by Sarah Herring
What would happen if we ripped up all the concrete in selected sections of Vancouver’s downtown core and planted indigenous and edible greenery? How would this go down? How would this hinder and/or help our lives? Would we be inclined to gather and grow together, secure food sovereignty, create a culture of community, reduces co2 emissions, and create walkability in our cities? Or is this vision completely unrealistic? Perhaps we would spend too much time smelling the roses…
How do we balance between idealistic green and realistic sheen in a way that improves the lives of city-dwellers? How can we get more greenspace in our city while maintaining functionality? Is it enough to be resilient in these rapidly changing times? Or do we need to redefine our relationship with nature altogether? Can we adapt to coexisting harmoniously? How do we steward our urban spaces in a way that lets both us and nature thrive?
