Maple Ave: BEFORE
Maple Ave: AFTER 1 year
Maple Ave: AFTER 2 years
Spring
Maple Ave: AFTER 2 years
Summer
© Lenni Armstrong
© Lenni Armstrong
© Lenni Armstrong
© Lenni Armstrong
© Lenni Armstrong
© Lenni Armstrong
Photo credits: Many, but not all photos are by Lenni Armstrong. Please contact
Lenni at informmotion@comcast.net to ask permission to use any of the photos.

Lenni Armstrong - Depave the Way

Editor's Notes

  • #2 TITLE Lenni introduces Cador Cador introduces Lenni
  • #3 CADOR The homeowners dreamed of a community garden. But what to do about all that asphalt? Maple St. BEFORE
  • #4 CADOR Maple St. ONE YEAR AFTER
  • #5 CADOR Maple St. TWO YEARS AFTER, MAY
  • #6 CADOR Maple St. TWO YEARS AFTER, AUGUST
  • #8 LENNI Arctic Sea Ice Volume over 30 years.
  • #9 LENNI Precipitation of rising in the Boston area, as well as Massachusetts. We’re getting storms of greater frequency and intensity, and seeing changes in plant flowering and plant hardiness
  • #10 LENNI Nature’s way of purifying water.
  • #11 LENNI Urban stormwater runoff
  • #12 LENNI Soil building in nature
  • #13 LENNI Degradation of urban soil Wayne doesn’t want to see anything with storm drains. THIS IMAGE NEEDS EDITING
  • #14 LENNI Water purification in nature
  • #15 LENNI Urban stormwater runoff
  • #19 CADOR Initial meeting Take measurements – calculate area Do an asphalt thickness test – how many dumpsters will the asphalt fill? Take “before” photo Ask the homeowner what they plan to do with it Talk about the possibility of lead in the soil
  • #23 CADOR One dumpster or two? Dumpster rental costs Convert area to volume
  • #24 CADOR Thin, brittle asphalt – break it up
  • #25 CADOR Thin, brittle asphalt – then pry it up Tools &Techniques
  • #26 CADOR Thin, brittle asphalt – break off manageable pieces
  • #27 CADOR Thin, brittle asphalt – score a line
  • #28 CADOR Thin, brittle asphalt – haul in a wheelbarrow
  • #29 CADOR Thin, brittle asphalt – carry in a bucket
  • #30 CADOR Thin, brittle asphalt – haul into dumpster
  • #31 CADOR Thin, brittle asphalt – load up a wheelbarrow
  • #32 CADOR Full dumpster
  • #33 LENNI Organizing the event – the release form – table at entrance for signing
  • #34 LENNI Organizing the event – educational posters
  • #35 LENNI How to involve kids – establish a cut-off age for on the work site?
  • #36 LENNI Roles – depave boss
  • #37 LENNI Roles – depave boss
  • #38 LENNI Roles – safety queen (or king)
  • #39 LENNI Safety – helmets and gloves
  • #40 LENNI Safety – helmets, gloves & goggles – helmets & goggles generously donated by Home Depot
  • #41 LENNI It’s all about community building – make it a party! Good food – time to connect – schmooze with friends – make new friends
  • #42 CADOR What to do with newly depaved area? Direct planting or raised beds If you want to plant vegetables, test your soil for lead first. Send soil samples to UMass who will test it for you for $10/sample - http://soiltest.umass.edu/ If your soil has high levels of lead, you can install raised beds and fill them in with good soil. The biggest danger of lead in the soil is to small children. Lead is a neurotoxin, and the developing nervous systems of small children are highly vulnerable to lead poisoning. If your soil has high levels of lead be sure your children don't get the dirt on their hands and then put their hands in their mouths.
  • #43 CADOR What to do with newly depaved area? Rain garden
  • #44 CADOR What to do with newly depaved area? Bushes and plants
  • #45 CADOR What to do with newly depaved area? Perma turf
  • #46 CADOR What to do with newly depaved area? Permeable pavers
  • #47 BOTH Victory photos are important! Rewards Homeowner – improved space Volunteer – community, they are a part of improving the neighborhood ecosystem Neighborhood community – improved water, air etc. In collaboration with the homeowner and the depaving crew, I get to be a part of making lasting improvements to the Somerville ecosystem. I believe that together we can create sustainable neighborhood ecosystems. I'd like to see the same attention that's commonly put into home interior spaces also directed toward outdoor spaces which collectively become the city's ecosystem. I'm interested in a new way of viewing and valuing nature. If we look to see how natures does things, and we see that nature fits form to function, demands local expertise, rewards cooperation and banks on diversity. (If time permits, I'll mention LURC, the League of URban Canners, who takes on tree pruning and maintenance, as well as harvesting, for interested homeowners.) After the depaving the homeowner faces the much larger challenges of working with the soil that is now uncovered, and finishing the job to result in a functional and beautiful yard. This part of the project happens over a much longer time span requiring dedication to the task and perseverance to see it though to completion. The Somerville Garden Club generously gives newly depaved residents a free membership for a year, which gives them access to local gardening experts. I'd like to see homeowners get the help they need for this part of the project.
