Students from Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) and Pitt Honors College conducted a workshop at Frazier Fieldhouse as part of a research project on Urban Hydroponics.
02/23 2015
Environment/Health
In order to better understand the food gardening habits and barriers to gardening in South Oakland, research is being conducted as part of a community-based project through the University of Pittsburgh Honors College to understand gardening habits in South Oakland to determine why people do, and don’t garden. If barriers are identified, this project aims to connect residents to gardening resources. We are asking residents to fill out a 5 minute anonymous survey (link below and available on SouthOaklandPgh.org). Thank you for your time and consideration!
In the very near future, in-person surveys (approx 15 min) will be taken of both avid gardeners, at Frazier Farms, home gardens or otherwise, and those who don’t, and why for more in depth analysis. The surveys should be done by March 10th, but may extend a few weeks if not enough surveys are completed. The data analysis and report will be done by the end of April. If the results clearly identify a problem that could be addressed, the student will try to coordinate an event or program sometime in May to try and help people in the community who need help to start gardening!
If you know anyone that is interested in participating please use the link below, or have them contact SONG,either call or text 
or print out the attached flyers to hand out.
Thanks!
02/13 2015
4-Day Arborist Course
February 20, 2015
Sat., Feb. 20 – The Penn State Extension is hosting a 4-Day Arborist Short Course in the basics of arboriculture (tree care), including tree biology, tree risk assessment, tree planting, and other topics. This course is designed to increase working tree knowledge, professional arborist skills, and prepare you for the ISA Certified Arborist Exam, which should improve your marketability. Info and registration: Click here
They are postponing the ZBA hearing regarding the WindNest project, pending the outcome of design revisions that will have an effect on the scale.
The project will no longer be on the March 5th agenda. We will continue to pass along any updates we receive regarding the project.
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There is a renewable energy/public art installation planned for Schenley Plaza. They need setback and height approvals at zoning board – hearing is March 5 at 10 AM, 200 Ross Street 1st Floor. Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is partnering with the artists on this project.
From the artists:
“Please encourage people to get in touch with us directly if they have any questions or would like to learn more.”
02/13 2015
Central Page with Research Project Links
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UPDATE 2/18/15
The hydroponics workshop will be 3-4pm Sunday 2/22 at Frazier Fieldhouse.
Workshop Flyer
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Update: With some work on actual installations now done, and since there probably aren’t many “ideal” windows in South Oakland, the specs and guidelines have changed a bit for site installations. There will be fluorescent lights on all installations, and the size has been significantly reduced.
For anyone that was interested in hosting a hydroponics installation, but didn’t contact us yet, here’s a few pictures of the 2.5’x6′ system and a CAD sketch of the 22″x32″ system that’s going into two locations so far:
The first two are the same system in progress, planned to have three channels, each with 5 plants in it. The PVC pipes above are for holding lights not shown in pic.
The third picture is a much smaller installation with four U-shaped tiers and a vertical post that will hold two fluorescent tube lights.
The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works has announced that park shelter reservations will be accepted online and in person starting Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.
The Office of Mayor William Peduto announced that the application deadline for the spring 2015 Love Your Block grant award program has been extended until Friday, February 20, 2015.
Next meeting: Thursday, February 19th, 2015, 6pm, Oakland Career Center, 294 Semple Street.
Tree Pittsburgh is helping the Oakland Green Team educate and prepare residents about fruit tree maintenance to ensure this community orchard in South Oakland is sustainable and successful. Saturday, March 14 at 10:00 am Tree Pittsburgh will lead a pruning and maintenance workshop at the orchard; 3213 Parkview Avenue, all are welcome.
Tree Pittsburgh is helping the Oakland Green Team educate and prepare residents about fruit tree maintenance to ensure this community orchard in South Oakland is sustainable and successful. Saturday, March 14 at 10:00 am Tree Pittsburgh will lead a pruning and maintenance workshop at the orchard; 3213 Parkview Avenue, all are welcome.
