Above: Kids and vegetables living in harmony?
Photo: L.C. Harmon, 1940. Nebraska, USA.

GOOD has a neat brainstorming series at the moment called “Ideas for Cities”. They’re ideas designed to make communities more efficient and progressive.

We’ll post a new idea each day until we run out, at which point we’re counting on you to come up with something smart.

I haven’t read all of the ideas posted so far, but two that I find very appealing/interesting already are Edible Schoolyard:

Cities should provide service opportunities and training for all ages to instill confidence, self-reliance, and pride. One of these programs could be an Edible Schoolyard that is cared for by students and led by professional farmers and volunteers. It would provide 100 percent of the school meals to the student body, and excess food would be delivered to the ill and elderly. In addition, schools would produce zero waste by composting all bio matter. The school could also compost neighborhood bio matter to fund its agricultural efforts.

and Google Analytics for Cities:

Cities could make the success of governance measurable and known. Rather than waiting for the next election to recognize and promote results (or lack thereof), cities could do it transparently. City stats, charts, and powerful infographics would provide a call-to-action for citizens.

See more at Ideas for Cities.