CSED & Tulane City Center Partner to Create Outdoor Wetland Education Center

CSED has partnered with Tulane City Center to create an outdoor wetland education center on two of our lots at Florida & Caffin Avenues. The project aims to raise awareness of coastal restoration efforts by creating a K-12 environmental learning space that will include exhibits on local plants, outdoor classroom space, a bio swale and rain garden, and access to kayaks that will encourage hands-on learning directly adjacent to the Bayou Bienvenue Triangle.  The existing cypress and red maple trees, the community orchard and the butterfly island will remain and be enhanced. 

You can view the entire project plan at our office at 5130 Chartres Street or just stop by the site.  As always, we welcome and value your comments as we "Sustain the Nine!"

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

Work Completed During Green Apple Day!

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!

All Perimeter Bargeboard Insulated on the CENTER

Charles is back and we're rolling.  We finished insulating the north-east and north-west sides of the CENTER with polyiso.  We still have to insulate the stick-framed addition at the back of the house.  I chose to hold off on the cedar beam untill Monday.  Our next task is to start insulating the attic.  We hope to finish the attice by COB Friday!

 

 

Insulation Goes Up on The CENTER

After electrical inspection I started putting up polyisocynurate insulation.  I'm using 2 sheets of 1/2'' stacked, and staggering seems to create a thickness of 1''.  I then put up furring strips for fiberglass faced (paperless) drywall.  Anyone with a bargeboard house can use this method.  Goal is a thermal barrier on all six sides of the house.   Work is not difficult but somewhat time consuming - as all seams must be sealed.  This work requires particular attention to detail. 

Stay tuned for installation of 14' reclaimed cedar beam that John Taylor found on the bank of the river!

 

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.

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4819 Dauphine - A Sustainable Design Approach

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