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 A downtown community garden appears to be in the works as the Guilford County office of the N.C. Cooperative Extension, with the help of the city and county parks and recreation departments, attempts to convert about two acres on Prescott Street owned by Guilford County Schools. I don't have details at this point but I do know that two garden charettes will take place later this month for residents living in the area (namely the College Hills, College Park, Fisher Park and Westerwood neighborhoods). 

Local landscape architect Randal Romie will lead charettes on  Feb. 13 from 10 a.m. to noon, and Feb. 16 from 6-8 p.m. Both will be held at the First Baptist Church at 1000 W. Friendly Ave. Attendees should RSVP by calling the extension office at 375-5876. 

I have written quite a bit about the increase in community gardens over the past few years. You can find a local community garden map I created here. 

On a separate note, two nationally renown speakers will visit the Center for the Environment at Catawba College in Salisbury this month and March. Amory Lovins, cofounder of the Rocky Mountain Institute in Colorado, will give a presentation at 7 p.m. on Feb. 23. 

Susan Susanka, a figure in the national "small home" movement, will will speak at 11 a.m. on March 16 in Omwake-Dearborn Chapel and again at 7:30 p.m. in Hedrick Little Theatre of the Robertson College-Community Center during Catawba’s February Community Forum. Details here. 

People who want to attend these free presentations should register by contacting  Amanda Lanier at allanier@catawba.edu or visiting centerfortheenvironment.org.