Asphalt gardening is growing in popularity, as more green-thumbed urbanites reclaim the concrete and break ground to turn parking spots into lush, green space.
In Cleveland, OH, raised garden beds maintained by eco-friendly city folk are used for growing flowers, collard greens, cabbage, and other food. Apart from creating a greener aesthetic amidst the harsh city concrete, these parking-spot beds minimize radiated heat and the amount of storm water runoff to the sewer—and discourage cars and clunkers from sullying the cityscape.
City planners in Vancouver have promised 2,010 new community garden plots by the year 2010, and in San Francisco, locals have turned their cramped, car-infested quarters in the Tenderloin into a “National Forest.” The Tenderloin neighborhood, long notorious for its addiction to strip bars and hard drugs, is home to the densest population in all of S.F. It has the highest concentration of apartment buildings in the city and the highest proportion of families and children.
This innovative alley garden helps to feed locals and hopes to inspire other urbanites to start planting—and stop parking.
See also: Parking Spots to Parks: Park(ing) Day
Sources:
The Tyee.
The Plain Dealer.
Treehugger.
Photos via CarbonFarm & via flickr by Spacing Magazine.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I would suggest that driving a car today is not taken seriously enough. People are cavalier about their responsibility of operating a car because driving is such a common and ordinary daily activity.
Chip, I agree. Cars separate people from our human connections with others and our attitude becomes one of ‘Get out of my way!’ when driving. In some parts of Europe, the behavior when driving cars is much different – people are much more careful and other drivers (as well as pedestrians and cyclists) are afforded much more respect.
Thank for posting this – my partner and I are thinking of selling our car. Right now we are making a pro and con list – this post will help us make an informed decision
I don’t know about you, but when I am driving in my car I get thick mucous secretions forming in the back of my throat. With a little bit of pharangeal dexterity it is possible to get the goobers onto the tip of the tongue. Then it is just a matter of winding the window down,a rapid expulsion of air and a tongue flick to send the missile into the pedestrian traffic.
hey of the confidence of the repellent desival the car vent would deffenetly suceed in its case the car has been damage but would save lots of corbits of an ideal score of 3.25*25.2seveal ti’ll u bring the damagfe cost to a percent of=6325.23458%but go on with the appruval of concuest!