Zone 4 PSC meeting is held the first Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm at the Jewish Community Center at 5738 Forbes Avenue in room #307
February’s meeting is going to be a First Aid presentation by Pittsburgh EMS. It may also include a CPR demonstration and they are also going to provide information on The Envelope of Life as well.
Seating may be limited so please RSVP to Zone 4:
01/21 2015
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These events are FREE; just call 412-242-3598 to reserve your spot!
For more information, visit our Events Page. |
The City of Pittsburgh offices will be closed on Monday, January 19, 2015 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, January 20, 2015.
Refuse, bulk waste and recycling collection will not take place on Monday, January 19, 2015. The Department of Public Works has released the following schedule for the week:
- If your scheduled day of collection is Monday, January 19th you will be serviced on Tuesday, January 20.
- If your collection day is Tuesday, January 20, you will be serviced on Wednesday, January 21.
- If your collection day is Wednesday, January 21, you will be serviced on Thursday, January 22.
- If your collection day is Thursday, January 22, you will be serviced on Friday, January 23.
- If your collection day is Friday, January 23, you will be serviced on Saturday, January 24.
If you should have any questions concerning your collection, you may contact Environmental Services at (412) 255-2773.
Applications are available for the servePGH Spring 2015 Love Your Block grant award program. The block revitalization program gives organizations up to $1,000 in funds and donated supplies for a neighborhood block improvement project that mobilizes community volunteers. Projects will be implemented from April 25 to June 30, 2015. Applications are available online at: http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/servepgh/loveyourblock.
Applicants for the spring 2015 program must be a qualified nonprofit organization (or have the support of a nonprofit fiscal agent) and the impacted area must be within city limits. Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on February 13, 2015. Late applications will not be accepted. Applicants will be notified of their status by March 2015. A mandatory grantee orientation will take place in early April 2015.
An information session will be held at 6 p.m on January 20, 2015 in the City County Building, 414 Grant Street (Room 646). At this session, applicants can ask question about project ideas and grant proposals.
To date, grantees have impacted approximately 389 blocks by collecting 34,527 pounds of litter, creating 255 green spaces, leveraging almost $473,000 in donations and recruiting around 4,571 volunteers through the program.
For more information and application, visiti the full article, or the link listed above.
CITY OPENS WARMING CENTERS DUE TO FRIGID TEMPERATURES
PITTSBURGH, PA (January 8, 2015) – The City of Pittsburgh has activated emergency response protocols due to severe weather and extreme cold temperatures hitting the area this week.
Warming centers at four Senior Center locations are currently open throughout the city. Facilities are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. until further notice. The locations include:
- Greenfield Senior Center – 745 Greenfield Ave. (412-422-6551)
- Homewood Senior Center – 7321 Frankstown Ave. (412-244-4190)
- Sheraden Senior Center – 720 Sherwood Ave. (412-777-5012)
- South Side Market House Senior Center – 12th St. and Bingham St. (412-488-8404)
Public Safety personnel have been instructed to notify and assist the homeless with access to the shelters.
City residents are advised to keep their pets indoors this week. New and approved changes to the animal care ordinances are also in place. Owners are not permitted to leave a dog outside, subject to the weather and elements, for more than thirty (30) minutes at a time when temperatures are below thirty-two (32) degrees Fahrenheit. Any violations to the animal care ordinances should be reported to Animal Care and Control by calling 412-255-2036 during business hours or 412-255-2935 outside of business hours.
"The first of the planned 50 docking stations might go up in the city as early as March, with a hard launch of the bike rental program tentatively set for April, said Beth Hazlett, Pittsburgh Bike Share board chairwoman, but this bike rental program will be nothing like you experienced on your last vacation at the shore."
Post Gazette Article:
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2015/01/05/Bike-Share-plans-to-start-up-in-the-spring/stories/201501050019?ClearCache=1
Pgh Bike Share website:
01/06 2015
Visit the Collection Schedules page to find out your collection day. You may also call the Bureau of Environmental Services at 412-255-2773.