College Football Stadium Converted into an Urban Farm

Photo: Credit

Paul Quinn College turned its football stadium into a 2-acre urban farm so that it can:

1. Help address the lack of affordable, healthy food options available to economically depressed areas in the City of Dallas; 
2. Create a replicable model for achieving sustainable urban re-development built around providing safe food options to economically depressed communities; and 
3. Create a facility that will deliver preventative health care (that focuses on nutrition and exercise) to the underserved community surrounding the College.

For the full story, click here.

Free Garden Soil and Plants

craigslist

Craigslist.org can be a good source for free garden soil, plants and other free stuff.  To see what is free in your area visit their website and select your location.  Look under the "for sale" category, and select "free."

Important: Practice caution and use your common sense when posting or responding to these ads.  Below are some safety tips to consider:

• Tell a friend or family member where you are going and when you expect to return.
• Bring a friend or family member with you.
• Bring a cell phone with you if you have one.
• Request that the free stuff be placed outside the home for pick-up if possible.  
• Trust your instincts.  If your gut is telling you something is wrong, then leave immediately.
• If you are posting an ad to give away free stuff, place the items in front of your house to avoid having strangers in your home.  
• When posting an ad for free stuff, keep in mind you are posting an ad for the world to see so be careful of what information you put out there.  I do not post my address, full name or phone number.  I only list my city and a nearby cross street.  I also use the anonymous email option provided by Craiglist.  I then ask people to email me with their name and contact information.  This allows me to screen emails and I can narrow the number of people I give my address and phone number to.  After I have found a person to pick up the stuff, I delete the ad.     

Reminder: UCB Spring Plant Sale Tomorrow

University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley is having its Public Spring Plant Sale tomorrow between 10 AM and 2 PM.  They have exotic and unusual plants, and specialize in mediterranean-climate plants including California natives, and plants from South Africa, Australia, the Mediterranean region and South America.  For a list of plants that are available and more information about the Spring Plant Sale click here.  They accept cash, check or credit card.