Depave
Depave works with the communities of Portland to remove unnecessary concrete and asphalt from our urban areas. Their efforts increase the amount of land available for community gardens, wildlife habitats, and native vegetation. Asphalt pollutes our rivers with stormwater runoff, and the plants that replace it improve the environment and beautify neighborhoods. Thanks to Depave, community gardens are starting at Vestal School, Holy Redeemer Church, and the JOIN headquarters (which supports homeless families), among others.
They depaved 28,000 square feet in 2009, and will soon start their 2010 events. Depave also educates through hands-on workshops and demonstrations, and works with Portland’s other organizations to spread the practice, because this is something that should (and will) be happening throughout the country! Visit the Depave website for upcoming events, as well as information on how to do your own depaving event!
Depave is always looking for help. It’s an all-volunteer organization, and can use help in any related field, such as: grant writing, art, computer stuff, volunteer coordination, soil testing, stormwater drainage, landscape architecture, anything legalish that might make our work easier, and of course, smashing asphalt with large metal tools. And though the thought of ripping up pavement in the dead of summer may sound daunting, its volunteers are fiercely loyal. It’s more fun than it has any right to be, it’s good exercise, it’s a great way to meet great new people, and every one of its events are generously over-catered by local businesses. But more than labor, Depave is constantly on the look-out for new plots of pavement to attack, so if you have a good lead, let them know.
Or, if you just have a spare wheelbarrow, GIVE IT! You will be praised in song.
And follow them on…
