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

Balaji working in Senegal I met Balaji Mani at the Technology Exchange Lab , Inc. (TEL) booth at the Green Festival . He was explaining the unique strategy of his organization to address poverty - his charisma and vision were irresistible so I reached out to him for an interview. Basically TEL is an independent nonprofit that provides an online platform for the global community to share solutions to problems of poverty. They crowd source answers with the same vibe and intention as a WIKI. They purpose to take the innovative thinking of thought leaders like you might see on TED and connect them with those in need of information. They do provide consumer screening of those providing answers so that the sources are determined to be legitimate. That vetting and matchmaking service  is the essential value of TEL.

Columbia Waterfront Public Art Dedication COLUMBIA WATERFRONT DISTRICT, BROOKLYN Photo Credit:  Rafi Magnes Nobuho Nagasawa stands beside her etching of a  Sweet Gum Tree at Columbia St. near Baltic St. Brooklyn Greenway Initiative (BGI) announces the public art dedication of TIMECAST by artist Nobuho Nagasawa on Saturday, May 19th, 2012 in the Columbia Waterfront District.  Nagasawa’s art was commissioned in 2004 by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs under its Percent for Art Program and the NYC Department of Transportation as part of the Columbia Street Reconstruction project, which included the Columbia Street segment of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. Nagasawa received an Excellence in Design Award for TIMECAST from the City of New York Art Commission in 2007.

Check out the Skillshare class, "Urban Gardening: Tips and Tricks for effective city growing." Help spread the word: http://skl.sh/Kusc6e Here's the details: Watch the video introduction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=273O4VKNERE The challenges of gardening in the city require a grab bag of tips and tricks to manage the urban landscape. Join Dimitri Gatanas and Bryan Ogden as they provide a series of hands on workshops and focused leaning experiances located in the heart of Harlem at the Urban Garden Center.