The Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans Gives New Meaning to “Urban Growth” – NYTimes.com

n/t

Ok, just maybe this one thought:
beyond the obvious conclusions I also can’t help but think what an incredible opportunity to create community gardens…

OK, just a little bit more no-n/t.

So what if their was a club. Call it Mayor Pitt’s Machine perhaps; with a nod to a properly organized political organization… What if this club was formed to match up students looking to put their newly found expertise to work in independent studies related to a particular and central effort of the group…

Say there were landscape architecture students looking to layout gardens with raised beds and brick pathways. Say there were also poli-sci students looking to have an excuse to practice their lobbying skills. Say there were some law students or energetic young lawyers with all of the Louisiana codes fresh in their minds from the bar. Say there were conservation and environmental biology, agricultural, botany and phytopathology students excited to be on call to answer questions and offer advice. Suppose their were some tech types willing to set up some websites. Suppose their were some activist types ready to admin fundraising sites and fb pages. Suppose there was a jaded activist with a penchant for organizing details and a desire to create a replicable model of action.

Say these people formed a club and started to create a template for forming a board for a mom and pop non-profit that would oversee things. Say they wrote it all down and published it where it was easy to find.

Say these folks found lots and a few people in the neighborhood who wanted to garden. Say these people who wanted to garden formed boards and ran things how they wanted and draw upon the collective knowledge of the club members instead of trial and error. Say these energetic young people helped with the labor to get things set up. Say they helped with fundraising to pay for supplies the board decided were needed. A little kickstart action perhaps… Perhaps a cafe press page or two. Perhaps find a printer to donate cards to pass out at gardening shows advertising the same.

Might be pretty cool. Walkways made from old brick and concrete might help tame the wilderness a little. The gardeners might end up with better and less expensive fruit and veggies. Or some nice fruit trees and flowers. Hmmmmmmmmm