Turns out there's a lot of paving out there...

We can't seem to get enough. The Depave folks had their schedule all lined up, project after project, so we just went right along with them. We followed them on September 12 to the new JOIN facility on 82nd Avenue. JOIN aims to support the efforts of people transitioning out of homelessness into permanent housing. JOIN itself is moving into new digs, and removing approximately 3,000 square feet of asphalt around their building was one of the first steps in their journey. In between crushing rocks and hurling them into the dumpsters we saw pictures of the new garden that is planned for the space we were clearing. It is a very impressive vision and we wish all the JOIN community lots of luck in their new endeavor!

Every Ecovillage needs a little Depave

We were back in full force for our second Depave event Saturday, September 12. The organizers were surprised to see anyone who had worked on the Vestal Elementary School project because the asphalt there had been so thick and hard to break. The asphalt at Kailash Ecovillage however, practically flipped and broke itself! Kailash is a co-housing apartment complex made for a lower price point - they rent the units instead of the more common co-housing model of buying. The EcoVillage folks hosted us with yummy food from the garden. Return Serve helped take care of 4,500 square feet of pavement. The newly freed soil will: a) filter and retain stormwater onsite, b) host a bigger garden and c) buffer the residents from the noise and activity of the street. Return Serve was so happy to help and we can't wait to revisit and see the new garden some day soon!