Metropolitan Gardening

J ames Ramsey and Dan Barasch have some amazing design work in where they envision an underground garden built beneath NYC. They have recently posted a kickstarter . I got a chance to ask James Ramsey some questions about the project. You can get more info at these websites. delanceyunderground.org or thelowline.org Bryan Ogden: What made you think to put a garden underground? James Ramsey: In working with light redirecting technologies, I realized that there was really no limit to the places you could actually grow plants. As an amateur urban archeologist, I thought about how cool it might be to begin to bring sunlight and greenery to some of our "lost" underground spaces. Bryan Ogden   How does this work sustainably? What sort of maintenance would it require? James Ramsey:  It requires maintenance from several perspectives, from the light tech itself, to drainage, to the care of the plantings themselves. Bryan Ogden   What purpose does the project serv

  C orbin Hill Farm offers fresh locally grown vegetables in areas of NYC that are often poorly served by traditional food distribution infrastructure. Additionally they offer a financial model of participation that brings the term "food justice" to mind. In an era of huge corporate food delivered invisibly Corbin Hill Farm offers smiling faces committed to proving a model of growing and consumption that solves many outstanding difficulties. I met with the folks delivering food at Urban Garden Center where they bring the goodness. MG: What is the main goal of a CSA in New York City? CHF: Although Corbin Hill Farm is inspired by the CSA model, we are actually a Farm Share. Unlike most CSAs, we offer flexible membership terms in order to make fresh produce accessible to the diverse communities we serve. Our primary goal is to eradicate food deserts in Harlem and the South Bronx. MG:  Is this a profitable venture? CHF: We are a for-profit social venture. This mean

Dimitri Gatanas of Urban Garden Center shows us how to plant a classic window box.

Before Curb Allure K im Johnson, is the founder of Curb Allure . I was introduced to Kim through Urban Garden Center where Curb Allure is planning a new initiative. Kim's vision was to start a business that would help protect street trees and beautify the urban landscape.   MG: What inspired you to create Curb Allure? Curb Allure: After leaving the workforce to start a family in 2003, I vowed to eventually start my own business that, in a small way, would make a difference. I got the idea for Curb Allure when I encountered the obstacles of urban landscaping and gardening firsthand. As I was caring for the street tree outside our New York City apartment, I could not find any good solutions to protecting my tree pit - dog waste was killing the flowers around my street tree.   After Curb Allure Around this time, in 2009, my mother passed away. Prior to her death, she gave me a check with clear instructions to “do something that makes you happy.” An avid gardener, Mom