Practical solutions for people + planet

Urban Environmentalism

Information

Ideas, action, and discussion about sustainability in an urban environment.

Members: 27
Created By: Bioneers
Latest Activity: May 14

Read of the Week

Bioneers community member Teo posts a report on blindspots at the American Planning Association meeting last week in Las Vegas.

Indeed, the whole conference was somewhat discouraging to me: a massive missed opportunity to address sustainable community planning in this most unsustainable of cities. Not only was there not a single session on what was wrong with Las Vegas (and there is plenty to be learned from, there), the closing speaker, New York Times architecture critic Paul Goldberger, largely focused on how Las Vegas was an extreme extension of American anti-urbanism (per Venturi et al's groundbreaking 1972 book Learning from Las Vegas) that nevertheless has become 'accidentally urban' thanks to the massive pedestrian traffic the Strip generates.

[Photo from Mongabay.com]

Discussion Forum

How to lure people back to the urban core?
12 Replies

A bigger house in the suburbs seems staunchly fixed as the American Dream. "It's a lifestyle choice," says David Rizzo, author of Survive the Drive! How to Beat Freeway Traffic in Southern Califor... Continue

Started by Chantal. Last reply by Nicole Maron May 14.

Micro-farming in the city?
2 Replies

Found this blog post about what to do with all the abandoned properties in the citys. Might be the start of somethig local and powerful. http://tumbledownfarm.com/WordPress/?p= Continue

Started by Afriendof B. Last reply by Afriendof B Mar 29.

Urban edibles

I like this idea. I think we need to be careful as we become urban hunter-gatherers that we don't alienate people planting edible landscapes. The best thing would be for them to get some reward for... Continue

Started by Afriendof B Feb 27

Bees & other good ideas for 2008
2 Replies

Happy New Year! Before you think I've gone mad, let me explain myself: Bees need our help. Diminishing open space, pesticides, and colony collapse disorder made 2007 a rough year for one of the ... Continue

Tagged: honeybees, 2008, resolutions

Started by Chantal. Last reply by Chantal Jan 17.

Your garden is ruining my view... of the lawn

You say natural. I say neglected. A growing number of urban gardeners are facing off with their neighbours over how they tend their plots: wild and eco-friendly or manicured and weed-free. In the ... Continue

Started by Chantal Jan 2

Comment Wall (2 comments)

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2 Comments

Comment by Afriendof B on April 15, 2008 at 7:22pm: Hey you urbanites,
found a link that may have some ideas. seems that a lot of urban stuff is happening in the u.k. and e.u. check it out and post your thoughts.
http://www.selfsufficientish.com/

Comment by Laura Fox on April 4, 2008 at 10:33pm: Aloha! I'm in Fairfax, working on the Harmony Festival Eco Village for 2008. I would LOVE your input on exhibits as one of my focuses this year is Greening Our Cities, along with Eco City, Eco Village and Sustainable Community Design & Exploration.