De-paving

[trtls.livejournal.com]

I heard a rumor about an organization here in the 'ville that will help you de-pave your yard, as in help with labor to break up asphalt or cement and help to haul it away. I'm researching the cost involved with turning our pavement into green yard. We're talkin' pretty standard Somerville yard. Any suggestions welcome!  (one possible catch is a drain right in the middle of the current 2 parking spots.) Thanks!

Comments

[ron_newman]

I don't know the answer but the folks at Groundwork Somerville probably do.

[m-b-w.livejournal.com]

According to http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/fun/gardening/x868510635/Somerville-Garden-Club-focuses-on-de-paving-residents-yards#axzz1MLab3o8x, it looks like Somerville Climate Action (http://www.somervilleclimateaction.org/) are the folks you want to talk to.

[trtls.livejournal.com]

thanks!

[vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com]

So you are doing your yard and also driveway? Is it your drain or a city drain in the driveway?

[trtls.livejournal.com]

If we do it, we'll do the driveway and backyard. The drain is in the middle of the asphalt of the parking spots. Could that be the city's?

[vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com]

I would have to say if it looks like the type of drain you see in the street it would be have to be the city's-if it is another type it might belong to you. Maybe the city can help out on that end.

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

I really doubt there's a city drain on private property.

It's probably a drywell -- basically a hole that lets water soak into the ground.

[fefie.livejournal.com]

Somerville Climate Action had a post or two recently on their google group about depaving. Last fall they organized a depaving event as the OP described which you can see here: http://vimeo.com/22830594

http://somervilleclimateaction.org/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Somerville-Climate-Action/63128756752

[trtls.livejournal.com]

thanks a lot!

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

There are definitely solutions that will allow you to preserve the drain in the midst of greenspace.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

I know that isn't very specific, but I'm not sure what kind of drain you're speaking of exactly. But it is fairly trivial to make a little gravel basin around the existing drain, for instance, or convert it to a French drain (http://www.sky-bolt.com/FrenchDrains.htm).

You are awesome for making grass where there was asphalt.

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

You are awesome for making grass where there was asphalt

I agree.

[lldald.livejournal.com]

Me too. I love this idea!

[masswich.livejournal.com]

My advice, FWIW, is to get a pickaxe and go out on the hottest, muggiest days of the summer to break some holes in it. The heat will soften the ashpalt a lot. Then it can be pulled back like an orange peel and broken up into smaller pieces. All you have to do then is shovel the gravel up and add dirt!

When we did it, our elderly neighbors (whose entire yard was paved) complained that we were going to cause flooding in everyones' basements. Actually, ours was the only basement in the street that didn't floor, because we had lots of dirt to store the water in when it rained. The wonders of nature.

[trtls.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...not sure it'll be hot enough in the near future for that, but I'll keep it in mind, thanks!

haul it away for free

[notnatalie.livejournal.com]

It is Somerville Climate Action, and there is currently (hopefully not too late for you) a great opportunity to get your asphalt hauled for free. I got this email a week ago (note that I am not Maureen, you need to contact her at email below for more info):

One of our Somerville Alderman, Bob Trane, has worked out a deal for a contractor to come and pick up asphalt at residents homes in the next couple of weeks for free! SCA has created a guide to help people determine the best way to do this based on your property. All you would have to do is break up the asphalt and they are supposed to come pick it up.
A fellow resident de-paved this past weekend and he said it took two hours to break it up with a couple of pry bars, which we have and can loan out. If you need extra hands, we will do our best to get some volunteers to help.
Please email me for a copy of the guide and then let me know when you decide what you're going to do. This would need to happen in the next week or so in order to be eligible for the free pick up.
I will need all of your contact info to pass onto Bob Trane so he can get the info to the contractor for the pick up- name, address, phone and email.
Let's liberate the soil!
Maureen somclimateaction(at)live.com

ALSO, cute time-lapse of a local de-paving event (the asphalt was scored with a cutter the day before, but I've seen people just go at it with a pick-ax as well)
http://somerville.patch.com/articles/residents-rip-up-18000-pounds-of-asphalt#video-2291440

Re: haul it away for free

[trtls.livejournal.com]

Oh my, that sounds awesome! I have to get my neighbors to agree to this. Will see how fast we can make a decision! Thanks very much!