Professional conferences can be daunting, especially if you are traveling alone. However, there are many benefits to pursuing these experiences even if they push you out of your comfort zone. Along with expanding your knowledge base, professional network, and professional resources, conferences can offer a so many more (and less
Dr. Bryant Scharenbroch is a soil researcher at Morton Arboretum and assistant professor of soil science at University of Wisconsin. Check out this article, from Deeproot Green Infrastructure about his urban soil studies. Here’s an excerpt: “Soil in the city has no real horizons, and it contains plenty of anthropogenic
Pittsburgh is a city of neighborhoods. There are 90 of them, after all. Each one has its own charms, and problems, and groups of people working to solve them. But, like individuals, these neighborhoods often focus on their own challenges, and sometimes forget that other neighborhoods are working on very
Chores. The grind. Tedium. Labor. Maintenance is rarely thought of fondly. And few people are inspired by sameness. We don’t wake up thinking, “Wow! My sidewalk remains unbroken! The trees in my park are still standing!” Instead we prefer to imagine our creations as permanent, somehow set apart from
Growing up in Chicago with a family full of homebodies, I rarely left the concrete jungle in my youth. Sure, Chicago is full of great parks (the city’s motto is Urbs in Horto, City in a Garden), but as someone with little hand-eye coordination, I never liked parks as a
Last fall, Detroit Future City released their Field Guide to Working with Lots. This resource is intended to act as a user friendly tool to help Detroit residents transform vacant spaces into community assets. The guide showcases a diverse selection of design concepts, ideas and examples of ways that residents
Remember the acronym “NIMBY”? That’s how sociologists and cartoonists often characterize the visceral reaction that a proposed new development (airport, power plant, strip mall, etc.) will elicit among the residents of the surrounding community: “Not in my back yard!” ioby, however, is all about empowering local projects that bring positive change
Winter is a time of relative inactivity for plants, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing for you to do! In fact, while above the ground your garden may seem dormant or dead, there’s actually a lot going on underneath your feet. Winter is a time for plants – especially those
Did you know that volunteering not only helps your community, but you benefit as well? According to the Corporation for National and Community Service there is a lot that you can take away from a workday, other than an immense sense of achievement. Check out their report and see if you
Sweet flowers are slow and weeds make haste. ~William Shakespeare It is no secret that Japanese Knotweed has a strong hold in Allegheny County. But for those who have been battling the invasive plant, there is hope! Pumpkins and other squashes seem to be able to gain the upper hand and