Sustainable Infrastructure - a tenuous term open to interpretation, struggling for meaning yet necessary by definition. Articles and conversations revolving around sustainable infrastructure are often centered around walkable communities, bike lanes, the colored past and bright future for electric cars, renewable energy, increased efficiency and locally grown food. The individuals who work with Greenleaf could be overheard talking about these topics with some regularity. However, these articles and conversations miss a key component for truly sustainable infrastructure, our knowledge infrastructure. I define knowledge infrastructure as the knowledge that we can easily access - the knowledge capital of our friends, family and community, our access to quality primary, secondary and post secondary education, and our ability to read and interpret information from outside sources including newspapers, books, the internet, etc.
Which is why I was excited to see an article in the NY Times Education section that highlighted the wealth of information made available, without cost, by some of the finest thinkers and institutions we have in the US. In order for us to create sustainable infrastructure and healthy communities we must continue to find solutions to the problems which we face. We must increase our diversity of ideas in order to find solutions unique to our problems, we must continue to learn and we must have the hard conversations. As individuals and as a country we need to invest in our Knowledge Infrastructure.
At Greenleaf we are concerned with food systems and healthy communities. If you are too check out this course from YALE, offered on mp3 in 60 minute sessions completely free. The Psychology, Biology and Politics of Food.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
STUDENT INSIGHTS
Each Tuesday at Greenleaf is an adventure. Each individual - students, volunteers, guest experts and staff - brings their unique experiences, interests, personalities, emotions and excitement. The whole would not be meaningful without the sum of its parts.
What has made Greenleaf special to me is the investment in students and the reciprocal output from each student. The conversations delve deeply into food systems, farming techniques, cash crops and ancient seeds. Each student challenging the beliefs they brought with them our first day, in turn, altering their vision of what they hope our urban farm will look like. These visions include selling vegetables to local markets and growing foods we may have never eaten before, but they also include art and poetry.
Today Greenleaf student intern, Markesha Dews, penned and shared a poem formed through her unique experiences and inspired by the work she plans to participate in through Greenleaf.
LOVING THE EARTH
DIRT IS THE SYSTEM
THAT WE USE,ENRICHING THE
EARTH WITH WHAT WE DO
GROWING AND SPREADING
LOVE ALONG THE WAY GIVING
LIGHT TO THOSE WHO NEED
A BRIGHTER DAY
IN HOPES THAT WE
BETTER THIS EARTH
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
MOTHER NATURE IS WORTH !
What has made Greenleaf special to me is the investment in students and the reciprocal output from each student. The conversations delve deeply into food systems, farming techniques, cash crops and ancient seeds. Each student challenging the beliefs they brought with them our first day, in turn, altering their vision of what they hope our urban farm will look like. These visions include selling vegetables to local markets and growing foods we may have never eaten before, but they also include art and poetry.
Today Greenleaf student intern, Markesha Dews, penned and shared a poem formed through her unique experiences and inspired by the work she plans to participate in through Greenleaf.
LOVING THE EARTH
DIRT IS THE SYSTEM
THAT WE USE,ENRICHING THE
EARTH WITH WHAT WE DO
GROWING AND SPREADING
LOVE ALONG THE WAY GIVING
LIGHT TO THOSE WHO NEED
A BRIGHTER DAY
IN HOPES THAT WE
BETTER THIS EARTH
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
MOTHER NATURE IS WORTH !
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
