These notions must be taught:

Plants are Sacred:
Humans were given a sacred trust to protect all the life on Earth. The use of plants and trees and communication with these green beings is integral to ritual activity of every culture accross the globe.

Plants are Medicine:
"What ever we ingest will either heal us or harm us" said the ancient Greek doctor Hippocrates. We must learn about these plants and work to preserve them for future generations.

Challenges: Some of the major challenges in community greening are in the acquisition of land resources. A combination of liability fears and the perception of instability in community leadership ie. "Who will take care of this garden if you move out of the neighborhood" makes obtaining permission to garden in public space difficult.

Also, the immediate financial gain in developing land can overshadow the value of land as a resource over time. A "build it fast and cheap" contruction attitude still overshadows efforts for sustainable and innovative construction projects in Minneapolis.

This problem includes the types of construction over the last 10 years. Very little effort has been put into true SUSTAINABLE and affordable housing.

Remedies: Lobbying, voting, and attending community meetings is a great thing to do.

Purchassing empty lots as community groups is a fantastic and long term strategy for preservation of green space.

Growing good soil on your own property by composting and keeping toxins out of the soil is the first line of duty.

Keeping an eye on pollution and polluters, the weak and vulnerable people, plants, and all Beings, and educating towards this must become our true first natures.

Accomplishments: In the Greater Longfellow Neighborhood of Minneapolis where I have lived since 1998, I have seen public support and demand for green space increase.

I also see the demand for sustainable development being pursued and insisted upon by the Longfellow Community Council and some of our City Councilmembers. More of this accountability is needed.

The Green Institute has been a great boon in every way to the cause of Urban Sustainability as well as our local co-ops and farmers markets.

More of this!!