I recently published a post on sustainable development courses in higher education. It was based on my personal experiences examining curriculum across the world over the past decade. In that same post, I also talked about the broad definition of sustainability and how the term is used [and misused] in society to communicate many things- … More People, planet, profit in context
One of my favorite infrastructure improvements projects I like to see in urban areas are ones that deal with stormwater management. In greater Philadelphia alone, there has been increasing awareness about protecting and enhancing watersheds, mainly due to the more frequent flooding events which close roads, damage properties, and strain infrastructure. The Philadelphia Water Department … More Monitoring green #stormwater infrastructure projects in #Philadelphia #PWD
I spent a few hours today combating porcelain-berry at Woodford Mansion. Now that the beautiful berries are apparent everywhere, its [relatively] easy to find and eliminate at the early stages. But wait: how do you know the difference between the native and non-native species? In this area we have also have a native wild grape … More Plant ID, #Chatbots, and confronting invasive #porcelain-berry @InvasiveNotes @InvasiveInfo
I spent my lunchbreak sunning at Schmidt’s Commons, a 80,000 square-foot, open-air urban space in Northern Liberties, Philadelphia that’s part of a larger mixed-use development district. The entire complex comprises of 35 artists’ studios and boutiques and several restaurants. The property was developed by Bart Blatstein as “the Piazza” and then sold to Kushner Properties in 2013, … More #Schmidt’s Commons: Failed #piazza, successful #urban destination.
As I’m now over a year into the 20 Minute Blog talking about synergies in the natural and built environment, I want to create an opportunity to write about something that is of great importance to me, and that topic is the richness of gardens to explore and enjoy in greater Philadelphia. There is truly … More Philadelphia is America’s Garden Capital
I’ve been interested in historic and cultural landscapes since childhood and even at that age loved exploring the plants, topography, outbuildings and other structures giving clues to how the site changed over time and what their exact uses may have been. I learned early on that knowing these exact anthropocentric uses required knowledge of local … More Stenton House [Phila, PA]
Observations in stormwater management techniques … More Stormwater Management in Fishtown at I95
I recently took a mid-winter stroll through Morris Arboretum and wanted to point out five things that show great winter interest during a time when most of the garden is dormant. Wintersweet [Chimonanthus praecox]. It was the best smelling fragrance at the garden that day! Small yellow bell-like flowers that look nice en masse. Native … More Morris Arboretum – Winter Interest
As a caretaker and tour guide of an historic home in Fairmount Park along the Schuylkill River, we’re often reminded about where famous Philadelphians were born, lived and made history. In the colonial period of Philadelphia, a majority of these events would likely have happened along the Delaware River in what is now called Old … More Laurel Hill Cemetery
It was a cold December day on my visit to Cliveden in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, but that did not stop my visit to one of many fine properties in Historic Germantown. If you have not visited historic Germantown, i highly recommend checking out the organization that helps oversee the collection of properties under the … More Cliveden House – Philadelphia
Joshua Meyer 