I'm really looking forward to everyone coming to our backyard next year for Netroots. United Peace Relief and The Veterans Green Bus project wants to host a volunteer effort throughout the event. You will have all weekend to come and do something for and with the communities working on Park Clean Ups, and Urban Garden Harvests.
Riverfront - Lakewood Park Detroit
View the youtube video of Riverfront - Lakewood Park taken just before our first clean up effort that was completed on Veterans Day Nov, 11, 2012. http://www.youtube.com/...
The Veterans Green Bus, AKA, Large Marge is a biodiesel and waste vegetable oil fuel disaster relief vehicle. We use it to demonstrate sustainable energy solutions for disaster response.
Our veterans designed and converted the bus so that they can continue to serve the country by providing aid and comfort people effected by natural disasters.
We have taken her from Arizona to Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Detroit, New York, Pennsylvania , Roanoke, VA. ( Hurricane Sandy ) and across the country via West VA, Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington and we are now in Oregon.
During the trip we worked with Veterans Green Jobs to teach veterans about sustainability. and Team Rubicon after hurricane Sandy hauling in tools supplies and volunteers form Chicago.
We set up their forward operating base in Rockaway, New York where hosted President Bill Clinton, his daughter Chelsea and the Clinton Global Initiative to assisted thousands of residence effected by the storm.
We have had our challenges. A starter motor fire in VA almost ended our efforts to use the bus.. However, quick action by the veterans saved the day
The forty foot long Crown Super Coach is in Kelso Washington in Kent's Custom Diesel shop for servicing.
From here we will go to Netroots nation to promote the bus as a vehicle for changing perspectives of veterans and disaster relief.
We are a 501C3 non profit made up of veterans dedicated to providing sustainable energy solutions for disaster relief.
Please give what you can and/or share this link with your Facebook friends.
Spirit of Hope Garden Article:
http://www.motherearthliving.com/...
I think exhibitors will appreciate being able to volunteer as well so, we are not going to limit it to just a specific time during conference. There will be things going on in the evening as well. I think this way the conference can have a larger impact in the community while avoiding emptying the conference hall for a one time event or doing it on the last day when a large population of the conference.goers are doing their last networking and packing to return home.
DIRT:
About
Growing Healthy Soil
Description
ABOUT US:
We are life long urban gardeners and well established urban farmers who are well aware of the Global Top Soil Crisis that can ultimately lead to Global Food Security issues and right here in our community. We are aware that many countries around the globe have out right ban the use of GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) from their food supplies, or have at least “Label GMO’s” Here in America some people do not know what GMO’s are or that they consume them daily even though we have Departments of Government in place to protect us and our food supply. Giant multi-national corporations have paid billions in advertising to prevent the labeling of GMO’s. Former CEO’s of these companies now, work in high level positions in government offices at the USDA, EPA, and FDA.
As gas and energy prices continue to rise and more of our shifting populations move to more urban environments the need for local food systems will become increasing important. Our industrial past has riddled our urban environment with toxic scars across our landscape. If we are going to create a sustainable local food system we need healthy soil for the raised beds, vacant lots, and containers. Compost helps remediate toxins in soil and helps produce more nutrient dense foods.
We love food! We love to grow, cook, share, local foods. With the explosion of Urban Agriculture in Detroit and out into the Metro-Suburbs we need healthy soil. We are passionate about making healthy soil and building gardens.
Dirt; Healthy Soil Project is from the ground up start up business. At the present time we are employing two Detroit farmers part-time, a handful of volunteers, community support, and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. With your help and support we will make lots of healthy soil and grow and be able to employ more local people, take a lot of organic material out of the waste stream and helping to close the loop in our growing local foods movement. The non-profit side of Dirt; Healthy Soil Project will focus on Education, Research, and Remediation in Soil Sciences for everyone.
This is who we are. Tell us about you, your community, and what you care about.
Peace, Love and Healthy Soil, Dirt
Organic Waste Curbside Pick-up
East Side Detroit
Covering the neighborhoods of:
East English Village, Cornerstone,
Morning Side, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Park
By participating in Organic Waste curb-side pick-up you:
Help your community and the planet
Help grow the local food movement
Help take Organic wastes our of our waste stream
Help the Environment
Help grow Healthy Soil
Help local farmers
Weekly Pick-up from your front curb
15 a month, paid quarterly
Stay with us for a full year and receive healthy soil bonuses
How it works is we give you a 5 gallon bucket and simple instructions. You put the bucket out on Monday morning by 9am. We come pick it up and leave you a fresh bucket.
We will take your bagged cut grass or leaves during the season.
*We can not take leaf or grass bags if you or your lawn service spray chemical pesticides or fertilizers.
Call: Dirt; Healthy Soil Project at 313.799.FARM
healthysoilproject.com
https://www.facebook.com/...
Detroit Bus Company
Biodiesel Powered Transportation
http://thedetroitbus.com/...
Mower Gang of Detroit
http://www.mowergang.com/...
https://www.facebook.com/...
The Mower Gang Is Quite Busy
Every Other Wednesday Evening
The Mower Gang mows every other Wednesday after work. These events are organized using our Facebook page. It is usually an informal post on the Detroit Mower Gang’s wall that says “Hey dudes, I’m going to mow at ____ park on Wednesday after work. Anyone want to join me?” A post like this will usually garner about 4-8 guys and the park will get mowed. Click here to see if anything is going on...
The Motown Mowdown
On May 25th, 2013 we will be hosting the first ever 24 hour mow-a-thon. It will be sorta like LeMans but slower. We’ll be mowing as many parks as we can in a 24 hour period. It’s such a big event that we have created a webpage about just it, or you can go right to the event page on Facebook and let us know you’ll be there.
Monthly:
We usually plan one larger event per month. These events include some type of event or contest and are more elaborate. Just like a biker rally, we can have a cookout, a nighttime event, a chain saw party, a bonfire, scavenger hunt, maze mowing, all sorts of things are possible at these events. These events are planned using the “Events” tab on our facebook page. While weekly mows usually just involve hard work and the reward of a job well done, the monthly events are usually more fun and thus more attractive to friends and families. A typical monthly event will have 20-40 people, sometimes more. Click here and it might bring you to the correct place.
Future Plans and Goals:
This will be our third year and it looks like a good one. We are starting off the year with some great publicity with an appearance on Bizarre Foods. Without getting into specifics, (specific events will be listed on the Facebook page) the gang plans to get out there and make sure the kids of Detroit have outdoor places to play. Our two main parks are Dorais Playground (and the velodrome there) and O-Shea Playground. Dorais has a velodrome and a very large garden, O-Shea has a tall-grass maze that we have created and maintain. We will try our best to keep these two large parks in great repair this year. We also try to branch out and mow 6 or so other playgrounds. In these cases we don’t often mow areas as large as a football field, but we try to make sure the playground area is mowed and is visible from the street and from nearby houses.
The Mower Gang is Sponsored by Vibrators.com because Tom, the mower gang founder (leader?) owns Vibrators.com.
Also Husqvarna USA is a sponsor because they donated a really fast lawn tractor to our group.