Farmers' Markets, Festivals, Food Trucks...

just a few of my favorite ways to activate spaces. Public programming can add value to spaces and create places for people to interact with one another. One of my favorite placemaking events to visit is the I'Mardonnari - Italian Street Painting Festival in Santa Barbara which happens on Memorial Day Weekend each year. The festival activates the plaza in front of Mission Santa Barbara and transforms an expanse of asphalt into a beautiful mosaic.

I'm no Alice Waters

But I do understand the connection people make with the land when they grow their own food.

I love to cook and have always wanted to create edible gardens. So this year, I decided I would make this passion a personal mission using my own yard, well actually pots in front of my apartment, since I do not have a yard. Here's my red chard from this winter,

and a salad I made using greens from my "yard", mesculin lettuce and baby chard.





With spring upon us I decided I needed to expand my edible explorations and take over my mother's back yard. Did plenty of research.

Starting small, I'm giving her some peas, baby spinach, strawberries and blueberries. In a few months I'll expand to summer plantings and have some fruits of my labor to share with you.

People make the place

"Environmentalism has created a culture of respect for the environment, but there's much less clarity about the kind of environment that creates a happy child." - Enrique Peñalosa

I developed the design for Devany Square with the intention of providing a place for capturing the imagination and inspiring shared community interactions.

The design only provides the stage, the childrens' laughter makes the place.