It’s true, there are probably a thousand worms living in my kitchen. No worries, they’re all contained in my vermicomposter, called the Worm Factory. At some point, if things go well I could have as many as 10,000-12,000 when the bin is full. I made this video of my daughter, Vitoria helping me put the worm contraption together. Enjoy!

Check out the first installment of our vermicomposting adventure here.

I’m sure I’m not the first person in Jamaica Plain to Vermicompost, but I may be the first to document it online. I have been researching it for a couple weeks and I have decided to purchase a worm composter rather than build my own from found materials. I arrived at this decision only after a great deal of thought.

Red Wigglers (Eisenia foetida)

The conservationist in my is nagging me to go the uber green route but I live in a tiny garden level (how apropos) apartment and the idea of worms getting loose is not very palatable. I’m going to try keeping the container indoors to begin with – as an experiment, to determine how likely this would be in an urban high-rise for instance. I watched the documentary No Impact Man some time ago and I was pretty psyched about the concept of vermiculture composting. However, his method, if I remembered correctly was a bit rudimentary and I seem to remember his wife wasn’t thrilled about it.

What is Vermicomposting?

Vermicompost is the product or process of composting using various worms, usually red wigglers, white worms, and other earthworms to create a heterogeneous mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste, bedding materials, and vermicast. Vermicast, also called worm castings, worm humus or worm manure, is the end-product of the breakdown of organic matter by an earthworm. These castings have been shown to contain reduced levels of contaminants and a higher saturation of nutrients than do organic materials before vermicomposting.

Containing water-soluble nutrients, vermicompost is an excellent, nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioner.

-Wikipedia

The guests of honor

You can’t just go grab any old worms and stick them in a garbage pail and expect to harvest rich, healthy soil in time. It’s not likely that will end well. It certainly won’t smell very good. You will need specialized worms. Eisenia foetida, Eisenia andrei or Red Wigglers are best for this purpose. You can buy them online, but if you just ask around you can probably dig them out of someone else’s compost bin. They tend to multiply. The reason these worms work so well is because they are surface dwellers. Other types of worms will dig deep making the process of harvesting the rich, composted soil at the bottom quite difficult.

Worm condominiums

A wide range of materials can be used for worm bins. I really wanted a cedar one. I found a company that makes one with a clear viewing window that I got very excited about. I wanted my daughter Vitoria to be able to see the worms frolicking (how do you know they don’t?) in their new home. However, I knew the wood would eventually break down and I’d have a mess on my hands.

Worm Factory – Cascade 5 Level Bin

There are a large variety of bins that are commercially available and easily found using a quick Google search so I won’t elaborate here. I ended up going with the Worm Factory -  Cascade 5-Tray Worm Composter. There are many others to choose from. In general, there are about four basic styles of vermicomposters. “Dump and hand sort”, “let the worms do the sorting”, “alternate containers” and “divide and dump.”

In ground vericompost bin.

Because I’m going to have mine inside, and because I wanted Vitoria May to really understand the process, I went with a tiered, modular system. This type should also mitigate the labor and the mess. You can add up to 7 trays depending on the amount of garbage you produce.

Eventually, we’d like to build a big one outside as well. Someday when I own rather than rent I’ll build something like the one shown. Hopefully my cool mo

dern house will have corrugated metal siding to match.

What the heck do worms eat?

• All fruits and vegetables (including citrus and other “high acid” foods)
• Vegetable and fruit peels and ends
• Coffee grounds and filters
• Tea bags (even those with high tannin levels)
• Grains such as bread, cracker and cereal (including moldy and stale)
• Eggshells (rinsed off)
• Leaves and grass clippings (not sprayed with pesticides^[17])

You shouldn’t throw fatty foods, meats or dairy stuffs in the composter in any amounts. I don’t think a small amount will hurt anything, but too much will putrefy and possibly bring flies and varmints. That’s right, I said varmints.

