Great news from Jessica Ring, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design / Department of Art at Towson University and Green Map collaborator:

“The Student Green Map won a Silver award in the Going Green category of the 40th Annual University & College Designers Association Design Competition. The judges evaluated 52 entries in these categories, awarding 14 awards—2 Gold Awards, 7 Silver Awards and 5 Awards of Excellence. In total, 1,300 print, electronic media, and going green entries, awarding 237 awards in the those categories. A total of 6 Gold Awards, 18 Silver Awards and 213 Awards of Excellence were chosen.”

Credits:
Mallory Varvaris/Designer
Caren Lipman/Designer
Mario Iati/Designer
Jessica Ring/Art Director
Peabody Press/Printer
Kanji Takeno/Photographer
Desiree Stover/Photographer
Erica Gresham/Photographer
Janet Felsten/Consultant
Rick Pallansch/Production
Latasha Lloyd/Production

Are you convinced that bicycle commuting in Baltimore is  on the upswing? Do we have more people riding this year? Test your assumption and help Nate Evans do the annual Bicycle Count.

Is Baltimore becoming more bike friendly? There’s only one way to find out: COUNT THOSE BIKES!

Bicycle Traffic Verifiers are needed to help count the bikes on September 7th through 10th from 6:30 – 8:30 am and 4 – 6 pm at

Falls Rd & Maryland Avenue
Guilford Ave & Mt. Royal Ave
Frederick Ave & Gwynns Falls Trail
Aliceanna St & Boston St

Last year’s verifiers counted an average 250 BIKES per commute time! Let’s see if we’re doing any better this year. For questions, please contact Nate Evans at nate.evans@baltimorecity.gov.

Please click here to sign up.

The interactive version of the Druid Hill Park Green Map shows 92 of the park’s many features.

Click here to open the interactive map in a new window that allows you to explore, toggle icons on and off, investigate the resources of the park.

What have we forgotten to show? Do you have a good picture to add? Send it in jpg format to info(at)baltogreenmap(dot)org. We will credit your photo and add it to the site entry.

Lake Otsego

Lake Otsego transitions to Susquehanna River

Susquehanna River plaque

Summer travels have included a journey to the source of the Susquehanna in Cooperstown, NY, the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay. Now when I look at the Chesapeake Bay Watershed map, I’ll always hold that picture of its northernmost point, Lake Otsego, shrouded in mist. And remember that small stream that grows into the wide river we cross near Havre de Grace.  Over 64000 square miles of watershed territory influencing the health of bay waters.

Third Graders at Roland Park Elementary School went on a neighborhood Eco-Walk, Green Map Stickers in hand, and solidified their map-reading skills while learning about natural, cultural and sustainable living features of their neighborhood.  Parent and Graphic Designer Elizabeth Gething collaborated to create the materials that guided the students on a two-mile+ walk that not only gave them new knowledge about the school’s environs, but also provided them with vigorous exercise and more time outdoors on a lovely Spring day.  Enrichment  for  mind and body!

Reviewing Green Map Stickers

Our path included a tour highlighting the Olmsted Brothers’ design features that were basic to the original plan for Roland Park, then a journey along Stony Run to Evergreen Meadow. Along the way, students met neighborhood merchants and leaders. They learned more about longstanding businesses, neighborhood history, wildlife, and civic life. And they had time to relax, to chase around the meadow, and enjoy a beautiful day!

Learning from Neighborhood Leader

In Baltimore we all know we are living in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, BUT do you know which sub-watershed is yours?  Thanks to Baltimore Green Map Volunteer Thomas Stanley, you can now find out via a simple search.  Go to our website’s Our Watershed tab and click on the Find Your Watershed map pictured below.

Thanks, Thomas!

