On Air with McKeesport-based Tube City Online Posted on August 25, 2014 by Grounded Strategies James Snow, GTECH project manager, and A.J. Tedesco, Director of Community Development for McKeesport, spoke on-air with Jason Togyer of Tube City Online's new program, "Two Rivers, 30 Minutes" about our upcoming launch of the ReClaim McKeesport Ambassador Program. This is the first GTECH program focused on vacant land outside the City of Pittsburgh, illustrating that this is an issue in other parts of Allegheny County. James talked about how GTECH uses vacant lots to bring a community together. The ultimate goal of…Read More
Get to Know…Rhonda Sears Posted on August 22, 2014 by Grounded Strategies An Interview with a ReEnergize Pittsburgh Ambassador, Rhonda Sears [one_third padding="5px 10px 5px 5px"][/one_third] Rhonda Sears is an active member of her community in Homewood. As a member of the first ReEnergize Pittsburgh program group, she defines what it means to be a community Ambassador in the energy efficiency field . During her time as an Ambassador, she organized a 60-person energy saving workshop with Larimer's ReEnergize Ambassador, handed out more than 115 bags of energy-efficiency tools door-to-door, and talked to 340 of her neighbors…Read More
Vote for Vacant Land Project Posted on July 29, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Want to share another idea - post in the comments.Read More
GTECHer Spotlight: Linda Piso Posted on July 29, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Get to know...Linda Piso [one_half padding="15px 15px 0 0"][/one_half] [one_half_last] Hometown: Pittsburgh - Knoxville neighborhood Favorite burrito: If there was a chocolate burrito, that'd be her favorite Favorite Activity: Walking slowly, but fast enough to finish the half-marathon before the yellow bus gets her! [/one_half_last] About two years ago, Linda Piso noticed that the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Knoxville was growing a very small garden in a very small patch of grass by their back exit. She got talking to some…Read More
Bike Tour of Urban Green Space for Bike Fest Pittsburgh 2014 Posted on July 10, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Tickets are on Sale for the Two Wheels Lots of Green for Bike Fest Pittsburgh 2014. This year you'll see some well-established projects that got a facelift and a few projects will be making their 2WLG debut. We will be biking through the East End, climbing up to the Hilltop, rolling down to the Northside and pedaling to Millvale. Check out photos from last year. The price of your ticket includes insurance, light breakfast, the tour, snacks along the way,…Read More
Call for Volunteers Posted on July 1, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Volunteers Needed for Two Wheels Lots of Green Our 3rd annual Two Wheels Lots of Green is happening August 16, and we need a few good volunteers to help make it the best that it can be! As a volunteer, we will provide you with admission to the bike ride, a t-shirt and a beer. If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the form below. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Sara. Volunteer Form…Read More
GTECHer Spotlight: Albert Pantone Posted on June 27, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Get to know...Albert Pantone [one_half][/one_half] [one_half_last] Hometown: Pittsburgh - Sharpsburg neighborhood Alma Mater: The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Favorite Activity: Watching and reading classic science fiction Favorite Burrito Topping: Verde tomatillo sauce and black beans! Current GTECH Project: Knots on Lots [/one_half_last] Albert has always been up for an adventure. Growing up in Sharpsburg, only a few miles from the Guyasuta boy scout camp, he spent his days hiking in all sorts of weather, discovering new wildlife, and splashing in the river. Eventually this…Read More
Northside Block Party Posted on June 26, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Join GTECH and your Northside neighbors for an afternoon of food, music and family-fun activities as we celebrate another year of reclaiming vacant land in Northside neighborhoods at the Wigle Whiskey Garden in Spring Garden. This year GTECH is hosting our third year of hosting an Ambassador program in the Northside neighborhoods. You can read more about the latest round of ReClaim Northside Ambassadors here. Past participants and staff will be available to answer questions. If you aren't interested in…Read More
Design a T-Shirt for Two Wheels Lots of Green Posted on June 16, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Use your design skills for good! Enter our Two Wheels Lots of Green T-shirt design competition. WHAT IS THE CONTEST Submit your awesome, orginal artwork that best represents any combination of bikes, Pittsburgh’s communities and public green space. Artwork must meet the following criteria: no more than 2-color artwork incorporate the theme(s) of biking, neighborhoods, Pittsburgh and/or green space, which is what the bike tour is all about! WHY ENTER You love bikes, Pittsburgh, green space or community development! Your…Read More
4 (Edible) Uses for Japanese Knotweed Posted on June 13, 2014 by Grounded Strategies 4 knotweed recipes that we want to try. At GTECH we are always looking at ways in which to turn waste into something useful. That's why we are looking at Knotweed as a feedstock for paper making and biochar production (read more about that project here). Knotweed is "knot" your typical ingredient - you can't buy it in a grocery store and you sure don't want to grow it in your garden. But despite its invasive nature (and my bad puns), the young shoots…Read More
Save the Date! The Third Annual Two Wheels Lots of Green Bike Tour. Posted on June 6, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Explore Some Urban Green during the Pittsburgh Bike Fest. The 3rd annual bike tour, Two Wheels Lots of Green, will take place August 16, during the 2014 Pittsburgh Bike Fest organized by Bike Pgh. The bike tour take riders on a journey through Pittsburgh neighborhoods and highlights the residents who are repurposing former vacant, urban lots into positive, green places. Looking for questions about sponsorships, partnerships, volunteer opportunities or anything in between? Fill out the form below, and we will get in touch.…Read More
GTECHer Spotlight: George Jones Posted on June 4, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Get to know...George Jones [one_half padding="10px 0 0 0"][/one_half] Current GTECH connection: SCC Member Hometown: Birmingham, AL Alma Mater: Vanderbilt and Carnegie Mellon University Favorite Activity: Grillin’ at Bayardstown Favorite Cocktail: Boulevardiers from Bar Marco Favorite Burrito Topping: Queso is King! These days George's favorite view of Pittsburgh comes from a top a bike. In fact it was on his bike last year at the Two Wheels Lots of Green Bike Tour that the group rode past a community garden that…Read More