Why would I invite worms into my home? (straight from Wikipedia)

Soil

• Improves its physical structure
• Enriches soil with micro-organisms (adding enzymes such as phosphatase and cellulase)
• Microbial activity in worm castings is 10 to 20 times higher than in the soil and organic matter that the worm ingests
• Attracts deep-burrowing earthworms already present in the soil
• Improves water holding capacity

Plant growth

• Enhances germination, plant growth, and crop yield
• Improves root growth and structure
• Enriches soil with micro-organisms (adding plant hormones such as auxins and gibberellic acid)

Economic

• Biowastes conversion reduces waste flow to landfills
• Elimination of biowastes from the waste stream reduces contamination of other recyclables collected in a single bin (a common problem in communities practicing single-stream recycling)
• Creates low-skill jobs at local level
• Low capital investment and relatively simple technologies make vermicomposting practical for less-developed agricultural regions

Environmental

• Helps to close the “metabolic gap” through recycling waste on-site
• Large systems often use temperature control and mechanized harvesting, however other equipment is relatively simple and does not wear out quickly
• Production reduces greenhouse gas emissions such as methane and nitric oxide (produced in landfills or incinerators when not composted or through methane harvest)

Unlike other compost, worm castings also contain worm mucus which helps prevent nutrients from washing away with the first watering and holds moisture better than plain soil.

This is obviously just the first chapter in this saga. When I receive the new vermicomposter I’ll make sure to keep you apprised of our progress. I’ll take photos of the set up and update you on our progress (or the worms’ progress).

Boston has been doing a fair job of jumping on the “green” bandwagon over the last few years and the Triple Decker Pilot Program is one of the most recent attempts to do just that. For once, this writer thinks they might be on to something down at city hall.

Clearly, the triple-decker is one of Boston’s most common architectural typologies not to mention the relative commonality of structure that could eventually allow for the streamlining and efficiencies of construction technique that would be required to create a cost-effective, sustainable program.

It just so happens that my good friend Jeremy McHugh (who also happens to be a damn good real estate attorney) and his upstairs and downstairs neighbors are participating in the program. As far as I know they are the only ones in Jamaica Plain. I am fascinated with retrofitting, repurposing, recycling and reusing as it pertains to housing in America and around the world so this project has really caught my attention. I will be following the project as they progress in a series of posts attempting to explain the benefits, introduce new technology and maybe even propose a few questions (I am a first class Devil’s Advocate and pessimist) to challenge the sustainability of the project. I welcome any and all comments and questions.

This is a pretty big story and I have had a real hard time getting started. As my father said, “you have to eat an elephant one bite at a time.” So lets start with some introductions, shall we? First, I’ll describe the program:

Get with the program

Originally the Boston Triple Decker Program was only to include two structures, but it was later expanded to five structures. It is a partnership between Nstar, National Grid, Energy Star, Historic Boston, Inc., the Boston Redevelopment Association and various builders and owners. The goal is to increase the energy efficiency of Boston’s triple-deckers and attain a HERS (Home energy rating) of 65. A home energy rating involves an analysis of a home’s construction plans and onsite testing. Based on the home’s plans, the Home Energy Rater uses an energy efficiency software package to perform an energy analysis of the home’s design. This analysis yields a projected, pre-construction HERS Index. This particular project is also utilizing infra-red optics to see cold spots and air leaks. Triple-decker owner applicants should be individuals/associations who have planned some renovation work, are willing to work with a team of building energy efficiency experts to develop their project, and are ready to proceed logistically and financially.

“Tackling energy inefficiency in Boston’s housing is one of Mayor Menino’s sustainability and economic development priorities,” said John F. Palmieri, BRA Director. “Leaky buildings cost residents more to heat and cool, and increase the City’s overall greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the City’s climate change report found that residents and businesses could save over $2 billion in energy expenses over 10 years if we reduced our green house gas emissions by 25%.” – BRA website

Here’s the rub – building owners may be eligible for BRA and utility company rebates up to 27K per building. Keep in mind they owners will need to be prepared to put some of their own cash down on the barrel head (or finance) the balance of the work plan. Understanding the scope of work right out of the gate seems to be the real challenge here. Hopefully, as this series progresses I’ll be able to outline a bit more on how this is accomplished. The program is meant to compliment the city’s Renew Boston  program and inform future Recovery Act funded energy efficiency work in Boston’s triple-decker housing stock.

The Players

Okay, now you have the gist of the program, let’s meet the players. Introducing real estate attorney extraordinaire, Jeremy Earl McHugh. His practice as described on his website:

Jeremy Earl McHugh

We provide exceptional client service to homebuyers, homeowners, lenders and others seeking legal advice and representation relating to real estate & business law.

