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
Social Technovation: Meet the Panelists Posted on May 20, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Social Technovation 412 is just two days away! (have you picked up your tickets yet?!?) We've hand selected the panelist based on their experience bridging the gap between technology, innovation and social cause. To give you a sneak peek, we asked our panelists to answer a few questions. Q: How do you use technology in your company? Josh Lucas, Crowdasaurus and The Hardware Store, Founded 2011 Crowdasaurus supports regional crowdfunding ecosystems by providing custom built crowdfunding web-platforms, offering consulting, and marketing support. We use…Read More
In the Hilltop Community – Vacant Lots Come to Life Posted on May 13, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Last Wednesday, the ReClaim South Ambassadors shared their designs for the transformation of 10 vacant lots in the Hilltop neighborhoods with friends, family, local organizations and government officials at the Hardware Store in Allentown. "I came into this program to do good work in my community." Melanie, ReClaim South Ambassador: Mt. Washington There designs included everything from community gardens to a life-sized checkerboard, from little libraries at bus stops to one big garden for the Knoxville Library. "It is…Read More
Smart(er) Days: Things get real Posted on May 13, 2014 by wpengine So...everybody and their grandmother seems to ride a bike in Amsterdam. No joke. There are close 800,000 residents of Amsterdam and over 900,000 bikes. More bikes than humans...that is how this place rolls! Literally. Not only are there a lot of individuals in physical - self propelled movement, but also there are surging levels of energy from the entrepreneurs and start-up community focusing on sustainability, climate resiliency, renewable energy, smart energy and systems design and behavior change. To put this in…Read More
GTECHer Spotlight: Brian Verdi Posted on May 9, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Get to know...Brian Verdi [one_half] [/one_half] [one_half_last] Role at GTECH: Research Intern for Knots on Lots Hometown: Pittsburgh Alma Mater: Washington and Jefferson College - Cell/Molecular Biology Current Education Endeavor: part-time Duquesne University student in the Environmental Science and Management Master's Program Favorite Burrito Topping: Guacamole [/one_half_last] I started volunteering with GTECH because of the many outstanding projects they help accomplish in Pittsburgh. I plan to provide whatever assistance I can to help this organization continues to enhance and strengthen the…Read More
Smart(er) Days: Climate Change – Taking it to the Streets. Posted on May 9, 2014 by wpengine Day 2: Amsterdam & The German Marshall Fund Fun Fact: Amsterdam has a land mass of 64 square miles and around 800,000 people live here. Pittsburgh is around 55 square miles with around 310,000 people. (20% of Amsterdam’s Municipality is water - 4 % of Pittsburgh). Take away: 3x more people live a place the same size as Pittsburgh! (we like math.) *As a result, density, alternative transportation, intentional green space, smart policy and a thriving urban landscape is prolific. Amsterdam has focused around…Read More
Building Art from Trash in Homewood. Posted on May 7, 2014 by Grounded Strategies It was a cloudy, drizzly, predawn Sunday morning when the ReClaim team arrived on a vacant parcel located on the corner of Frankstown Avenue and North Lang,which adjoins the Marathon route. While nearly 30,000 individuals lined up Downtown to start their 26.2 mile trek to the finish line, we prepared for a marathon of reuse - using found, donated, and recycled materials from Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse and the streets of Homewood to build a collage with the neighborhood of Homewood.…Read More
Smart(er) Days in Amsterdam: Day 1.0 Posted on May 7, 2014 by wpengine ...building community awareness and climate literacy feels like a constant practice that transcends nationalities. - Andrew Butcher Thanks to the German Marshall Fund, I find myself amidst the city of canals, bustling bikeways, and light rail in the land of windmills and wooden clogs. The goal is to evaluate Amsterdam's and the Netherlands' sustainable energy, climate policy and smart city goals* with a delegation from Charlotte, North Carolina; Torino, Italy; and, of course, Pittsburgh. My partner from The Burgh is none…Read More
Pittsburgh Day of Giving 2014 Posted on May 2, 2014 by Grounded Strategies This year The Pittsburgh Foundation switched up the invariably fall giving campaign to this spring - May 6, 2014. Even though it hasn't been a full year we've been up to a thing or two: Trained 10 new Ambassadors in the Hilltop neighborhoods, who together will be turning 12 vacant lots into productive green spaces, including a life-sized checker's board Recycled 741 gallons of waste cooking oil used community-based Lenten Fish Frys Launched a brand new project, where GTECH is giving…Read More
Social Technovation 412 Posted on April 28, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Sell Tickets through Eventbrite Event management for Social Technovation 412 powered by EventbriteRead More