in the shadow of Ikea - red hook graffiti park

This place in pictures won't last too much longer; the art changes weekly, the reeds and puddles of the improvised marshland overtake the rusted rails of old trains. We witness the alliance of urban artists and nature to put their mark on the urban ruins. And then the box store... there are suspicions that Ikea may eliminate this area for another parking lot or something, but I wonder if the "non-profit" company let it be in order to create some sense of street cred.

nyc compost giveback

Fresh Kills, Staten Island. 7:30 am. Sometime in early April. It is the place to be for gardeners, landscapers, industrious entrepreneurs with U-Hauls and boxes of thick black garbage bags, who will later sell the bags of black gold for $5 a pop or so. What is most remarkable is the feeling of togetherness for those who wake in New York to claim their share of compost. It's not a huge population, those who appreciate dirt under their nails and shovel blisters, but it sure feels good to be surrounded by like minded diggers. I heart compost! I think I posted this link last year, but for those interested, the NYC Compost Project.