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Plant milkweed for monarchs.
Dear Reader,
Dot recently spent some time in Savannah, Georgia, thanks to a friend (and Bluedot colleague) who invited me to visit. I was one of an estimated 17 million tourists who visit Savannah annually — drawn by the climate, the friendliness, and the charming downtown squares bordered by historic homes and majestic sweeping oaks. And Dot’s a sucker for an old home — I love the history, the quirks, the attention to detail. But preserving a city’s old homes isn’t just about history. It’s also often the sustainable thing to do, as Bluedot contributor Alison Braden writes:
“Rehabilitating historic properties keeps demolition debris out of landfills and makes use of existing infrastructure, like water lines and sidewalks. The design features of historic homes — shade trees, for example, and ample porches and windows — naturally dovetail with today’s principles for sustainable construction and ventilation. The tenets of reusing and recycling apply as much to buildings as anything else.”
If you’re a lover of historic homes or just a believer in the value of reduce and reuse, you’ll love this Bluedot video series (from our archives) by Bea Copeland, a woman determined to create a home filled with history and innovative (and gorgeous) ideas in upstate New York. She called it The Cabbage. Check it out to find out why.
Ready to reuse, yourself? Check out Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores for other people’s amazing castoffs. If you’re in Detroit, don’t miss Architectural Salvage. In Portland, Oregon, there’s the Rebuilding Center. (RIP Chicago’s Rebuilding Exchange.)
Is there a similar great spot in your community? Tell Dot (and Readers) about it.
Preservationally,
Dot
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