So you’ve seen that I’ve developed a new curiosity for urban farming. I love the idea of growing local. Here in NYC, I found downtown and near-midtown farms. It appears that cities around the world are becoming hot beds for urban farming. And new ideas pop up daily.
Mashable presented 11 small-big and big-big ideas for the future of urban farming. Here are my favorite picks of the bunch for the most interesting ideas for urban greening.
Temporary and tiny Postcardens are perfect for urbanites with little space and limited attention spans. These green greetings are mailable, so say hello to friends and spice up their desk space for about $13.
Kid-friendly farming is attractive to urban todds who like to get their hands dirty. Putting those discarded bottlecaps to good use and creating a teaching tool makes Merry Project’s bottlecap farming a great idea. Kits cost about $2 each, and house seeds for herbs and small produce.
Here’s the most expensive and most controversial of ideas, but interesting nonetheless. Vertical Farming challenges the horizontal blueprint. By creating high-rise, stacked farm systems placed in central urban locations, plantings would have a small footprint and can be harvested easily. Critics cite extensive water and energy use, and question actual savings over the traditional farm model.
The Vertical Farm Book costs about $11. Listen to Dickson Despommier’s big idea.
PS I received a Whole Foods gift card. It was enclosed in a wrapper that is recycled and embedded with wildflower seeds. I’m getting ready to plant it and I hope it will grow. Kudos Whole Foods, great idea!
World Book Night, 23 april 2012, is an annual celebration designed to spread the love of reading and books. Tens of thousands of people will go out into their communities to share the joy by giving out free World Book Night paperbacks. (Yes, printed books – love the digital way – but for me, nothing beats the real thing.)
Launched in the UK in 2011, World Book Night has expanded to the US this year and will continue in the UK and Ireland. Here are the 30 titles that will be distributed.
It’s one night of giving books in the hopes of promoting the value of reading year-round. And a great way to help support our disappearing brick-and-mortar bookstores and struggling libraries.
Why 23 april? That date commemorates the births/deaths of many literary figures including Vladimir Nabokov/William Shakespeare and Cervantes.
I’m heading over to get involved. You can too (before 6 february)!
Through 29 january 2012 [Free Friday admission from 7pm - 9pm]
In addition to its acclaimed collection of Medieval and Renaissance illuminated manuscripts, the Morgan is also home to important Islamic manuscripts dating from the late middle ages to the 19th century.
You’ll have to hurry if you want to see this exhibit, but it’s well worth a trip. After being hidden for a century in the Morgan’s vaults, the public can view, for the first time, this incredible range of remarkable Qurans, stunning illuminated manuscripts, and miniatures – dating as far back as the 11th century. Some of my favorite pieces are shown below.
We all know that texting while driving is an absolute no-no. I propose that texting while walking should be banned as well.
If you live in a place where you have huge expanses of walkspace or European piazzas, then have at it.
But this is Manhattan people. There’s hardly enough room for the population as it exists now to find room on the sidewalks and move at a decent clip. If you’re behind texters (as I always seem to be) they are usually walking at a snail’s pace, and weebling left to right.
I personally witnessed the hazards of texting while walking last week. One guy on West 21 had his foot run over by a cab. Luckily he didn’t seem to be badly hurt. A young woman was nailed by the big, heavy door of a retail store by an exiting shopper. I’m not sure that she even noticed – never missed a beat on the keypad.
I say, get out of the way! Move to the left or right of the sidewalk. Stand against the buildings with the smokers to send your messages. And pick up your head – the crosstown blocks come up really fast, as do the cars.
How do you feel about texting while walking?
Left: Flickr image by kevin dooley. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) Right: Flickr image by mattjiggins. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
More lists – for 2012 though. Here’s the round up of the best places to see and be seen: Some are about pristine, untouristed locations, others have been chosen as best-for-your-buck; and then there’s the offbeat, off-trail adventures. There’s something for everyone, local or afar, and as a special treat, I’ve added a section on great rail journeys for fellow train lovers.
Voted for by a panel of inhouse travel experts, these locations were chosen based on topicality, excitement, value and what LP is calling that “special X-factor.”
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” Albert Einstein
How about that – Einstein and I have something in common.
Some of the most interesting finds I made in 2011 were random – and local – discovered while walking around the city. As the world struggles through economic challenges, political uprisings and figuring out what to do with occupy-ers, there’s always something new to find and explore from the mainstream to the fringes. Good thing too.
In chronological post order – my 2011 discoveries…
Time to throw my top 10 lists into the bottomless pit of lists (apologies). As in 2010, I’ve focused on films, plays and books. These works surprised, informed and entertained me. Most importantly, they have peaked my curiosity enough to engage with them and just maybe discover something new.
Off we go, in no particular order – my top picks of 2011.
This past Saturday was a stunning December day in NYC. Temps in the mid-50s at this time of year are rare, so everyone takes their activities outside before the freezing temperatures, whipping winds and snow and ice storms create a state of near hibernation. For me anyway.
I headed over the Brooklyn Bridge into DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). One of my favorite NYC walks takes me through parts of the East Village, SoHo, NoLIta, Chinatown, and the city and Federal courts area.
Nestled in DUMBO is Brooklyn Bridge Park where Jane’s Carousel was recently relocated. The carousel (merry-go-round, as we called them) had been resting in a storefront on Water Street for years, awaiting its mainstage position between the two bridges. It’s a wonderful place to see spectacular views of Manhattan and Brooklyn Heights, and a great area to walk, shop and explore many remnants of old New York.
PS I received a Whole Foods gift card. It was enclosed in a wrapper that is recycled and embedded with wildflower seeds. I’m getting ready to plant it and I hope it will grow. Kudos Whole Foods, great idea!
