TreePEP (Tree Pit Enlargement Project)

The Green Sidewalks of St Petersburg, Florida:
This low-lying city is vulnerable to flooding. Instead of unnecessary concrete, the sidewalks are green and permeable, lined with plants, shrubs and trees everywhere, including on busy commercial streets.

TreePEP's founder recently spoke at a workshop about flood mitigation strategies. She explained the importance of eliminating sidewalk concrete, in addition to other strategies, to help reduce flooding and create better living conditions for street trees. Many of the workshop attendees weren't aware that homeowners are legally permitted to remove sidewalk concrete. Upon learning this, one of the attendees and several of her neighbors hired TreePEP to remove concrete on their properties. Approximately 135 square feet of concrete was removed.

Trivia ?: How many miles of sidewalk concrete cover NYC?

(Click on the first photo for the answer!)

We had a great time this morning with @rogerclark41 from @ny1 talking about tomorrow's 2nd Annual #CityOfForestDay, an initiative by @forestforallnyc which seeks to get NYC to 30% tree canopy by 2030. Tomorrow's guests for our "City of (Food) Forest Day" foraging tour will get to nosh on the snacks you see here: roasted ginkgo nuts, acorn mulberry shortbreads, linden tea and more. This walk is sold out, but we'll definitely be hosting future events that appreciate and support our glorious urban canopy! Join our mailing list to keep up to date at tinyurl.com/stuycovenews.

Molecules awoke one morning to find that atoms were inside them, enfolded in their very being. Cells awoke one morning to find that molecules were actually inside them, as part of their being. And you might awake one morning and find that nature is a part of you, literally internal to your being. You would then treat nature as you would your lungs or kidneys.
~ Ken Wilber, A Brief History of Everything