  • #48 BOTH Victory photos are important! Rewards Homeowner – improved space Volunteer – community, they are a part of improving the neighborhood ecosystem Neighborhood community – improved water, air etc. In collaboration with the homeowner and the depaving crew, I get to be a part of making lasting improvements to the Somerville ecosystem. I believe that together we can create sustainable neighborhood ecosystems. I'd like to see the same attention that's commonly put into home interior spaces also directed toward outdoor spaces which collectively become the city's ecosystem. I'm interested in a new way of viewing and valuing nature. If we look to see how natures does things, and we see that nature fits form to function, demands local expertise, rewards cooperation and banks on diversity. (If time permits, I'll mention LURC, the League of URban Canners, who takes on tree pruning and maintenance, as well as harvesting, for interested homeowners.) After the depaving the homeowner faces the much larger challenges of working with the soil that is now uncovered, and finishing the job to result in a functional and beautiful yard. This part of the project happens over a much longer time span requiring dedication to the task and perseverance to see it though to completion. The Somerville Garden Club generously gives newly depaved residents a free membership for a year, which gives them access to local gardening experts. I'd like to see homeowners get the help they need for this part of the project.
  • #49 BOTH Victory photos are important! Rewards Homeowner – improved space Volunteer – community, they are a part of improving the neighborhood ecosystem Neighborhood community – improved water, air etc. In collaboration with the homeowner and the depaving crew, I get to be a part of making lasting improvements to the Somerville ecosystem. I believe that together we can create sustainable neighborhood ecosystems. I'd like to see the same attention that's commonly put into home interior spaces also directed toward outdoor spaces which collectively become the city's ecosystem. I'm interested in a new way of viewing and valuing nature. If we look to see how natures does things, and we see that nature fits form to function, demands local expertise, rewards cooperation and banks on diversity. (If time permits, I'll mention LURC, the League of URban Canners, who takes on tree pruning and maintenance, as well as harvesting, for interested homeowners.) After the depaving the homeowner faces the much larger challenges of working with the soil that is now uncovered, and finishing the job to result in a functional and beautiful yard. This part of the project happens over a much longer time span requiring dedication to the task and perseverance to see it though to completion. The Somerville Garden Club generously gives newly depaved residents a free membership for a year, which gives them access to local gardening experts. I'd like to see homeowners get the help they need for this part of the project.
  • #50 BOTH Victory photos are important! Rewards Homeowner – improved space Volunteer – community, they are a part of improving the neighborhood ecosystem Neighborhood community – improved water, air etc. In collaboration with the homeowner and the depaving crew, I get to be a part of making lasting improvements to the Somerville ecosystem. I believe that together we can create sustainable neighborhood ecosystems. I'd like to see the same attention that's commonly put into home interior spaces also directed toward outdoor spaces which collectively become the city's ecosystem. I'm interested in a new way of viewing and valuing nature. If we look to see how natures does things, and we see that nature fits form to function, demands local expertise, rewards cooperation and banks on diversity. (If time permits, I'll mention LURC, the League of URban Canners, who takes on tree pruning and maintenance, as well as harvesting, for interested homeowners.) After the depaving the homeowner faces the much larger challenges of working with the soil that is now uncovered, and finishing the job to result in a functional and beautiful yard. This part of the project happens over a much longer time span requiring dedication to the task and perseverance to see it though to completion. The Somerville Garden Club generously gives newly depaved residents a free membership for a year, which gives them access to local gardening experts. I'd like to see homeowners get the help they need for this part of the project.
  • #51 BOTH Victory photos are important! Rewards Homeowner – improved space Volunteer – community, they are a part of improving the neighborhood ecosystem Neighborhood community – improved water, air etc. In collaboration with the homeowner and the depaving crew, I get to be a part of making lasting improvements to the Somerville ecosystem. I believe that together we can create sustainable neighborhood ecosystems. I'd like to see the same attention that's commonly put into home interior spaces also directed toward outdoor spaces which collectively become the city's ecosystem. I'm interested in a new way of viewing and valuing nature. If we look to see how natures does things, and we see that nature fits form to function, demands local expertise, rewards cooperation and banks on diversity. (If time permits, I'll mention LURC, the League of URban Canners, who takes on tree pruning and maintenance, as well as harvesting, for interested homeowners.) After the depaving the homeowner faces the much larger challenges of working with the soil that is now uncovered, and finishing the job to result in a functional and beautiful yard. This part of the project happens over a much longer time span requiring dedication to the task and perseverance to see it though to completion. The Somerville Garden Club generously gives newly depaved residents a free membership for a year, which gives them access to local gardening experts. I'd like to see homeowners get the help they need for this part of the project.
  • #52 LENNI SCA is cheering Arlington on to DePAVE the WAY!!!