SUBURBAN RENEWAL

Two years ago I moved into a modest, 1950s-era, one-story house. From the beginning, my intention has been to make better use of on-site resources such as sun, rain, and soil while using the existing house and property as points of departure for my own local suburban renewal project. A primary strategy of "permaculture" central to this work is to develop what I call "chains of benefits," when single actions produce multiple positive outcomes.

BROWNFIELD RECYCLING

Communities around the world are declaring war on brownfields, those abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. These sites, of which there are some 500,000 throughout the United States, represent pockets of disinvestment, neglect, and, often, missed opportunities.

Brownfields come in the form of industrial properties, old gas stations, warehouses, or even residential buildings containing lead paint and asbestos.

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