{"id":3422,"date":"2010-12-14T21:21:00","date_gmt":"2010-12-15T04:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/?p=3422"},"modified":"2010-12-19T11:06:21","modified_gmt":"2010-12-19T18:06:21","slug":"green-gardens-grow-san-diego%e2%80%99s-lovin%e2%80%99-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/2010\/12\/14\/green-gardens-grow-san-diego%e2%80%99s-lovin%e2%80%99-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Green Gardens Grow: San Diego\u2019s Lovin\u2019 It!"},"content":{"rendered":"

[Urban renewal]<\/i><\/p>\n

Green Gardens Grow:
\nSan Diego\u2019s Lovin\u2019 It!<\/h2>\n
By Orin Louis
\nrebuildglobal.org<\/h5>\n

Imagine a world in which architects, designers, and educators all collaborated to promote sustainability, preservation, and higher standards of living through artistically thought-provoking projects, such as implementing gardens in schools. Whoa, slow down. Let\u2019s start at the beginning. Flashback with me.
\n\"\"<\/a>
\nI quickly outgrew Happy Meals. As a kid, my favorite meal was a Number Two, Super Sized, and a nine-piece McNuggets. I begged for this every day, got it a few times each week, and always finished everything in one sitting. Vegetables? Never heard of \u2018em\u2026or, at least, if someone tried to cram any down my throat, I transformed into Damien from The Omen entering a church. Cheeseburgers have pickles, which are vegetables, right? Fries are for sure potatoes and I am pretty sure ketchup is made from tomatoes. What was your favorite meal?
\n\"\"<\/a>
\nHey, I\u2019m not here to judge. I still indulge (only on very long car rides, and even then seldom). So what if clown Ronald McDonald is the only fictional character more recognizable than Santa? What\u2019s the problem with a diet high in fat, sugar, salt, and low in fiber, vitamins, and minerals? Oh\u2014and don\u2019t forget all the energy expended to deliver that greasy junk into your body, all associated with the multiplicity of other problems associated with our over-consumption\u2026okay, okay\u2026you already read Fast Food Nation and watched Super Size Me, you\u2019ve stopped eating meat and vegetables, you weren\u2019t raised in a freakin\u2019 cave and you\u2019ve heard this spiel ad nauseam. I\u2019ll spare you.<\/p>\n

But how about (chew on? sorry\u2026) this: apparently there is a solution, and it\u2019s simpler than you might think.<\/p>\n

San Diego-based nonprofit, Rebuild Global, has a mission: to design an environmentally and socially responsible world community, one project at a time. Working with individual communities, Rebuild promotes sustainable growth by protecting environmental quality, improving accessibility and mobility, and strengthening our economy through the influence of design. Founder Sandra Plaza explains: \u201cWe began our work as members of the San Diego chapter of Architecture for Humanity. During that time, we gained valuable experience working in the community and completed a number of noteworthy projects. We then set out to establish connections between volunteer designers and communities by working with schools, community groups, nonprofits, and public service and non-governmental organizations that deal specifically with low income communities, homeless populations, natural disaster survivors, the disabled,
\nenvironmental and social sustainability, and failing infrastructures.\u201d Past pro-bono projects include: Providing extensive design services for a residential addition to a home in a socio-economically challenged community in San Diego, designing housing solutions for communities in need by addressing sustainable solutions for future growth in Tijuana, and rehabilitating an existing orphanage facility in Nakuru, Kenya. Now, lucky for us, Rebuild Global focuses on San Diego\u2019s local children, specifically those in socio-economically challenged areas.
\n\"\"<\/a>
\nOn November 13, 2010, Washington Elementary School announced the groundbreaking of a new school garden in Little Italy. The school brought together efforts of Washington Elementary School Foundation and community members, school parents, and Rebuild Global volunteer architects and engineers. Rebuild drafted designs and planned community involvement in construction. Said Janie Wardlow, Washington Elementary principal: \u201cBuilding this garden will bring together our students, parents and community members by providing a project that beautifies the school and teaches us about our food sources and our environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Washington Elementary School Vegetable Garden will teach children the importance of sustainability and preparing healthful meals, which include a variety of locally-grown fruits and vegetables. Students will learn how and why to maintain a healthy lifestyle, thus reducing their predilection to obesity, early-onset diabetes and hypertension, among other chronic diseases. They will enjoy learning first-hand how they are lessening the amount of fossil fuels burned
\nduring food transportation and thereby dramatically reducing impact on our planet.
\n\"\"<\/a>
\nRebuild\u2019s ultimate goal is to help elementary schools all over the United States to have their own vegetable gardens, beginning right here in San Diego. Next on the list is a vacant 160\u2019x35\u2019 plot of City School property abutting Matthew Sherman Elementary school in the Sherman Heights neighborhood of San Diego. \u201cThe project seeks to create an outdoor learning environment holistically weaving together gardening, eating healthful foods, living sustainably, conserving energy, creating art, reclaiming water, and recycling, all in a package that is fun and understandable for children and staff alike,\u201d says 2010 AIA National Young Architect of the Year Award Recipient and pro-bono Project Architect Kevin deFreitas. \u201cEach subject will be enhanced by \u201cgarden-based learning,\u201d a hands-on experience using nature as an educational tool. Water\u2013the region\u2019s most precious natural resource\u2013will also be integrated into the design: rainwater will be collected into a cistern, walkways will be permeable and won\u2019t contribute to urban runoff, and a water reclamation system that harvests gray water from the exterior hand washing sink will irrigate drought tolerant native plants.\u201d<\/p>\n