We strive to provide legal representation that fits within your budget, because everyone deserves access to sound legal advice during those exciting and sometimes difficult times that require the guidance of a legal advocate.

Our mission is to deliver the highest quality legal services to our clients in a cost efficient and transparent manner. We utilize the latest technology to reduce paper waste and simplify the process of client communication for those who prefer to store correspondence and documents electronically. We believe that these practices are important both in terms of ecological sustainability and providing cost efficient and responsive client services.

“Earl” is also an avid biker and despite my constant protest against riding a fixed gear bike he continues to hassle me relentlessly to do so. When he’s not riding around in ridiculously colorful outfits he is participating hands-on with this project. (Confidentially, downstairs neighbor Colin said they keep him well away from the power tools.)

"Earl" the cycling contractor

Jeremy is not the only owner involved in this project however. In an unusual turn of events, three different owners bought three different units in this building, all of which were in foreclosure with different banks. If you know anything about the current foreclosure debacle – you know this was no small feat. The fact that they are now turning this old building around and creating a state-of-the-art picture of efficiency is pretty cool. I’ve only met one of the other owners who happens to live downstairs. His name is Colin Booth and he’s an architect with a firm called Sasaki in Watertown.

I had the pleasure of visiting with Colin last weekend to ask him myriad questions about the project from concept to crazy details of the technology used. He graciously answered all of my questions. Before I get into a lot of specifics about the details of the technology however let’s talk a bit more about the overall project.

Colin Booth of Sasaki Associates

Colin seems to be the ring leader of this particular project, having knowledge of the trades and a penchant for grant writing coupled with some contacts he collected from working on the MIT solar decathlon. Colin explored a number of design-related fields before finally finding architecture, which bridged his academic and activist interests. Throughout his time at the BAC he has focused on furthering his understanding of sustainable design and its impacts on process, form, team dynamics, and firm culture. Colin has been an active member of the BAC community, serving on the BAC Board of Directors for the 2007-2008 year, as well as a wide variety of student and BAC board committees, including the BAC Sustainability Council.

Sealing the Building Envelope

These 100+ year old triple-deckers are really more like swiss cheese than closed systems. Beyond insulating the structure, the contractors need to find all the air leaks (they call it thermal bypass to sound smart) and seal them up.  They block off the windows and doors and install a temporary fan in the doorway.

Blowers used for detecting air leaks

An infrared device is used to scan the building repeatedly, locating the “cold” areas. Spray foam, cellulose and other materials are used to then remedy the faulty spots and equalize the leaks.

The improvements to the building envelope include air sealing in the basement and attic; addressing thermal bypass issues with pipe and wire penetrations where air was infiltrating.   The open ceiling framing will be covered with loose fill cellulose which is no small feat in this case because they don’t intend to open the ceiling from within the 3rd floor unit. They will have to access it from the exterior of the building near the soffits. They’ll have to insert a pipe into the bays and get the cellulose all the way to the middle. When I spoke to the contractor he seemed unphased by this but my inner skeptic was, well skeptical. There’s a lot of stuff in your ceilings like wires and pipes, not to mention many have wooden cross supports to keep the joists from rolling over time. I think this is going to be

Cold areas highlighted by infrared camera

about as easy as getting a baby back in, but he knows best, I’m sure. The exterior was actually good news for the owners. Outstanding actually. The original estimate involved a figure of about $10,000.00 for the removal of asbestos siding.

I actually learned a very important lesson here. In the past I would have seen these (easily recognized) grooved, rectangular shingles and said they were definitely asbestos. These owners, for reasons that have escaped me, ended up testing samples with the result of learning they are not asbestos at all. Apparently there are some asbestos shingle look-like’s out there. I did some research online and found a lot of chatter about it but no way to identify the different types for sure. In any case, I’ll think twice before I condemn a project to the costs involved with removal. I’m not going to provide a link to an asbestos testing company. The only advice I have is to consider either sending the sample to a company that only tests – but doesn’t do removal, or tell them up front you only want testing and have no intention of contracting with them to do the removal. My experience comes from working with mold remediation companies. I’ve seen several mold inspections now – always the same result. Low air quality – pay us 6K to remediate the issue. I feel like it’s a conflict.

new rigid foam insulation

Once the siding was removed, the old windows are replaced with state-of-the-art gel filled windows (much more on that later), a moisture barrier (black rubber strips around windows) is applied and rigid foam insulation and strapping is applied to seal the exterior before new siding is applied. In this case the owners have chosen to reside with Hardiplank (clapboards) and after consulting my real estate sensibilities they chose a dark bluish color.

