If your not hooked into The Dirt--you should be.
The Dirt highlights Leave No Child Inside. (You never know where links are going to take you, check out The Orion Society.)
Don't forget how you get strangers interacting and talking to each other--babies, kids and dogs.
Kids also help us recover and reground after traumatic experiences. Life comes into focus with kids.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Urban Landscape
I follow Walking Turcot Yard's blog because of my fascination with the urban landscape. It is amazing the infrastructure we build that is of a disposable quality. When we are done with it we walk away from it. Much of our urban landscape is of little aesthetic value. Oklahoma has shed very little money on ornamentation or details that might embrace regional or cultural ideals.
However a feature of granaries, industrial equipment, water towers is very relevant to the urban landscape of Oklahoma. Because it is so flat, large scale industrial and city structures are very much a part of our urban landscape. I have run across Bernd and Hilla Becher's work previously and appreciate it.
Look at what Seattle did with Gas Works Park, New York with Fresh Kills and Germany with Landschaft Park. Oklahoma City has some industrial sites that they could capitalize on.
I'm going to have to get out there and take some pictures and do a follow up on this train of thought.
However a feature of granaries, industrial equipment, water towers is very relevant to the urban landscape of Oklahoma. Because it is so flat, large scale industrial and city structures are very much a part of our urban landscape. I have run across Bernd and Hilla Becher's work previously and appreciate it.
Look at what Seattle did with Gas Works Park, New York with Fresh Kills and Germany with Landschaft Park. Oklahoma City has some industrial sites that they could capitalize on.
I'm going to have to get out there and take some pictures and do a follow up on this train of thought.
English Landscape School
I found an interesting portion of this history discussion relevant to Oklahoma. I think we can trace our obsession with the lawn to this school of thought, but it wasn't that lengthy discussion I found so interesting.
The farm and agrarian beauty was embraced in part of this movement. Oklahoma has some landscapes that I think we can identify with as beautiful. Just up from my house is a country road embraced and covered with pecans, cottonwood and black walnuts. As you walk through this enveloping canopy of branches and leaves the view opens up to a large pasture. Cattle graze and copse of elm, plum and persimmon provide homes for bluebirds and rabbits. Stands of cottonwood and willow line the stream beds. This could easily be a picture designed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown.
I'm not sure that Oklahomans recognize the beauty that is before them. Embrace the farm and the agrarian community. Support it by shopping at your local farmers market. Buy local products. I shop at Crest Foods and I enjoy their local food selections. The Oklahoma Food Coop is another source of local foods.
Our landscape is shaped by a web of human activity. Our aesthetic values is shaped by a web of cultural influences.
The farm and agrarian beauty was embraced in part of this movement. Oklahoma has some landscapes that I think we can identify with as beautiful. Just up from my house is a country road embraced and covered with pecans, cottonwood and black walnuts. As you walk through this enveloping canopy of branches and leaves the view opens up to a large pasture. Cattle graze and copse of elm, plum and persimmon provide homes for bluebirds and rabbits. Stands of cottonwood and willow line the stream beds. This could easily be a picture designed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown.
I'm not sure that Oklahomans recognize the beauty that is before them. Embrace the farm and the agrarian community. Support it by shopping at your local farmers market. Buy local products. I shop at Crest Foods and I enjoy their local food selections. The Oklahoma Food Coop is another source of local foods.
Our landscape is shaped by a web of human activity. Our aesthetic values is shaped by a web of cultural influences.
Wind Power
OG and E is sold out of wind, "Due to overwhelming response to our wind power program, OG and E is currently sold out of wind power and has reached capacity on the waiting list. Therefore, we are not accepting wind power subscriptions at this time."
I was looking into changing my power over to wind power this morning and pulled up OG and E's "sold-out" note. That is good. That means there is a market that is interested in buying wind power.
Following the links on the site I found a colorful and interactive Oklahoma Wind Resource Map by OSU. To go along with that map is an interactive map covering wind, wildlife, untilled landscapes and protected areas. Both of these maps were by way of the OWPI or Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative website. "The OWPI investigates and promotes wind energy resources in our state."
If your interested in a community wind resource check out OWPI's Community Wind: a Guide book for Oklahoma.
It is difficult to sort out the energy sources and what is best for me and my family. I know that I am going to buy a new car in the next few years. I know eventually I will buy a new house. I ask myself frequently what am I doing now. What can I do now? What can I personally change to make difference? Are you thinking about alternative sources? Better sources? Sources that as OSN would put it address economy, ecology and equity.
I think "Clean" is a loaded word. What good is an energy source that doesn't pollute the Sky's but it pollutes the rivers? Or is destructive to habitat? What good is an energy source that reduces the quality of living of a community and lines the pockets of the few?
Complex problems usually require complex solutions.
I was looking into changing my power over to wind power this morning and pulled up OG and E's "sold-out" note. That is good. That means there is a market that is interested in buying wind power.
Following the links on the site I found a colorful and interactive Oklahoma Wind Resource Map by OSU. To go along with that map is an interactive map covering wind, wildlife, untilled landscapes and protected areas. Both of these maps were by way of the OWPI or Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative website. "The OWPI investigates and promotes wind energy resources in our state."
If your interested in a community wind resource check out OWPI's Community Wind: a Guide book for Oklahoma.
Some interesting grabs from that document (click it for a better read).
It is difficult to sort out the energy sources and what is best for me and my family. I know that I am going to buy a new car in the next few years. I know eventually I will buy a new house. I ask myself frequently what am I doing now. What can I do now? What can I personally change to make difference? Are you thinking about alternative sources? Better sources? Sources that as OSN would put it address economy, ecology and equity.
