Conservation
When trends converge: Boycotts, bicycles and a car culture in decline?
In recent days, I’ve heard a lot about boycotting BP to punish it for the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Boycotts against companies have in many ways become the default American reaction against behavior we don’t like. Perhaps we have become resigned to idea that our main role in our economy and society is to consume. American … Continue reading
Would oil off our coast cause us to change our ways?
In the early days of the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe, some local media reported the Gulf Coast’s loss could be the Atlantic Coast’s gain, in the form of tourists reconfiguring their summer vacation destinations. These stories usually included mandatory expressions of sympathy for the region dealing with the environmental catastrophe. Still, the disaster was down there. … Continue reading
Bamboo Farm Spring Festival presents opportunity to show support for threatened program
The 16th Annual Spring Festival at the University of Georgia’s Bamboo Farm and Coastal Garden on March 20 provides a great excuse to visit the largest collection of bamboo specimens available for public viewing in North America and maybe even buy some to take home at the plant sale. Also worth checking out is the … Continue reading
Sustainable agriculture conference to be held in Savannah, April 16 and 17
The Greening the Southeast Regional Summit is scheduled for April 16 and 17 at the Coastal Georgia Center in Savannah. According to event organizers, the summit will, “bring together regional and national experts and grassroots organizations to provide training/information and successful models that focus on renewable energy sources for agriculture and forestry, to discuss how does sustainable farming … Continue reading
One year later: Savannah’s curbside recycling program
To mark the one year anniversary of curbside recycling for residential customers in the City of Savannah, WTOC and WSAV aired approving segments on the program. It’s reached 50 percent participation, a level that surpassed expectations. Early in the program there was considerable grumbling about everything from missed pick ups, to the size of the … Continue reading
Have lunch with the trees on Dec. 1
The Savannah Tree Foundation suggests supplementing your brown bag with a “leisurely stroll amongst a canopy of gold, red and yellow leaves” in Forsyth Park on Dec. 1. The Fall Color Walk through Forsyth’s Arboretum will be led by Bill Haws, the City of Savannah’s forest administrator. Participants will see different species and cultivars of … Continue reading
Mr. Jalopy vs. the culture of disposability
I ride my bike past Scott TV repair just about every workday. Sometimes there are television carcasses sitting out front on the sidewalk. Sometimes I can see people moving around inside. Sometimes it’s open. More often it’s not. A bigger mystery than Scott TV’s business hours is this: Who takes a television in for repair … Continue reading
Savannah Tree Foundation to mark National Trails Day with new signage at Bacon Park
The Savannah Tree Foundation has been working with its partner, the City of Savannah, to help install back-country style natural walking trails in Bacon Park Forest. According to a press release: “We’ve been working with the city on developing natural walking trails at Bacon Park Forest for years,” said Diane Houston, President of the Savannah … Continue reading
RedeSIGN art project finds new use for old street signs, benefits good cause
What becomes of old traffic signs when they are targeted by taggers, mangled by wayward motor vehicles or simply lose their reflectivity? Some signs suffering from these conditions — or that otherwise deemed unfit for continued service on Savannah streets — have been repurposed by Savannah artists, The redeSIGN Art Project, on display beginning today … Continue reading
Study finds shady streets are popular with tourists and good for business
Monday I was sitting in Calhoun Square, when a tourist struck up a conversation with me. “Are you lucky enough to live in this beautiful city?” she asked. I said I was. “I’m from Miami,” she said. “We have trees, but nothing like this,” pointing to the canopy overhead. This visitor’s high opinion of Savannah’s … Continue reading
