This project will explore the role design and our University plays in making gardens meaningful to community members and in minimizing the redundancy of separate efforts taking place throughout the city.

UArts Farm

Kensington

Local Food Resources Within Philadelphia

City Hall

Area of Interest

UArts

19133

Villa Africana Colobo

Opportunities for Design InterventionsProblems =

Lack of personal investment in the appearance of the community by both the City and residents.

Maintaining neighborhoods createsa sense of community pride.

Lack of knowledge about the existing gardens.

Connecting existing gardens through advertising and signagedirects residents to local food.

Lack of contact between gardens leads to limited idea exchange.

Networking existing gardens offers opportunities to save time and money.

Lack of funding for gardens destroys potential community benefits beyond planting.

Nurturing the mind cultivates a healthy community.

Lack of volunteers and time to train those who would volunteer.

Rejuvenating the meaning of “volunteer.”

Lack of responsibility creates a voidin the learning process.

Creating educational materialsand workshops ensures continuing garden and community growth.

This is a project about connecting separate cultures, communities, and neighborhoods through sustainable living and education.

In the next five weeks we will: 1. Deconstruct the existing and predictable solutions.2. Brainstorm new possibilities.3. Design strategies for tackling the problems behind the problems.