bike or tram ride. Energy is generated for the majority of the homes and businesses by solar stations and heat is provided by a central plant that burns wood chips harvested (sustainably of course) from the nearby Black Forest. It is an upscale neighborhood full of row houses and green spaces for children to play. Their challenge will be to shift built resources to accommodate an aging population if those residents decide to stay in place as the young children grow up and move on.

Even the tram lines were treated as a greenbelt which is a great way to manage run off water as we got to witness live and in person during the morning's downpour.

The second neighborhood we toured was Rieselfeld; a former 'sludge farm' or sewage processing area. When the city decided to develop the land, they discovered that minimal clean up was required making it a much less expensive place than originally thought. By cleaning up the top few meters of topsoil, the city was left with a blank canvas on which to plan a new neighborhood. Most buildings were constructed in such a way that they could be transformed to meet the needs of a changing population. As the residents age, schools can become office space or senior centers and open space is good for everyone.

The plan called for 50% of the housing to be available as social (or affordable) housing, but as the neighborhood was executed they found that the demand was not quite as high as they originally thought. Some of the zoning was changed to accommodate row housing instead. Similarly to the Vauban neighborhood, the housing is connected by a network of green space and two-thirds of the acreage was converted to a nature preserve for all the residents to enjoy. While this neighborhood is much larger (about double the number of residents as the Vauban) they seem to have done a better job accommodating all ages, incomes and family types. The City Planner that led the tour through this area said that there was housing for both seniors and disabled people in the neighborhood as well as 25% of the housing considered affordable.

The Rieselfeld neighborhood contains goods and services for its residents, including a school and culture center. Near the central plaza a gym was constructed under a hill in order to preserve the green space for everyone to use and enjoy. This also helps with storm water run-off along with green roofs and more green tram-ways. One of the final open corner lots (there are two) is being held for a grocery store to anchor the neighborhood. In most cases in the United States, it is the developer that needs to make their investment back who owns that land. They may build whatever makes the most money whether it is the 'right' decision or not. In this case, the city both owns the land and has the resources to be patient and wait for the right development.

The residents all pitch in to keep the area nice looking and trash free. Public areas are adopted by families or buildings, planted and decorated according to what they think will look nice. Most are filled with lavendar, rosemary and other greenery. The one below had a nice collection of painted stones around its border. Each courtyard is managed cooperatively by residents of the buildings that surround it with a mandatory play area for any children.

Finally, where the neighborhood meets the nature preserve, the tram track curves around the last building on the block and returns to central Freiburg, stopping and starting at each kiosk to deposit its load of men, women and children within a short walk of their final destination.

Just another day in the Green City.

Schmuck!

Otherwise know as objects of precious metal often set with gems and worn for personal adornment a.k.a. jewelry.

The City of Pforzheim Germany, located on the northern edge of the Black Forest is best known for its jewelry and clock production. Schmuckwelten (Jewelry World in English) is a place where you can browse and buy anything from silver bracelets to a necklace with mini versions of Faberge eggs that will drip down your décolletage.

There is also a museum dedicated to the technical side of this industry located south of the city center. Fortunately for my pocketbook, I was in Pforzheim not to research sparklers, but to see my friend Valerie make her European operatic debut. Amazingly this small town of just over 100,000 residents supports a full city theater, opera, orchestra, chorus, acting company and ballet. Valerie sang the role of Abigail in a concert version of Nabucco held in an outdoor theater constructed next to the river for summer outdoor performances. It was well worth the trip to this "City of Gold" on the rivers Enz, Nagold and Würm to see this performance. Val knocked it out of the park and I was thrilled to be a part of her introduction to the European opera stage.

Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!