Feb 11 - How to Green your Historic Home!

Join historic preservation experts for a free workshop on energy efficiency in older houses! - at the Adams Street Library. There is also the option to tour the nearby Pierce House. Click here for details.

about Smart Growth

design for Ashmont 'Pedal & Park'
construction Spring 2012

Here is an opportunity for free registration to the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference in San Diego in February! It involves taking a survey which must be completed by Dec. 9, 2011.
What is Smart Growth you ask? Here in Dorchester we have some good examples - the Ashmont T station and adjacent mixed use Carruth Building development, mixed use development projects, one newly built and one under construction, near the new Fields Corner T station, the reconstruction of Dorchester Avenue. See this link for more about Smart Growth and contact GreenDorchester if you are interested in getting involved in local efforts in our community.

Shop Local in Dorchester!

Support local shopping! - tonight Nov 16th it's the fab annual Martinis on the Avenue fundraiser to support the work of Fields Corner Main Street and St Marks Area Main Street, two organizations doing great things for commercial districts along Dorchester Avenue. And tomorrow evening Nov. 17th the Lower Mills Holiday Stroll at the southern end of Dorchester Ave., where the Neponset River flows-- check out both Milton and Dorchester shops! The 'Shop Small' idea helps our neighborhood businesses while doing good for the planet!

help finish the Dorchester Coast Trail & Neponset Greenway: sign on to Dot Bike's letter!

The MA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation is applying for a big chunk of federal funding, part of the TIGER III stimulus money, to complete the Neponset Greenway. This will address three missing sections: one that Dot Bike has dubbed the Dorchester Coast Trail, and other gaps between Central Ave. in Milton and Mattapan Square, and from the Martini Shell to the Neponset Valley Parkway in Hyde Park. Letters of support from community organizations and individuals will help boost an application and highlight the importance of projects such as these. Click this link to see Dot Bike's letter and sign on - it will be sent in along with the application on Friday October 28. The grant deadline is Monday October 31st.

Bike laws, please read up!

Bicycling in Dorchester can be challenge - it would help if drivers would look before opening their doors (there's a $100 fine for 'dooring' a cyclist) and not pass me then take a right turn in front of me! See bike laws here.

roof food

Continuing the growing food on Dorchester buildings theme - here is a Dorchester Reporter article from a few years ago about dbar's rooftop garden. The photo at right is from the TableCritic site. We'd love to hear about other non-traditional food-producing locations in the community!

food roof!

recovergreenroofs.blogspot.com

There are at least two rooftops in Dorchester producing food - one at dbar on Dorchester Avenue at Glover's Corner, and one we hadn't heard about 'til recently at Ledge Restaurant on Dorchester Avenue in Lower Mills. Click here to read about Ledge's food roof; we'll post more about dbar's roof later.