October from Patty, Jessica and ?? - farming in DSM

 

Here are more envelopes that were left behind when I posted the other October envelopes.

I think the one above is from Patty - but I don't think it is an exchange envelope. I she skipped the October exchange - but sent a cute card. Below is from Jessica

I think this one is from Hadley - based on the postmark -- but I could be mixing Hadley up with Nanski. If either of you want to send me an email, I'll update this blog post.

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Several years ago a prominent local person proposed a vertical farming project in downtown Des Moines. I loved the idea and have always wondered why it never took off. Des Moines is at the fork of two rivers which is where they used to build forts. It grew into a little town, but there has always been a ton of open space right through the middle of the city which is a flood zone. Part of it is a *park* - that goes on and on - and much of it is wilderness. Along the edges close to the downtown, there have been fairly discrete encampments of people who do not have homes. The city built a large shelter right on the edge of the downtown area. 

Local news is very hit or miss at reaching me because we gave up on the newspaper quite some time ago and we also gave up on cable TV. So, I was happy to see that another farming idea has taken off. It's not vertical farming - but at least it is a start. 

That is not a freeway or expressway at the bottom of the photo. It is a nicely designed parkway with turn lanes. I might include a rant about the one feature that flusterates me.

LINK to article about the project