Recently I went to a discussion about the amazing innovations toward greener living. What I liked the best were the new school and community programs that were being integrated in to the daily lives of students and citizens.
For example, urban schools being designed and built, or even upgraded, are putting greenhouses or gardens on the roofs of the school buildings. Not only does this help reduce energy costs by adding building insulation, it provides an excellent learning experience for kids. They get to see first hand their relationship with food, the life cycle of plants, and how to care for and nurture something alive. These extensions of the science classes provide hands on learning and help show children the importance of the seasons as they can care for their own gardens all year. The best part? The food can be used in the cafeteria and the kids can eat the food they grew!
The other thing I really liked were these "community gardens". I really can't remember who it was or where, but there was urban park in between some tall apartment buildings. It was an awkward shape filled with grass that was rarely occupied. As an experiment they transformed it into a garden growing different crops and plants. It transformed into a place where the residents often communed there, tended the plants, neighbors actually talked. It really became a community again.
The grass just took up space, used a lot of water, and gave nothing back to the community. The garden added a lot to this lonely urban patch of land! How cool!
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