Normally, they would be able to insulate the roof wit rigid foam and cellulose from the top before applying the flat, rubber membrane – but this property had to be rescued from rampant water penetration when it was well into the foreclosure process with a new rubber roof. This makes insulating the space between the third floor ceiling and the roof a bit trickier and this is why they have to blow in insulation from the sides near the soffit.

Once the house has been sealed tighter than a Ziploc bag the issue of circulation comes in to play. Previously, air would move to and fro through the unit through the multitude of cracks and gaps pretty much everywhere. When the contractor is done with the insulation, windows and sealing process – not so much. Therefore they will have to install an ERV. Whenever possible, I let the elves at Wikipedia explain things as they usually do it much better than I.

Energy recovery ventilation (ERV)

Energy Recovery Ventilation is the energy recovery process of exchanging the energy contained in normally exhausted building or space air and using it to treat (precondition) the incoming outdoor ventilation air in residential and commercial HVAC systems. During the warmer seasons, the system pre-cools and dehumidifies while humidifying and pre-heating in the cooler seasons.The benefit of using energy recovery is the ability to meet the ASHRAE ventilation & energy standards, while improving indoor air quality and reducing total HVAC equipment capacity.

This technology, as expected, has not only demonstrated an effective means of reducing energy cost and heating and cooling loads, but has allowed for the scaling down of equipment. Additionally, this system will allow for the indoor environment to maintain a relative humidity of an appealing 40% to 50% range. This range can be maintained under essentially all conditions. The only energy penalty is the power needed for the blower to overcome the pressure drop in the system.^[2]

An energy recovery ventilator (also abbreviated ERV) is a type of air-to-air heat exchanger that not only transfers sensible heat but also latent heat. Since both temperature and moisture is transferred, ERVs can be considered total enthalpic devices. On the other hand, a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) can only transfer sensible heat. HRVs can be considered sensible only devices because they only exchange sensible heat. In other words, whereas all ERVs are HRVs, not all HRVs are ERVs, but many people use the terms HRV, AAHX (air-to-air heat exchanger), and ERV interchangeably.^[3]

Throughout the cooling season, the system works to cool and dehumidify the incoming, outside air. This is accomplished by the system simply taking the rejected heat and sending it into the exhaust airstream. Sequentially, this air cools the condenser coil at a lower temperature than if the rejected heat had not entered the exhaust airstream. During the heating seasons, the system works in reverse. Instead of discharging the heat into the exhaust airstream, the system draws heat from the exhaust airstream in order to pre-heat the incoming air. At this stage, the air passes through a primary unit and then into a space. With this type of system, it is normal, during the cooling seasons, for the exhaust air to be cooler than the ventilation air and, during the heating seasons, warmer than the ventilation air. It is this reason the system works very efficiently and effectively. The Coefficient of Performance (COP) will increase as the conditions become more extreme (i.e., more hot and humid for cooling and colder for heating).^[4]

The efficiency of an ERV system is the ratio of energy transferred between the two air streams compared with the total energy transported through the heat exchanger.^[5][6]

With the variety of products on the market, efficiency is unquestionably going to vary from product to product. Some of these systems have been known to have heat exchange efficiencies as high as 70-80% while others have as low as 50%. Even though this lower figure is preferable to the basic HVAC system, it is not up to par with the rest of its class. Studies are being done to increase the heat transfer efficiency to 90%.^[7]

The use of modern low-cost gas-phase heat exchanger technology will allow for significant improvements in efficiency. The use of high conductivity porous material is believed to produce an exchange effectiveness in excess of 90%. By exceeding a 90% effective rate, an improvement of up to 5 factors in energy loss can be seen.^[8]

The Home Ventilation Institute (HVI) has developed a standard test for any and all units manufactured within the United States. Regardless, not all have been tested. It is imperative to investigate efficiency claims, comparing data produced by HVI as well as that produced by the manufacturer. (Note: all unites sold in Canada are placed through the R-2000 program, a standard test synonymous to the HVI test).^[9]

To be continued…

Next I’ll discuss the HVAC and tankless hot water systems that will be employed and it WILL BE SCINTILLATING!

