Category Archives: food systems

Twelve planning lessons from failing cities

There are likely many more planning-related lessons from failing cities that could have been added, but these are ones that initially came to mind. Any additions, suggestions, or corrections are welcome. Do NOT chase the latest fad project without doing … Continue reading

Posted in Active transportation, adaptive reuse, business, Cars, cities, civics, civility, commerce, culture, downtown, economic development, environment, fitness, food systems, geography, government, health, Health care, Highway displacement, highways, historic preservation, history, Housing, human rights, humanity, inclusiveness, industry, infrastructure, land use, nature, new urbanism, placemaking, planning, politics, recreation, revitalization, Small business, spatial design, sustainability, third places, tourism, traffic, transportation, Travel, urban planning, visual pollution, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Enlightened” city planning amid rural Iowa cornfields

In the film Field of Dreams, Kevin Costner’s father asks him, “Is this heaven?” His response is, “No, it’s Iowa.” Well, to some, Iowa may just be their slice of heaven, especially those who reside in and around the City … Continue reading

Posted in Active transportation, agriculture, Alternative energy, architecture, art, Asia, Astronomy, cities, civics, civility, climate change, colleges, commerce, Cuisine, culture, diversity, economic development, ecosystems, entrepreneurship, environment, food systems, geography, government, health, history, Housing, humanity, inclusiveness, India, infrastructure, land use, landscape architecture, Maps, natural history, nature, peace, pictures, place names, placemaking, planning, Religion, Renewable Energy, social equity, solar, spatial design, sustainability, topography, tourism, trails, transportation, urban design, urban planning, Wildlife, writing, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is Burning Man making a mistake at Fly Ranch?

I’m torn. A part of me wants to travel this very minute to Fly Ranch and experience the scenic landscapes on this lovely site, while also visualizing the various art/sustainability projects taking place there. On the other hand, the site … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Alternative energy, architecture, art, branding, charities, civics, climate, climate change, Communications, culture, deserts, diversity, economic development, ecosystems, education, environment, food systems, futurism, geography, health, historic preservation, history, humanity, land use, Maps, Native Americans, natural history, nature, opinion, pictures, place names, placemaking, planning, pollution, recreation, Renewable Energy, social equity, spatial design, sustainability, technology, topography, tourism, Travel, visual pollution, water conservation, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A comparison between Burning Man’s Black Rock City and the Greater World Earthship Community

The American West is blessed with two modern utopian communities — Burning Man’s Black Rock City on a high desert playa in northwestern Nevada and the Greater World Earthship Community located west of Taos, New Mexico. As Burning Man/Black Rock … Continue reading

Posted in adaptive reuse, Advocacy, Alternative energy, architecture, art, branding, cities, civics, Civil Rights, civility, climate change, Communications, culture, deregulation, deserts, diversity, economic development, energy, entertainment, entrepreneurship, environment, food systems, fun, futurism, geography, government, health, history, Housing, human rights, humanity, inclusiveness, infrastructure, land use, literature, Maps, marketing, minimalism, nature, peace, pictures, place names, placemaking, planning, politics, product design, recycling, Renewable Energy, social equity, spatial design, sustainability, technology, third places, tourism, Trade, Travel, urban design, urban planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Using abnormally high-water events on the Great Lakes to help relieve the Western mega-drought

Its time to think about cross-regional cooperation to address our problems related to surface water and climate change. In recent years, water levels in the Great Lakes have been at or near all-time record highs. This has created numerous and … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, cities, civics, civility, climate, climate change, ecosystems, environment, food systems, geography, Geology, Great Lakes, health, history, humanity, infrastructure, land use, natural history, nature, North America, planning, politics, rail, Railroads, rivers/watersheds, Science, States, topography, Trade, trucking, urban planning, weather | Leave a comment

Regional and semi-national fast food burger chains

Most of us are familiar with the national fast food burger chains like McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, Dairy Queen, Five Guys, Sonic, and Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr. But, there are many local, regional, and semi-national burger chains that dot the map and … Continue reading

Posted in advertising, branding, cities, consumerism, Cuisine, culture, Food, food systems, fun, geography, history, land use, product design, shopping, Statistics, third places, tourism, traffic | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The steaming hot market for drive-thru coffee shops

Across the country there is an ongoing boom in freestanding drive-thru/walk-up coffee shops. These units rarely, if ever, incorporate indoor seating, though they may have some outdoor seats. Instead these shops are designed and meant for customers on the go … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, bicycling, branding, business, Cars, Cities, coffee shops/cafes, commerce, consumerism, Cuisine, economic development, food systems, geography, history, infrastructure, land use, marketing, placemaking, planning, product design, shopping, spatial design, Statistics, third places, traffic, Transportation, Uncategorized, urban planning, walking, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

North America’s deepest lakes and reservoirs

The following list identifies the deepest natural and human-made lakes on the North American continent. Any additions, corrections, or suggestions for this list are most welcome. Great Slave Lake, NWT = 2,010 feet 2. Crater Lake, OR = 1,949 feet … Continue reading

Posted in Arctic, Canada, Caribbean, climate change, ecosystems, environment, food systems, geography, Geology, Great Lakes, history, land use, Latin America, Maps, Mexico, Native Americans, nature, North America, pollution, recreation, shipping, Statistics, sustainability, topography, tourism, Trade, transportation, Travel, underwater preserves, water trails | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Albuquerque’s two distinctive ranchito suburbs

All of us are familiar with the enormous ranches and farming operations that are most often found flung across the Midwestern and Western United States. We are also familiar with the smaller scale ranchettes and farmettes that tend to dot … Continue reading

Posted in Active transportation, adaptive reuse, Advocacy, agriculture, Animals, archaeology, architecture, art, cities, civics, culture, density, diversity, economic development, economic gardening, environment, Food, food systems, geography, government, health, historic preservation, history, land use, Maps, Native Americans, nature, placemaking, planning, recreation, rivers/watersheds, spatial design, sprawl, Statistics, sustainability, third places, topography, tourism, Trade, trails, Travel, urban planning, walking, Wildlife, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ten planning lessons from OKC – America’s newest great city!

The changes/improvements that have taken place in Oklahoma City in the past 16 years (since I last visited) are remarkable and immensely impressive. Here are ten planning lessons from the exciting and entertaining capital of Oklahoma. Oklahoma City has coalesced … Continue reading

Posted in adaptive reuse, architecture, art, bicycling, branding, brewpubs, bridges, business, Cars, charities, cities, civics, civility, commerce, Cuisine, culture, diversity, downtown, economic development, entertainment, environment, family, fitness, Food, food systems, food trucks, fun, gentrification, geography, government, health, highways, hiking, historic preservation, history, Housing, inclusiveness, infrastructure, land use, landscape architecture, marketing, new urbanism, pictures, placemaking, planning, product design, recreation, revitalization, rivers/watersheds, shopping, skylines, skyscrapers, social equity, spatial design, sports, sprawl, sustainability, technology, third places, tourism, traffic, trails, transit, transportation, Travel, urban design, urban planning, walking, water trails, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment