Wrapping things up at MCG

A quick summary of what the Majora Carter Group is, and why it's amazing:

The Majora Carter Group LLC is a consulting and project-development company focused on unlocking the economic potential of every place. Specializing in green jobs strategy development and community engagement consulting, the Majora Carter Group helps companies and communities successfully explore and establish green economic projects. Majora Carter founded one of the nation’s first and most successful green-collar training and placement systems in 2003, Bronx Environmental Stewardship Training, and following in that vein MCG has begun consulting with clients in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans and in the wetlands of Northeastern North Carolina. In North Carolina, MCG is working with a number of CDCs to pioneer a horticultural job-training curriculum. In New Orleans, through the Make It Right Foundation’s (MIR) Sustainable Infrastructure Project, MCG has created a workforce development strategy that incorporates local citizens into innovative economic systems generated from investment of human and monetary capital in green infrastructure projects.

wow. So much good stuff.
I am writing this with rainbow tears in my eyes. Because my time here with the Majora Carter Group is one day away from being done. Alas, a moment for reflection:

Summer interns this year got to work on 2 fantastic projects; urban farm development in Detroit and wetland restoration in the Chesapeake Bay. With my experience in applied GIS (geographic information system) and wetland mapping in the American South, I put my effort into the wetlands project. Here I helped with a GIS tool proposal for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), researching employment markets in the wetlands industry, possible wetland restoration sites, and potential partners for our proposed project. Along with this major task, I also dabbled in researching horticultural infrastructure (which will become a major component of my senior thesis) and worked on this blog. In the process I worked with amazing staff (captured in sneaky photos shown), super cool interns, and a Columbia University graduate whose research intent made my re-evaluate my notion of what a "scholar" actually is. I couldn't have had a better summer internship, MCG. :) (and I also really like the fluorescent upholstery and rainbow window dressings)

Microhousing: Architecture for Really Small People

not.

hahahaha.

A friend forwarded me this AMAZING link on spatially conscious architecture in Japan.

Japanese architects have long delt with spatial constraints on building, but recently (and with the help of new industrial processes and materials technology) they are redefining architecture by inventing entirely new methods to build a "home". Removing all concept of doorways, stairwells, and individual bedrooms and bathrooms, micro-architecture evolves around the use of space; thinking in "3-D" rather than in the classically 2-dimensional plan and section. With this principle in mind, houses can take on any form and require only as much space as occupation requires.

Most importantly, and most environmentally conscious, these new microhouses are finding dynamic ways to exploit natural resources to replace energy consuming electricity. Take for instance, the "Cell Block" house by Yasuhiro Yamashita. The entire facade employs "cross-stitched" steel and glass, to create a checkered shell with maximum natural light intake. Beautiful and inventive design, minimal energy, and requiring only an iota of land....wonderful!

check this ish out: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128953596

...and studies are showing that people are moving away from suburbia, and back into cities. Minimalistic design may be the only design left to consider as urban spaces explode with a growing population. More to come on that.

how to make a wetland: wetland contractors!

Today in the MCG office research was focused on gathering up the names of wetland contractors in the North Carolina area that specialize in developing, creating, and restoring natural wetlands. I was particularly impressed with Carolina Silvics,Inc. http://tiny.cc/i368t, and Restoration Systems LLC, http://www.restorationsystems.com/, two wetland contracting firms based in North Carolina.

Carolina Silvics, Inc. was founded in 1998 and specializes in ecological restoration and resource management. Their environmental services include:
-Planting plan assistance
-Plant material acquisition
-Invasive species removal and control
-Site preparation and repair
-Wetland/BMP planting, including plugs, live stakes, bare roots, containers, relocated material and B&Bs
-Mechanical and chemical competition control
...and they've worked with major environmental groups including, the United States Air Force, the North Carolina Coastal Foundation, and the North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program.

The other major contractor I found was Restoration Systems, LLC, which focuses on wetland restoration and management in order to offset further industrial development in these regions. Uniquely, this organization restores and protects wetland regions by purchasing a permanent conservation easement or fee-simple interest from property owners, and physically restoring the waterways, trees and vegetation to duplicate natural function and historic condition as closely as possible. And they have an amazing set of pics of current and past restoration projects (http://picasaweb.google.com/restorationsys). They also have a cool blog. Check it out! (http://www.restorationsystems.com/growing-season/).

On a final and less related note, I also found this wetland plant nursery, the Mellow Marsh Farm. (http://www.mellowmarshfarm.com). Such a cute, marshmellowy name! (but actually quite a legitimate wetland resource).

My new favorite bag....

...it hasn't been carrying much but GRE vocab flashcards and random plastic fork for a few days, but this sustainable messenger is legit a new toting fave. And compliments of the Majora Carter office.

http://tiny.cc/izjny

I can't decide if I like it more for the fact that it's from a San Francisco based custom bag company (I am a dedicated NorCal resident) or because it's entirely made through a waste-free process!

check em out.

Farming on American Roofs

One of many projects going on at the Majora Carter Group this summer, American City Farms is one of the heart healthiest. A project developed as a component of the urban farming movement, American City Farms will, hopefully, be one of the most influential projects developed; directly helping urban communities across the United States become hubs of fresh produce.

Hat tip to fellow intern Jason Segal for the following: American City Farms is a Local Foods project that will provide fresh produce to inner cities. Produce will be sourced from farms within a 100 mile radius of the destination city, from Urban Greenhouses developed by MCG, and from local community gardens. MCG will be opening projects in Detroit, MI ; Flint, MI; and Jackson, MS. The Greenhouses will use Aquaponics, a system that symbiotically cultivates plants & fish in a recirculating aquatic environment. Produce will be sold to local grocery stores, corner stores, and restaurants. The goal is to provide fresh and healthy produce to neighborhoods that sell mostly processed unhealthy food.

More to come on this, but in the meantime keep checking out the Brooklyn Grange Farm.

Hort. Infra in action.

for more info, there's a nice little mention about American City Farms in http://tiny.cc/q9xrf. and for MCG see http://www.majoracartergroup.com/