Volunteers from Park Avenue Synagogue Help Us Prepare to Move & More

Our wonderful volunteers from Park Avenue Synagogue of New York City assisted the CSED staff as we prepare to move to our new home at 5227 Chartres Street. Rabbi Ethan Witkovsky and his wife Erin Beser volunteered 4 years ago with the CSED. This time they brought five youth with them to help with rebuilding our Lower 9th Ward Community.

But they didn't stop there...they continued their community service by raking leaves for composting at the CSED Dauphine Street Community Garden, weeded and planted flower seeds, replaced a brick border and cleaned up debris from recent sidewalk repair work. We so appreciate their giving spirits!

#Sustain the Nine - Support CSED KickStarter Campaign!

 

 

The VISION:  Download PERSPECTIVE 011414

The CAMPAIGN: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/312337143/the-center-a-sustainable-historic-house

Green Apple Day of Service @ the Center

USGBC's Green Apple Day of Service volunteers perform work on the CENTER over the weekend.  Volunteers from LA insulated the back of the CENTER with polyiso insulation, caulked ceiling boards, painted and installed insulation around the perimeter - under the house.  Thank you USGBC, & thank you volunteers for all of the hard work!  We hope to see you again soon!

BOOM! R-40 Baby!

 

We went with cellulose because of the price point.  Half the price of blown-in fiberglass.  But man cellulose is dusty.  A dirty job for sure!

Attic Time @ the CENTER

We did'nt have enough time to blow in insulation today.  However, attic is prepped and ready.  Bill Robinson was kind enough to stop by and share some of his knowledge.  He suggested that we use blown in fiberglass  instead of cellulose.  2'x4''s are for decking and for additional space for insulation. Stay tuned!

Lower 9 Neighbors Harvest CSED Dauphine Community Garden

Lower 9th Ward Neighbors harvest watermelon, rosemary, and mint at the CSED Dauphine Community Garden at 4819 Dauphine Street. Stop by often to gather whatever is growing or contact Kathy Muse, CSED Program Coordinator, for more information at 504-939-9028. This garden is a blight beautification project of the Lower 9th Ward CSED.

Related articles

4819 Dauphine - A Sustainable Design Approach

4819 Dauphine: A New Mini-Orchard for the Neighborhood?

Community Meeting Saturday 8/2/2014 Re Rezoning of Florida Ave Properties

The CSED owns the vacant lots at 2639 Caffin Avenue, 5620 Florida Avenue, 2636 and 2640 Lamanche Streets. The site is currently zoned as residential. In order for CSED to use the property as a visitor and learning center along with office space, its zoning must be changed to B-1 to accommodate a non-residential use.  We are required to apply for approval to change the site’s zoning designation. Our application must be heard by the City Planning Commission and the City Council. We anticipate this approval process will take several months. 

If you own property in the area, or are otherwise interested in the neighborhood, I am inviting you to a meeting where you can learn more about what we propose and have an opportunity to present your questions or concerns.  We are required to do this before we submit our application to the City Planning Commission. 

This meeting will take place:    Saturday, August 2, 2014, at 10:00 a.m.

                                                              2636 Lamanche Street, New Orleans, LA 70117 

At the meeting, a sign-in sheet will be provided to obtain phone numbers and/or email addresses so that we can keep you updated if there are any changes to the plans.

We see the site as a great opportunity to develop environmental education and connect the community and visitors with their natural surroundings.  The CSED initially plans to install a modular classroom building on the vacant lot at 2636 Lamanche Street in late 2014 or early 2015.  Future plans include building a Lower 9 Environmental Learning and Research Center. 

Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or comments.  I hope to see you at the meeting on Saturday, August 2, 2014, 10a.m., at 2636 Lamanche Street.

Arthur Johnson, Executive Director                                   Phone: (504)324-9955  

       

Community Meeting 7/12/14 Re: Rezoning 5227 Chartres Street

July 7, 2014 

Dear Neighbor: 

I am contacting you on behalf of the Lower 9^th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement & Development (CSED).  The CSED owns the building and property at 5227 Chartres Street between Lizardi and Egania Streets. The site is currently zoned as residential. In order for CSED to use the property as a visitor and learning center along with office space, its zoning must be changed to B-1 to accommodate a non-residential use.  We are required to apply for approval to change the site’s zoning designation. Our application must be heard by the City Planning Commission and the City Council. We anticipate this approval process will take several months. 

Because you own property in the area, or are otherwise interested in the neighborhood, I am inviting you to a meeting where you can learn more about what we propose and have an opportunity to present your questions or concerns.  We are required to do this before we submit our application to the City Planning Commission. 

This meeting will take place:            Saturday, July 12, 2014, at 11:00 a.m.

                                                                      5227 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA 70117 

At the meeting, a sign-in sheet will be provided to obtain email addresses so that we can keep you updated if there are any changes to the plans. 

We see the site as a great opportunity to reduce blight in the neighborhood. The CSED is renovating this historic, 100 year old barge board house into a learning center.  The center will showcase energy efficiency upgrades and primarily serve as an educational center for the Lower 9^th Ward community. We estimate work will be complete in late 2014. 

Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or comments.  I hope to see you at the meeting on Saturday, July 12, 2014, 11a.m., at 5227 Chartres Street. 

Sincerely, 

Arthur Johnson, Executive Director

Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement & Development (CSED) 

5130 Chartres Street - Post Office Box 770407 - New Orleans LA 70177-0407

Phone: (504)324-9955         Fax: (504)267-5583

www.sustainthenine.org     

 

Citrus Canker Disease

We have unfortunately lost one of our grapefruit trees in our Dauphine Street Commuity Orchard to citrus canker disease.  This has been confirmed by Dr. Raghuwinder Singh of the LSU Ag Center.  He advises that "the only way to manage citrus canker is to remove the symptomatic tree entirely. Double bag the tree in black sturdy trash bags and then dispose of it in a landfill or let the garbage hauler take it. Surface sterilize the tools that you use to cut the tree with 20% bleach solution. Also remember to wash your hands with warm water and soap. Do not touch or visit another citrus tree within 72 hours after you remove the tree." If one of your trees shows signs of citrus canker disease, please notify Dr. Singh by emailing [email protected] the location and photos of the diseased tree.  He is tracking the spread of this disease.

Our tree appeared healthy and vigorous with new growth sprouting all around but the bottom leaves had lesions with yellow halos. Citrus canker is a highly contagious disease and all varieties of citrus are susceptible. Help stop the spread of this disease by being informed and taking immediate action.

Learn more at http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/communications/leads/citrus-canker-disease-threatens-louisiana-trees.htm

href="http://southeastfarmpress.com/orchard-crops/usda-confirms-citrus-canker-now-louisiana" target="_blank">USDA confirms citrus canker now in Louisiana

Butterfly Island Beginnings by Marquette Mardi Gras

New and returning volunteers with "Marquette Mardi Gras" helped us continue the reimagining of our Florida Avenue vacant lots by creating the beginnings of a butterfly island. They selectively cleared an existing circle of debris leaving in place the native wildflowers that were already growing there, built a center structure of logs and branches, added composted leaves, planted iris bulbs (given to us by our quintessential volunteer - Steve), broadcast wildflower seeds, and doused all with our rain catchment water.  Dragonflies and lizards were visiting the island as we worked :-) These Marquette University volunteers did all that in just a few hours time!!! and with great humor and warm hearts.  We are grateful and lifted by their spirit of giving. 

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