Superbia! : 31 ways to create sustainable neighborhoods (with links to resources)

[ The resources linked below are those referenced in the book, p179ff ]

Easy Steps

• Sponsor community dinners.
  • Slow Food
  • Community meals
• Establish a community newsletter, bulletin board, and community roster.
• Establish a neighborhood watch program.
  • National Sheriffs’ Association Neighborhood Watch Program
• Start neighborhood investment clubs, community sports activities and restoration projects.
• Form weekly discussion groups.
  • Northwest Earth Institute, Discussion Courses
• Establish neighborhood baby-sitting coop.
  • Organizing a babysitting coop
• Form an organic food co-op.
  • Food Co-op Directory
  • National Cooperative Business Association
  • University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives
• Create car or van pools for commuting to and from work.
  • Building Livable Communities Through Transportation
  • Community Transportation Association of America
  • Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
  • Transportation Alternatives
  • Carfree
• Create a neighborhood work-share program.
  • Time banking
• Create a mission statement.
  • John Kretzman – Building Communities from the Inside Out
• Create an asset inventory.
  • Center for Understanding the Built Environment
  • Green Map System

Bolder Steps

• Tear down fences: opening back yards to create communal play space and a space for neighbors to mingle and a community garden.
• Plant a community garden and orchard.
  • American Community Gardening Association
  • City Farmer
  • National Gardening Association
• Establish a neighborhood composting and recycling facility.
• Plant shade trees and windbreaks to create a more favorable microclimate.
  • Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
  • National Arbor Day Foundation
  • National Wildlife Federation
• Replace asphalt and concrete with porous pavers and greenery.
  • Low Impact Development Center
  • NEMO at the University of Connecticut
• Establish a more edible landscape—incrementally remove grass in front lawns and replace with vegetables and fruit trees.
  • Rosalind Creasy – Edible Gardening
  • Marshall Glickman – Xeriscaping for Everyone
• Start a community-supported agriculture program in which neighbors “subscribe” to local organic farm’s produce.
  • USDA Alternative Farming Systems Information Center – Community Supported Agriculture
  • Wilson College – Locate a CSA farm near you
  • Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association
• Create a car-share program–purchasing a van or truck for rent to community members.
  • City CarShare
  • Zipcar
• Begin community-wide retrofitting of homes and yards for energy and water efficiency.
  • American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
  • DOE Building Technologies Program
• Solarize your homes.
  • American Solar Energy Society
  • National Renewal Energy Laboratory – Buildings Research
  • Sustainable Buildings Industry Council

[more links to follow]

Boldest Steps

• Create a community energy system.
• Establish alternative water and wastewater systems.
• Establish a more environmentally friendly transportation strategy.
• Create a common house.
• Create a community-shared office.
• Establish weekly entertainment for the community.
• Narrow or eliminate streets, converting more space to park and edible landscape, walkways and picnic areas.
• Retrofit garages and rooms in your homes into apartments or add granny flats to house students or others in need of housing.
• Establish a mixed-use neighborhood by opening a coffee shop, convenience store, and garden market.
• Promote a more diverse neighborhood.

From Dan Chiras & Dave Wann (2003). Superbia!: 31 ways to create sustainable neighborhoods. Gabriola, B.C.: New Society.

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