BUILD YOUR OWN BACKYARD GARDEN SOIL BY COMPOSTING

We all know that the definition of sustainability, how it affects each of us and how we move toward sustainability is different for all of us. However there is a consensus building that sustainability must incorporate the idea of restoration. This is because it can be argued that our current life supports systems and access to natural resources is so gravely compromised that we, as a people will only remain “sustainable” if we choose to restore the systems that we have depleted.

As an example our current agricultural practices are sapping our nation of its topsoil. Its estimated that one-ton of topsoil is lost every year per citizen! If you want to learn how to begin the journey of learning how to build soil Karen at Green Conscious has a class for you!

How to start your own Compost

Join us to discuss the various ways you can compost and find out what composting system will be best for you.

FREE Presentation with Karen Totino
SATURDAY July 10th – 10 am to 11 am

at GREEN CONSCIENCE Home & Garden – 33 Church st – Saratoga Springs, NY

Below are some highlights and action items from our June 22, 2010 Resilient Local Economy Dialogue in Saratoga Springs.

Here I am eating fresh picked black raspberries (from one of the communtiy patches) thinking how nice it is that we are all so busy.  Gardens are being tended, greens harvested, vacations planned, and the future activities for our group are baing organized right now!

Recently we were represented by several of our members at the Route 50 Gateway community presentation and public forum.  The reports back are that good progress is being made by the design team to provide safer access and better connectivity between Spa park, West Ave, Route 50 and points north.  The round-about idea of course raised a few eye-brows but from many perspectives this is a solution that might do the most good and least harm.   But whatever the solution I’m confident the design team will propose the most feasible set of solutions that will promote active transportation and put it on equal footing with automobile traffic.  In addition to better connectivity for all users I am hoping for real evidence of thought toward innovative stormwater design and green infrastucture.

Also if you missed the presentation last Tuesday you really missed out.  It was great, entertaining, insightful, and provoking.  Our speakers were nimble with well supported answers and Bob Millis did a fantastic job moderating and keeping up the flow of the evening.

That meeting was a great capstone to the first half of the year.  We will take the next two months off of having regular public meetings and instead work in small teams to move our projects forward and plan for a strong finish to the year.  We got some great ideas and surprises in store.  Plus the impending kick-off of our Biggest Loser Challenge! Lets all try to make sure we can make as much of it happen as possible.

So back to the garden for me.  It looks like some of the garlics are actually ready to harvest.  Its the first time I’ve ever grown them so the harvest and curing is a bit of an experiment.

What is a local resilient economy? We’ll be meeting tonight with these panelists to discuss this topic at Skidmore’s Gannett Auditorium 7-9 pm. Click here for full information on the event.

James Howard Kunstler on the tragedy of suburbia

Todd Fabozzi sharing one of his poems on Urban experiences

Previous President of Capital District Local First

Congratulations and thanks to Casey Holzworth and Sioban A’Hearn for getting Saratoga’s first community garden up and running at Stonequist Apartments.

The plots will be open to all residents of the building on a first-come-first-serve basis.  Remaining plots will be open to other community members.

Please see the fact sheet for details!

Hopefully this will lead to future gardening activities in our community.  I’ve already seen two “guerrilla gardens” sprout up on vacant land this spring.   Its a good thing.

I just got this great video of us at the Artie Gras parade. We had a great time at the event, riding bikes and tossing seed bombs to the audience. So much better than candy and perhaps a way to inspire a few guerrilla gardeners.

Check it out Here

On June 22nd, we’ll be hosting a community dialogue on creating a resilient local economy in Saratoga Springs.

Sustainable Saratoga wants to hear from you before the event so we can ask the best and most important questions.

Please submit your question below by commenting on this blog post.

If you are not familiar with the commenting process you can also send an email to economy@sustainablesaratoga.com

Here are some question ideas to get the ball rolling.

What is a local economy?

What is a resilient economy?

How big is our economy?

Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you!

Walk, bike, ride:
A Sustainable Saratoga discussion of local transport issues

Join us Tuesday evening, May 25 at 7 p.m. at City Hall in Saratoga Springs (474 Broadway, third floor) as a panel including area experts from the Saratoga Healthy Transportation Network, the Citizens Transportation Committee of Saratoga County, the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) and involved local residents discuss their concerns and plans for improving transportation in and around Saratoga Springs.

Plenty of time will be reserved for answering questions after our panel’s individual presentations, so bring friends – and questions. Additional information on the program will be available here in mid-May: SustainableSaratoga.ning.com.

Please join us May 25!

SARATOGA SPRINGS CITIZENS OUTREACH COMMITTEE

INVITES YOU TO A PUBLIC DISCUSSION

WHEN: Wednesday, March 3, 2010, 6:00-8:00pm

WHERE: Saratoga Springs Public Library

Let’s have an open discussion with local experts and leaders regarding housing, transportation, land use and the direction of our city.

Featured speakers include:

Matt Veitch -  Saratoga County Supervisor

Joanne Yepsen – Saratoga County Supervisor

Edward Spychalski – Executive Director of Saratoga Springs Housing Group

Jaclyn Hakes -  Principal Planner for the City of Saratoga Springs

Celeste Caruso – Co-Chair, Sustainable Saratoga

Mary Marsicano – Chair of the Citizens Transportation Committee of Saratoga County

Cathi Anne Cameron – Media Coordinator, Sustainable Saratoga

Saratoga Healthy Transportation Network

And YOU!

LIGHT REFRESHMENTS AVAILABLE