Reuse, Recycle, Reclaim - Starbucks finds a new home.

I happened to notice an article while surfing inexpensive ways to build my dream home and came across this little diddy. Apparently Starbucks is getting wiser on all fronts. The idea of re-purposing shipping containers has been around a long time – my favorite website for this type of design is www.fabprefab.com. They have a whole section devoted to shipping containers here. Be prepared to lose 2 hours of your life if you visit that website.

Anyway, Starbucks, great idea. Now how am I going to find a client who needs a Buyer’s Agent to build one of these fantastical dwellings in Jamaica Plain?

That’s right. We’re packing it in, shuttin’ it down. We’re dropping the hammer. Closing the doors, turning out the lights, we’re throwing in the towel. Calling it a day.

No, we’re not giving up real estate – just some bad habits. Namely, using way too much paper and fuel. There’s a lot of tradition [read obsolescence] in my business. Folks aren’t all that open to electronic signatures yet, but that’s the way of the future. The Boston Home Team is going paperless. Well, not completely all at once, but we’re going that direction. As soon as we can come up with a viable alternative for property information sheets at open houses I think we’ll about have this problem licked. In the meantime, all of our contracts, offers, purchase & sale documents, etc. will be completely paperless. Electronic signatures are better all around. Thanks to the Esign Act of 2000 (I know! Who knew this has been around more than a decade!):

Electronic and digital signatures are just as binding as traditional pen and ink signatures as long as they are executed through a process that clearly establishes intent to sign and ensures all legal elements of proof. Furthermore, electronic signatures obtained through DocuSign are compliant with the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act of 2000 (ESIGN) and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) which has been adopted in most states. As a result, they are legally binding and backed by a comprehensive audit trail. – Docusign FAQ

Basically, we can now generate any document, mark it up for initials and signatures and send it on it’s way. It ravels from one signer to the next until completely executed at which point it turns into a PDF and Presto! Everyone gets a copy in their inbox. Not even the Devil himself is this efficient when harvesting souls. I’ll bet he doesn’t even provide a copy of the contract.

I am very excited that each week, fresh, local food will be arriving at the Plaza Meat Market. Located at 207 Boylston Street, between Amory and Washington, just a short walk from Stony Brook station.  A whole pig arrives every other Friday for now. Every cut will be available including offal and bones. They should be able to offer very competitive prices because they are buying the whole pig. They also have local butter, eggs and milk! They hope to also patronize City Growers produce when the season begins in June.

The Plaza Meat Market has been in the neighborhood for 30 years and they hope to expand their local food stocks if the interest is there. Vote with your dollars!

Jamaica Plain kicks off 2011 with the addition of Bartlett Square

2010 was box office year for Jamaica Plain real estate. There were certainly some ups and downs and working with the banks has been no cake walk – but Jamaica Plain homes have held in there for the long haul. JP has that certain je ne sais quoi that can be found no where else in Boston.

Although the commercial side of Jamaica Plain had some shake ups along Centre and South Streets, and there’s some controversy over the new Whole Foods market scheduled to fill the Hi-Lo space, the east side of the MBTA tracks is still decidedly lacking restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, etc. making those locations somewhat less desirable due to the distance to amenities. However, it look like Jamaica Plain might be inching closer to a balanced commercial and retail base as several large projects move forward

While I reserve my opinions on some of the proposed and partially completed projects for a later date, some of them I find downright exciting. I happen to live on Amory Street near The Brewery and the new project at Bartlett Square has my eye.

I attended one of the community meetings when the project was in the planning stage and I was immediately impressed with how well Maple Hurst Builders handled the design integration with the surrounding buildings not to mention the complicated traffic and parking issues in the area. I held my breath that the project would pull through and maintain the overall “spirit” that had been proposed at that meeting. It has surpassed all expectations thus far.

