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Volunteer with UHC
Volunteers will be helping maintain our best-known, most unique project: the Rooftop Victory Garden at True Nature Foods.
UHC members Emily and Lynda joined Sabine and Carla at True Nature to help train folks how to run a rooftop garden, including tasks like weeding, checking soaker hoses/timers, and harvesting. UHC members will be shepherding volunteers through the process until they’re comfortable.
To volunteer for this or any other of our initiatives, such as urban agriculture, productive landscapes, materials reuse, or deconstruction, join our mailing list.
To become a member, contact Andrea Bentley, our Membership Director,
June 30, 2009
Urban Habitat Chicago Conference 2009 August 13-15, 2009
To be held near the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan in Chicago’s historic 48th Ward, the 3-day Urban Habitat Chicago Conference 2009 will feature a multidisciplinary group of speakers on a range of topics which will address the most pressing environmental, social justice, and economic challenges of our day, and offer creative and effective solutions.
Attendees will receive two full days of training with an optional third day of hands-on events. Continuing education for architects and design professionals in the form of Learning Units to satisfy those hard-to-meet Sustainable Design Requirements will be offered.
The $200 fee for this event will include additional benefits to attendees such as UHC membership, CTA passes, discounts for area restaurants and businesses, and a year’s subscription to an online post-event alumni community.
More information to come shortly.
June 16, 2009
Conservation International to donate 'living centerpieces' to UHC
Conservation International is holding their fundraiser on June 8 in Chicago.
As they did two years ago ‘living centerpieces’ from the event will be donated to UHC for use in its two urban agriculture and productive landscape projects: Sunlight of the Spirit Garden, and the Joy Garden at Northside Prep High School.
What could be cooler than that?
Check back to see images of the plants in their new habitats in the near future.
Thanks so much, folks!
June 8, 2009
Donate to UHC!!
In order for us to do our part, we ask that you do yours.
If you’ve ever attended an Urban Habitat Chicago lecture, meal, volunteered with us, or had us help you by answering a question or making a connection… it’s been at no charge.
Your support will allow us to continue to make our city a better place.
Thank you.
June 7, 2009
UHC Podcasts - Any Lecture, Any Time!
Now you can listen to our lectures in the comfort of your own living room!
Go to our new podcasts section for audio of past lectures.
June 7, 2009
Featured Projects
Sunlight of the Spirit Garden
A garden designed for growing food for a cafe run by a community recovery center.
Joy Garden at Northside Prep High School
Reconnecting students to their surrounding environment through restorative landscape technologies.
2009
True Nature Foods
Better than a green roof... a food-producing roof for this Edgewater business.
2005-present
Deconstruction advocacy
Deconstruction is the right thing to do at the end of a building's life.
2006-present
Recent Blog Posts
Converge:Exchange
March 27, 2009
The Converge:Exchange conference. Photo: Ian Harris/Archiculture On March 18-19, an optimistic group of community activists and designers converged to exchange big ideas and practical solutions for the betterment of Chicagoans and their built environment. Amidst this dialog a bystander... Continued…
A Short, Informal Essay About Deconstruction Ethic Before Deconstruction Was Invented
March 9, 2009 1 Comment
by Thomas Napier Maine Township High School, Des Plaines, IL circa 1920s. Along with millions of other young men and women, my father spent his high school and college years struggling through the Great Depression. He was born in Chicago... Continued…
Upon Viewing McCormick Place and a Visit to the Mid-Am Trade Show
January 29, 2009 2 Comments
By Nicholas Petty Mid-Am 2009, McCormick Place. Photo: Nicholas Petty. After intrepidly enduring a hyper-frigid (35 degrees below zero, apparently?!) public transportation episode from Bucktown to McCormick Place – one that included CTA, Metra, and a brief cab ride following... Continued…
Bioretention Basins and the Urban Forest
December 9, 2008 1 Comment
by Doug Johnston, of MASS LAB, The Morton Arboretum 2607 Backyard Forest. Photo: Mike Repkin. Clearly, trees are an important component of our urban spaces. From beautification to air quality, they provide us with many benefits in simply being alive.... Continued…
Birth of The Rebuilding Exchange
November 24, 2008 7 Comments
by Dave Hampton The Rebuilding Exchange at 3335 W. 47th Street. Photo: Elise Zelechowski. Please note: Urban Habitat Chicago DOES NOT operate the ReBuilding Exchange. We generally DO NOT take donations of building materials, appliances, etc. Go here to DONATE... Continued…
