Sarah Laskow notes the latest battlefronts in the growing 'war on gardens' being perpetrated by cities across North America.
Following on the recent demolition of a Tulsa resident's edible garden, and similar episodes in Georgia, Michigan, and New Jersey, a recent battle in Quebec has Laskow seeing an all out assault on our right to bear veggies.
"Across the country and even in Canada, cities' thinking about front
lawns is more than a little bit antiquated," writes Laskow. "It comes down to this simple
formulation: Grass good! Vegetables bad...If
building a few bike lanes counts as a war on cars, this is definitely a war on gardens."
And Laskow is out to the marshal the troops: "It's not the 1950s anymore: Not everyone needs to grow a perfectly
manicured lawn, especially when vegetable gardens can look just as
attractive, improve the soil (instead of requiring tons of pesticides),
and provide fresh food. If the problem is that these types of front
yards are illegal in current city codes, then the codes need to change,
along with people's assumptions that a burnt-out, water-sucking lawn is
better than a few patches of thriving tomato plants and string bean
vines."
Read the full story: City officials are waging a war on gardens
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement
The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.
Judges permit Denver to divert 77,000 acre feet from the Colorado River for reservoir expansion
Overuse and climate change have caused the Colorado River’s water levels to plummet.
NYC DOT wants faster, more permanent street upgrades
The city is examining ways to build more concrete infrastructure without getting entangled in 'decades-long' projects.
'Something we’ve never seen before:' rising utility rates could strain city finances nationwide
Data centers, climate change and other factors have caused utility rates in the United States to increase by 38% since 2020.
Trump to overrule local leaders, lease millions of acres of America’s Pacific Island territories’ seafloors to mining companies
International law says that the Indigenous people of America’s territories have a right to prior and informed consent regarding projects that impact their countries.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
KFH Group Inc.
Greater Baltimore Committee
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello