Manny pointing out the kale to be planted at the Lederer Community Garden this Spring. Photo by Shetal Shah

At 8am on Friday, February 4th Rachel Berman and Shetal Shah, two of the nine new students enrolled in the Spring 2011 Solar Decathlon course, were well on their way to Washington, DC. They hit the ground running with Professor Alison Mears and her Parsons School of Design Urban Communities class as they visited the Gault Place site, the Lederer Community Garden and various other plots of land throughout Greater Deanwood. Guests throughout the day included Dave Gano, Head of Construction and Land Development for Habitat for Humanity, and Manny, manager of the Lederer Community Garden. Dave spoke about the latest HFH projects that have been inspired by Empowerhouse. Of the 53 homes recently built by HFH, 8 were equipped with rain roofs. He envisions future HFH projects worldwide embracing Passive House criteria.

Dave Gano and Alison Mears. Photo by Shetal Shah

Students wait outside the Robert Lederer Youth Garden Community Center. Photo by Shetal Shah

Manny toured the group through the Community Garden and into the greenhouse behind the community center. He discussed the gardening techniques he uses and how the garden functions when the youth and seniors arrive to lend a hand. Foods he plans to grow this Spring include kale, collard greens, watermenlon, cantelope, fruit trees, tomatoes and aloe. The day ended with dinner at a downtown DC burrito place.

On day two, Saturday, February 5th, Shetal and Rachel met with their professor, John Stinar, and were all driven by Groundwork Executive Director and Center for Green Urbanism Co-Owner Dennis Chestnut, quoted as the “most underrated person in the DC green movement”, to a meeting put together by LA Davis of My Green Neighborhood. The meeting began with Laura Briggs and John Stinar giving a very insightful presentation on the construction details and energy use statistics of the Solar Decathlon and Greater Deanwood homes. Mr. Chestnut then added a very informative and detailed description of Greater Deanwood’s history. It is interesting to note that Greater Deanwood is one of the oldest and most continuous African American communities in the country and that when discrimination was prominent it was the home to Jews, Native Americans and Germans (who are responsible for much of the construction in Greater Deanwood).

During the meeting, Mr. Davis expressed an interest in providing meals for the Solar Decathlon team at the build and introduced Bruce Mayo and Anthony Peacock, Solar Panel Company owners who want to donate 4 KW solar panel system. David Golden of Potomac Job Corps also offered his help with regards to housing and volunteers. The day ended on a positive note with the New Yorkers leaving DC in the late afternoon and looking forward to their next visit.