State-wide, schools are cutting funding for teachers and after school programs; cash is in short supply, especially in Matthew Sherman Elementary\u2019s school district. When budgets are being cut for education, crucially important programs, such as this one, are quickly taking a backseat. Don\u2019t let the clown win: Help fund Rebuild to implement a garden in every elementary school in San Diego. Children today inherit a variety of unfortunate and exigent health and environmental challenges. Senior editor at the Center for Ecoliteracy, Michael K. Stone, points out: \u201cThis generation will require leaders and citizens who can think ecologically, understand<\/p>\n

the interconnectedness of human and natural systems, and have the will, ability, and courage to act.\u201d With your necessary support and involvement in participating and becoming a partner in our School Garden Initiative, this becomes possible. Together, we can design an environmentally and socially responsible world community, one project at a time. Together we will make a difference.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[Urban renewal] Green Gardens Grow: San Diego\u2019s Lovin\u2019 It! By Orin Louis rebuildglobal.org Imagine a world in which architects, designers, and educators all collaborated to promote sustainability, preservation, and higher standards of living through artistically thought-provoking projects, such as implementing gardens in schools. Whoa, slow down. Let\u2019s start at the beginning. Flashback with me. I quickly outgrew Happy Meals. As […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3422","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-archive"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9190,"url":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/2013\/09\/06\/ad-mail-boxes-express\/","url_meta":{"origin":3422,"position":0},"title":"[ad] San Diego’s BEST Mail Box Rental Service!","author":"Reviewer Rob","date":"September 6, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Mail Boxes Express Is Where You Get TWO MONTHS FREE RENTTweet\"Mail Boxes Express in Shelter Island Area of Point Loma is San Diego's Finest Mail Box Rental\/Mail-forwarding Service!\" ~Reviewer MagazinePrint out the image below or mention Reviewer Magazine as you ask for Two Months Free With A One-Year Rental! \u201cVoted\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "advertising"","block_context":{"text":"advertising","link":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/category\/advertising\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Two-Months FREE with One-Year Mail Box Rental! Call 619-222-1230 NOW!","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/mail-boxes-express-card-layout-600px.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/mail-boxes-express-card-layout-600px.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/mail-boxes-express-card-layout-600px.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8004,"url":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/2013\/01\/16\/bob-filner-sd-mayor-first-state-of-the-city-address-photos\/","url_meta":{"origin":3422,"position":1},"title":"Bob Filner, SD Mayor, First State Of The City Address Photos","author":"Reviewer Rob","date":"January 16, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"San Diego's State Of The City\u201cPolitics is the art of controlling your environment\u201d ~ Hunter S. ThompsonBob Filner Begins His Work As MayorTweet\"Tonight, the state of our City can be compared to a patient who has faced a life-threatening disease, who has survived painful treatments and a lengthy recovery, who\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "politics"","block_context":{"text":"politics","link":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":576,"url":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/2009\/03\/22\/sunset-photography-by-reviewer-ad\/","url_meta":{"origin":3422,"position":2},"title":"Sunset Photography By Reviewer [Ad]","author":"admin","date":"March 22, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"[Advertisement]Shoot photos during the magic hour of sunset!Photos by Reviewer: San Diego's Greatest and Most Affordable Commercial Photography. :)Click here:","rel":"","context":"In "archive"","block_context":{"text":"archive","link":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/category\/archive\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7355,"url":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/2012\/10\/16\/san-diego-independent-film-makers-consortium-halloween-themed-pitchfest-and-mixer-october-26th-630-930\/","url_meta":{"origin":3422,"position":3},"title":"San Diego Independent Film Makers Consortium, Halloween-Themed Pitchfest and Mixer October 26th, 6:30-9:30","author":"admin","date":"October 16, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"San Diego Indy Film SceneTweet Reported by Katherine Sweetman Do you want to get involved in exciting independent film productions happening here in San Diego? Are you an producer, actor, director of photography, sound engineer, director, photographer, writer, production designer, costume designer, makeup artist, motion graphics artist, SFX artist, graphic\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "film"","block_context":{"text":"film","link":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/category\/film\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/8013106029_680de721dd_z.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/8013106029_680de721dd_z.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/8013106029_680de721dd_z.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4269,"url":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/2016\/05\/05\/ad-big-city-tattoo\/","url_meta":{"origin":3422,"position":4},"title":"[ad] Big City Tattoo in North Park","author":"admin","date":"May 5, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"[ad] Big City Tattoo, Inc. Tweet Big City Tattoo, Inc. The Polynesian Tap-Tattoo Headquarters San Diego's ONLY Qualified Samoan Tap Artist... ask for Angela Specializing in ALL custom tattoos. Voted Best Tattoo Artist in San Diego! call 619-299-4868 or visit tat2inc.com Facebook\/bigcitytattooinc Instagram\/big_city_tattoo Big City Tattoo new address 2939 El\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "advertising"","block_context":{"text":"advertising","link":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/category\/advertising\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Big City Tattoo, tat2inc.com","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/big-city-tattoo-ad-online-600px-72dpi.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/big-city-tattoo-ad-online-600px-72dpi.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/big-city-tattoo-ad-online-600px-72dpi.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2517,"url":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/2010\/06\/17\/vista-farmers-market-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":3422,"position":5},"title":"Vista Farmers Market review","author":"admin","date":"June 17, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"The Vista Farmers Market San Diego\u2019s Oldest Farmers Marketby Cheff Jenn One of the oldest farmers markets in San Diego, is surprisingly one of the least known. The Vista farmers market has been providing San Diego\u2019s North County with fresh flowers, seafood, produce, tamales and more for over 20 years\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "food"","block_context":{"text":"food","link":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/category\/food\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/farmers1.jpg-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3422","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3422"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3422\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3450,"href":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3422\/revisions\/3450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}