New Case Study Focuses on Community Gardens

Greening Cities, Growing Communities: Learning from Seattle's Urban Community Gardens, focuses on cases of community gardens in Seattle where there has been a strong network of knowledge and resources. These case studies reveal the capacity of community gardens to serve larger community issues, such as community food security; urban ecosystem health; demonstration of sustainable gardening and building practices; active living and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods; and equity concerns.Authors Jeffrey Hou and Julie Johnson from the University of Washington and Laura Lawson from the University of Illinois also examine how landscape architecture, planning, and allied design professionals can better interact in the making of these unique urban open spaces, and how urban community gardens offer opportunities for professionals to have a more prominent role in community activism and urban sustainability.

LAF Board Member Featured in LASN

Joseph Lalli, LAF's Vice President for Development, is featured in an interview in the June issue of Landscape Architect and Specifier News. Joe is president and managing principal of EDSA. The interview describes Joe's career and extensive work and accomplishments in art and landscape design. In the article Joe attributes his success to luck and hard work. "I went to some good schools, met some good people, had encouraging parents, got good help at the office, and my assistant Teresa has been a big influence as well," says Lalli.

Landscape Architecture Profession Takes Lead

The landscape architecture profession is gaining recognition as a vital player in today's sustainability movement. The weekly magazine, Engineering News Record, has just published a cover story--and editorial--describing how landscape architects are making a difference. The article by Nadine M. Post states that, "From green roofs and green streets to waterfronts and watersheds, from exurbs to 'urbs,' landscape architects are helping turn eyesores into eyefuls. They are using a combination of natural and engineered systems, including soil biofiltration and carbon sequestering, that manage and clean water and air.

LAF is on Facebook

LAF has joined the facebook community. Become a fan to meet our Olmsted Scholars and find out how LAF is making a difference. Click Here to go to our facebook page.

Landscape Architecture is Strong Career Choice

The landscape architecture profession has been identified as a strong career choice for the future by US News and World Report. This is welcome news for current students as well as those considering a career shift toward environmental planning and design. An increasing number of landscape architects are coming into the profession from other fields, such as law and business or the social sciences. This diversity in background is adding to the profession's richness of experience and potential for greater impact on a wide range of environmental challenges.