I was immediately impressed with how well Maple Hurst Builders handled the design integration of Bartlett Square with the surrounding buildings, not to mention the complicated traffic and parking issues in the area.

I’ve done a lot of traveling throughout the United States, paying special attention to the architecture and infrastructure of various places along the way. It’s something I find very interesting, and to be frank, after visiting some of these places, parts of Boston are underwhelming in terms of development. It seems that often in an attempt to maintain strict planning and zoning rules in an effort to maintain a rigid historic Boston vernacular – the overall city suffers. I yearn for more creativity and variance but it is so rare.

Enters Bartlett Square. Don’t get me wrong, it’s no Frank Gehry fantasy (not a fan actually) but rather a very well designed addition to the neighborhood. The project fits nicely with the rows of old brick buildings between Amory and Washington Streets while tipping it’s hat to a more and more eco-conscious, modernist market.

Specializing in the redevelopment of under-utilized urban properties, Maple Hurst Builders has earned particular acclaim for the development, design and construction of in-fill projects that enhance their respective Boston neighborhoods by artfully blending classic architecture with contemporary details.

Each residence crafted by Maple Hurst Builders is distinctive, featuring amenities and workmanship typically reserved for custom-built homes.

Respect for the environment has always been an integral element of the design and construction of every project. Green building and sustainable construction are not merely marketing terms at Maple Hurst Builders. Resource and energy conservation, judicious use of materials and permanence of the structure are paramount. Maple Hurst Builders always will strive to deliver properties of unsurpassed value and enduring beauty.

The development at Bartlett Square is pursuing a rigorous eco-conscious design including solar panels that will support hot water and common electric needs, bike storage, a Kone “eco-efficient” elevator, Energy Star appliances, high efficiency heating and cooling and vegetative green roof, etc.

Bartlett Square employs serious eco-conscious design

In addition to the 13 condo units (two of which are affordable units per city of Boston guidelines) there will be three desperately needed retail spaces ranging from 775 SF to 1875 SF. I’m swooning at the mere idea of some healthy food options. Personally, I have my eye on a certain live foods restaurant. I suppose what stores go in will have a dramatic effect on the area and help determine the personality of that portion of the neighborhood.

I believe this section of Jamaica Plain has some amazing history and architecture, setting it apart from the more bucolic JP that is west of the MBTA line. The Brewery District and abutting neighborhoods seem to have the potential to be something like Williamsburg in Brooklyn or parts of Portland, OR. I like the grittier feel and the antique brick structures.

Locationally, the project is the bomb. Some of my favorite places in Jamaica Plain are all within walking distance. Just a few doors down from a little bodega and a block from Canto 6 with it’s steamed up windows and ridiculously mouth watering pastries and sandwiches. BMS Paper is Valhalla for party people. One of the best kept secrets in Boston IMO. You can get anything from industrial kitchen supplies to wine glasses for about $.50 each. I’m saving up for the “diner” plates they have. You know, those thick, heavy plain white plates and cups that are so strong they last for 50 years? Next on the list is Axiom Center for New and Experimental Media.

AXIOM is located at the corner of Green and Armory Streets. The gallery is on the ground floor level of the Green Street train stop on the Orange line at 141 Green St. A little about Axiom from their website:

Axiom was founded in 2004 by Heidi Kayser as an artist’s collective who originally exhibited work in a collaborative studio space. From 2005 to 2009, Axiom grew into a non-profit center whose mission is to support and nurture cutting-edge contemporary art practice through exhibitions, events, education and collaboration.

In 2010, Axiom merged with Boston Cyberarts, the organizers of the renowned biennial festival, the Boston Cyberarts Festival.

In 2011, Axiom returns to a collaborative management practice by forming the new Axiom Group, a collective of artists who curate exhibitions and events, provide educational programming, exhibit their own work, and participate in day-to-day operations. We are not currently accepting new members, but we love short term volunteers! If you are interested in volunteering or interning, (up to three college credits available) contact us: info@axiomart.org.

