Pick up a Sun Times today to see a really wonderful article with a beautiful series of color photos of Water's gardeners Michelle, Maria, Lynn, Sheila, Adam, Jenny, Linnzi, Julie, Pete, Bobby, and new gardener, Kevin.
Urbanistas: Green activists in my backyard
Just north of a nondescript stretch of Montrose, just east of the North Branch of the Chicago River, a group of homeowners and renters have plans to change the world one neighborhood at a time.
"Beyond Today is an ad hoc group of neighbors who define themselves simply: A Chicago neighborhood organizing for environmental and social justice.
These Chicagoans think it makes more sense to walk over to a neighbor's, a community center or a small neighborhood eatery for a festive dinner -- than to get in the car and sample the fare at a come-hither spot even a short expressway ride away. These Chicagoans think it makes more sense to organize a talk about the foliage in the neighborhood, and walk around discussing how to manage it, than to hop on a plane to experience the flora and fauna of an exotic far-off island.
They are committed to new urbanism, which they say means more than organic food, blue bags and public transportation.
These new-style urbanistas, who exist everywhere, envision experimental communities within or near cities, that make drastic cuts in greenhouse emissions, take on proactive ecology programs and concentrate on centralized neighborhood centers that always have a lot going on and are easy to walk to. "
Great photos! Save your copy for us!! This is really a thoughtfully written article. What a community!
Infinite thanks to Sally Duros and Bonnie McGrath of the Sun-Times!