I think "Clean" is a loaded word. What good is an energy source that doesn't pollute the Sky's but it pollutes the rivers? Or is destructive to habitat? What good is an energy source that reduces the quality of living of a community and lines the pockets of the few?
Complex problems usually require complex solutions.
Oklahoma Sustainability Network
Check out OSN's website. It looks like some great resources coming. I am on their list serve and they have a pretty good forum for keeping up with local environmental issues, or as they call them "economy, ecology, and equity."
OSN Conference coming up.
About OSN
Mission Statement: The Oklahoma Sustainability Network (OSN) serves to connect and educate the people of Oklahoma concerning the many aspects of sustainability. OSN is a catalyst and a resource for the improvement of Oklahoma's economy, ecology, and equity.
OSN's 6th Annual Conference
OSN Conference coming up.
About OSN
Mission Statement: The Oklahoma Sustainability Network (OSN) serves to connect and educate the people of Oklahoma concerning the many aspects of sustainability. OSN is a catalyst and a resource for the improvement of Oklahoma's economy, ecology, and equity.
OSN's 6th Annual Conference
The 6th Annual OSN Conference, Ideas to Action: Envisioning the Next 100 Years in Oklahoma, will be held Friday and Saturday, April 20-21, 2007 at the National Weather Center in Norman.
Keynote speakers include:
- Doug McKenzie-Mohr, author of Fostering Sustainable Behavior: An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing, who will also be leading an afternoon workshop on social marketing
- Victor Davis Hanson, Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, who will speak about redirecting farming away from corporate agriculture back to its traditional role in society
Monday, March 5, 2007
Inspiration
I'm always looking for inspiration.
Todd Stewart a local photographer and University professor has a great portfolio.
These two photos are from Landsessions:
I'm sure I have mentioned James Richer's blog, landsessions great landscape blog from across the pond. The two pictures are grabs from his blog, and the top one is of Miro Rivera Architects, Lake Austin, Texas.
Check out Andrew Houser's HD:Photos
It is not just the landscape a designer should be concerned with. It is the people and the experience of the landscape that is as important.
Todd Stewart a local photographer and University professor has a great portfolio.
These two photos are from Landsessions:
I'm sure I have mentioned James Richer's blog, landsessions great landscape blog from across the pond. The two pictures are grabs from his blog, and the top one is of Miro Rivera Architects, Lake Austin, Texas.
Check out Andrew Houser's HD:Photos
It is not just the landscape a designer should be concerned with. It is the people and the experience of the landscape that is as important.
Daniel Hinkley
Daniel Hinkley is one of my hero's. I visited Heronswood on numerous occasions while living in
Heronswood was bought by Burpee or some other conglomerate and moved the nursery back East.
While visiting home this summer the plant salesperson's at various nurseries had been crushed by the loss of Heronswood. I am sure that it is sacrilegious to even link to the new site.
I was just looking at Mr. Hinkley's lecture schedule to see when he was coming to
OKC SECOND TIME AROUND
"OKC Second Time Around", a book with its own blog:
This is a book I have on my wish list.
Doug Dawgz does a review as does NewsOK
This is a book I have on my wish list.
Doug Dawgz does a review as does NewsOK
The life of a planting design
As a student I try to get a broad perspective and at the same time try to understand concepts at a closer level. We had a great lecture from James Yoch this week on Italian Renaissance gardens. In his lecture he mentioned that some of these Italian gardens were so low maintenance that it only took a few of gardeners one day a month to maintain them, and they were extremely long lived. While Gertrude Jekyll's gardens disappeared within months or short years after her death and maintenance was discontinued.
Is a garden only as good as its maintenance crew? What good is a garden that only the designer has the ability or know-how to maintain?
I don't necessarily believe we should strive towards zero maintenance gardens. Part of the joy of a garden is the actual care we give to the garden.
In my mind there is a balance. I want perennials and annuals, but I also want structure and longevity. I'm not afraid of the evolution of a garden or design, but my planting design should work now, 10 years, 30 years and 100 years, with normal garden modifications.
I think peoples attitudes change with time, so why not design a garden that can be reworked in 40 years? However, at the end of 40 years, there should be a magnificent framework of trees and shrubs and plantings to work with.
James Corner leaves some of his designs open ended. However, he designs the environmental aspects to mature and anticipate future changes.
I think we can recognize bad planting designs. They are very evident within a few years of planting. It is the great designs that still work and can be modified gracefully as they age and mature.
I run across this blog: http://www.badlandscaping.com/ check it out.
Is a garden only as good as its maintenance crew? What good is a garden that only the designer has the ability or know-how to maintain?
I don't necessarily believe we should strive towards zero maintenance gardens. Part of the joy of a garden is the actual care we give to the garden.
In my mind there is a balance. I want perennials and annuals, but I also want structure and longevity. I'm not afraid of the evolution of a garden or design, but my planting design should work now, 10 years, 30 years and 100 years, with normal garden modifications.
I think peoples attitudes change with time, so why not design a garden that can be reworked in 40 years? However, at the end of 40 years, there should be a magnificent framework of trees and shrubs and plantings to work with.
James Corner leaves some of his designs open ended. However, he designs the environmental aspects to mature and anticipate future changes.
I think we can recognize bad planting designs. They are very evident within a few years of planting. It is the great designs that still work and can be modified gracefully as they age and mature.
I run across this blog: http://www.badlandscaping.com/ check it out.
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