From the gallery at Green Street station, heading north up a gorgeous bike and pedestrian path takes you right by The Brewery complex which is home to some of Jamaica Plain’s favorite businesses. Bella Luna and the Milky Way pump out the best hand made galactic eats this side of the galaxy. You can’t go wrong with a Simple Simon and one of the Sam Adams brew made specially for this establishment. Next door is Ula Cafe, a treasure trove of delectable breakfast yummy treats and creatively combined sandwiches. Everything there seems to be fair trade, consciously sourced, etc. Stop in for an excellent cup a Joe and free Wi-Fi. When you’ve had your fill of some exotic strada or your favorite – the bacon, cheddar and chive scones, and you’re feeling a bit lumpy, you can jog upstairs to the massive Mike’s Fitness. Mike’s is a great gym and you’ll find, like the rest of Jamaica Plain, Mike’s is pretty diverse. Anyone will feel comfortable working out here. My favorite spot is on the recumbant bike or the Cybex elliptical in front of the huge windows overlooking the MBTA tracks and the Southwest Corridor.

As the project proceeds, I’ll keep you informed with more updates. If you have any questions in the meantime don’t hesitate to ask. If you’d like to hear it from the horse’s mouth in person, you can speak to the developers of Bartlett Square at the 1st Annual Jamaica Plain Home Energy Fair, Saturday March 5th, 9:30-1 pm at Bella Luna.

- 10:30 Introduction by MC (BJ Ray of Prudential Unlimited Realty).

- 10:35 Presentation on energy in homes, energy in the electrical grid, your energy footprint.

- 10:50 Presentation on energy reduction measures big and small.

- 11:05 Quick testimonials from DER homeowners.

- 11:15 Quick pitch from Green Justice Coalition on action items for their campaign.

- 11:25 Introduction of “Ask an Expert” participants.

- 11:30 Pizza is served!

- 11:30 Participants are free to mingle, have pizza, and ask questions of experts.

- 12:30 MC announce contest winners.

Some of the presenters:

- Dave Legg or other from National Grid on DER program

- Irina Rasputnis (NEEP) on the bewildering array of energy incentive programs

- Mass Energy Consumers Alliance on purchasing renewable electricity

- BBMC: Linda or Kim on materials choices for kitchens&  baths

- Ben Crouch Organics on local food production

- Green City Growers on local food production

- Cool JP on their block-by-block “Carbon Diet” campaign

- Green Justice Coalition on their efforts to create “Green Jobs” in weatherization

- Bikes Not Bombs, JP Bikes on pedal-powered transportation, here and abroad

- Living Structures, on reducing your home’s operating energy

- Roxbury Green Power/Green Grease Monkey, on waste veggie oil for transportation and home heating fuel

- 350.org on climate activism and why 350 matters

Urban gardening is sexy.

Okay, well maybe that’s pushing it a little bit – but it can certainly be fun and healthy. In Jamaica Plain it’s even a bit cool possibly. I recently went to a panel discussion at the Universalist Church entitled The Carnivore’s Dilemma and the place was packed with hip shaksters, albeit the kind with dirty finger nails.

I’m one of those people that spends an inordinate time on the web perusing feeds, reading blogs, researching topics in an admittedly impatient A.D.D. sort of way. In any case, I’ve learned a great deal about the benefits of having an urban garden, not to mention the other benefits of greening up the surface of the planet and reducing storm water runoff. I have found gardening to be incredibly rewarding and soul centering. No really! It calms me.

In fact, according to an article by Susan Wyatt,  getting outside and getting dirty could make you smarter. “A new study finds that naturally occurring bacteria in soil could enhance learning. And as a side benefit, it appears to be a natural anti-anxiety drug, but without the side-effects.”

One of the things I’ve learned in my short five years of gardening is to be patient. This is not a talent in abundance in my life. However, as I’ve watched my garden morph over the years I’ve learned to not get too uptight about the little setbacks. Mother Nature is on an entirely different timeline than us.

My front garden in Jamaica Plain

For example, when I started working on my yard, the entire property was covered in a nasty layer of asphalt. I pried this all up and recycled it. We then had to build a huge sieve out of 2x6s and 1/4in chicken wire – and hand shoveled the top 8-12 inches of soil through it, removing as much of the yucky stuff and rocks as possible. I can’t even begin to tell you how hard this was. Then we brought in a lot of loam.