Baltimore Green Map’s Druid Hill Park Green Map is one of five maps to be featured in The National Design Triennial Why Design Now? exhibit that has just opened at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in NYC. Quite an honor! The exhibit features the work of designers addressing human and environmental problems across many fields of the design practice, from architecture and products to fashion, graphics, new media, and landscapes.  Watch Green Map System founder Wendy Brawer give a brief tour of the Green Map section of the exhibit on YouTube.

If you have never seen The Labyrinth, the astonishing representation of the history of art and the creative process in civilization created by visionary artist Les Harris, do it on Sunday May 2 from 2 to 4 pm.  That’s when the Amaranthine Museum is holding its fundraiser to support the preservation of this amazing installation. By participating in the Treasure Hunt you are assured of close examination of the details while contributing to a worthy cause. Prizes, beverages, Hors D’oeuvres and silent auction, too. $20 tax-deductible donations.  call 410-456-1343 or just come to 2010 Clipper Park Road, Baltimore 21211, right next door to Woodberry Kitchen.

(pictures thanks to Real Food Farm)

In Clifton Park, the Hoop Village will be expanding in the coming months!  Real Food Farm is a project spearheaded by Civic Works in partnership many community and non-profit groups. The first three hoop houses were constructed last fall in collaboration with the Safe Healing Foundation, an organization whose mission includes supporting youth entrepreneurship. They had a bumper crop of radishes and greens this winter despite the snow and have been supplying restaurants up and down Harford Road with their produce. Their ambitious plans include producing 150,000± pounds of organic, wholesome, real food – fruits and vegetables – each year.  The farm will create green jobs, provide the school system and the surrounding communities with healthy food and education opportunities.

Do you want to support Urban Agriculture and meet like-minded folks?

Attend the UrbAg Gala on April 16 from 7 to 10pm at the 2640 space, 2640 St. Paul.  The Urban Agriculture Task Force hosts this event. It provides  a clearinghouse for urban agriculture activities around town via its website which includes a calendar and links to many informative resources.

It’s been almost ten years since I began collaborating with the Green Map System! Lately several people have asked me why I have been so passionate and persistent about this project, so I’ve decided to restate my reasons here:

1) Promote Access to Resources
In 2000 I had taken my background in architecture, urban planning and education into a new iteration through an Open Society Institute Community Fellowship to map youth resources in Baltimore. I quickly realized that people were unaware of resources mere blocks from where they lived and had a generally negative impression about city youth. So began my search for effective ways to communicate knowledge about existing resources and about the positive actions young people were taking to improve their neighborhoods. For the past decade I’ve explored different ways to mobilize the Green Map icons to expand knowledge and to Map the Positives!

2) Inspire Civic Pride
I feel that our city’s self-image would be infinitely improved if we could hold in our mind’s eye not just the scenic characteristics that define it – waterfront, stream valleys, parks, monuments, architectural landmarks, major thoroughfares – but also the many aspects that show a greener and healthier Baltimore to be a dawning reality.

Through Green Map-making, we can focus attention on the accumulation of positive citizen actions and opportunities: community gardens planted; murals painted; parks’ partnerships activated; “green” schools – eco-conscious in curriculum, management, and community involvement; farmers markets offering fresh, local products; bicycle-friendly roadways; recycling centers; healthy eating venues; social enterprises that turn our culture of consumption into one of sharing.

3) Create Global Consciousness and Connectivity
Through participation in the Green Map® System, we also connect with the global sustainability movement, mapmakers in sixty+ countries sharing the common vocabulary of GMS icons to chart their local resources. We know already that our Jones Falls Trail Green Map hangs on walls in South Africa, South Korea and Japan. We inspire and are inspired by mapmakers worldwide.

4) Encourage Local Stewardship
Here at home, spurred by the Baltimore Green Map’s graphic reflection of what now exists, I hope that we can build a stewardship ethic into the culture of our city. Our many small actions contribute to a tide of change. That tide lifts (and uplifts) us. It strengthens as we communicate and model for each other the ways we contribute to making Baltimore a more healthy and sustainable environment.