More Green Innovations for the Homeless

I’ve blogged about Crossroads, the green from the ground up homeless shelter about to open in Oakland, Calif., and the groundbreaking Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter in Fairfax, Va. Today, I am going to tell you about the Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago, Ill. The Pacific Garden Mission has been in Chicago since 1877, but two years ago, a new, greener building was constructed to house the homeless. The new mission, which has 950 beds, has solar panels and low flow water fixtures. They used local materials to cut down on emissions and recycled their construction waste. Best of all, … Continue reading

Detroit: Urban Agriculture Capital of America?

I was watching some television show about Detroit not long ago and the state of the city saddened me. What was once the bustling, busy Motor City, home to Motown and a thriving auto industry, has now become a ghost town in many areas. It is estimated that there are about 33,000 vacant homes in Detroit, with many city blocks being totally abandoned. Overall, there is approximately 25,000 vacant acres in Detroit. City officials are facing a daunting task – how to revive this once lively city. Detroit seems the perfect place for urban agriculture. After all, there are cheap, … Continue reading