I worked with a landscape architect named Jen Russ to begin with to create a plan. She had great ideas and a good knowledge of plants that would work well in my location. The problem in hindsight (unforeseeable) was that we set up the focal points of the yard based on which properties around my house were crappiest and should be shielded from view. Surprise! The Brewery District emerged shortly afterward with the development of the old Haffenreffer Brewery by the JPNDC and the old crack house behind me and the rest of the real

estate abutters turned over and fixed up the dilapidated old wrecks, hence, changing the view. Now the best view was the worst view. I realized quickly that I needed to bring in the BIG GUNS. This is when I really got to know Rich Gargiulo. Rich owns Treeworks Earth Designs (617-983-0813) and also lives in Jamaica Plain. He’s a big bear of a dude – and watch out – he’s full of ‘piss and vinegar’ as my mom used to say. Rich loves the outdoors. He will literally hug your trees. It’s a little overwhelming at first, but his energy is catchy and his work ethic is astounding. Rich doesn’t stand around talking about how to get something done. Over the last three years Rich has taken exquisite care of us and created an amazing place for my family to enjoy. We started with the ‘hardscaping’ which wasn’t even on my radar before Rich showed up. I had some stepping stones planned, but Rich was thinking bigger. The giant granite blocks and very organic Japanese-esque stones create a real sense of permanence.

Japanese Pine and Mountain Laurel

Rich and the rest of the guys on his crew are artists. He has transformed my property into something extraordinary, a real diamond in a previously rough neighborhood. Also, as I am a Realtor, property value is always on my mind. Landscaping is the #1 most overlooked item for people when considering selling their homes. Don’t just spread some fake red mulch around. Put some thought in and you will be rewarded. Every year we make tweaks, get rid of dead plants, plant some new ones, and spend a little time making design changes. This year I moved the vegetable garden around a bit. The plants that grow below ground and the lettuces went down in the raised bed – where the gal-darned squirrels won’t eat them. (The little buggers don’t even steal the whole thing, they just sample a little bit and leave it. Yuk, who wants to eat a veggie some squirrel slobbered all over?)

The tomatoes, peppers, pickling cukes, etc. are all going to be grown hanging upside down from shepherds poles on our 2nd level deck. This way we can water them easily, monitor growth and our daughter Vitoria can take part in the process and be fully engaged with the growing cycle of the plants.

Hanging baskets for growing veggies upside down.

I’m going to rig up the poles with stainless steel inserts so I can quickly attach them every year and take them down again in the winter.

There are a number of El Cheapo upside down hangers out there, but you can do it cheaper and better. If you want to go really low tech, just get some old 5 gallon buckets and cut a hole in the bottom. There’s no shortage of websites to give you advice on the subject. I’m ordering mine online, and I’m going with a reusable wire basket design. It has a canvas outer bag that literally zips up for ease of planting.  Supposedly you get better, stronger plants with less  water consumption and higher yields.

I have been experiencing a lot of stress in the last couple months as I prepared to plant my first veggie garden. Newbies have so many questions and so little experience after all. Have no fear, there are no shortage of resources. I recommend reading a lot of info on the web before you even start asking humans questions.

5 Gal planter

There is definitely some lingo involved in gardening and it helps to know the basics. Create a bookmarked file and start dumping stuff in as you go. One of the best resources I have found so far is the no frills University of New Hampshire – Garden Guide. It has an overwhelming amount of info about all aspects of gardening. And yes, there’s an app for that. For iPhone users, check out Gardening Toolkit. It helps pick plants that are appropriate for the location, has a todo list, how much to water, when to harvest, etc.

The bottom line is that we need to do whatever we can to help the recent movement toward a more ‘slow food’ culture. Not only do we need to learn how to grow our own food, but we need to teach our kids the importance of land stewardship. Just like foreign language, these types of concepts are easier to learn as a child. They become second nature. My daughter, for instance, now instinctively conserves water, ‘to save Mother Nature’.

There really isn’t a downside that I can see to all this. Feel free to comment if I’m wrong. As I see it:

1.  By planting a garden you get free food and the satisfaction of having grown a living organism.

2.  No fossil fuels are burned to transport your food.

3.  Storm water runoff is slowed and cooled – preserving the environment.

4. The heat island effect is mitigated.

5. Everything looks a lot more attractive – unless you’re into that post apocalyptic look.