Update #2: Chicory : A Southeastern Michigan classic
We've decided that from now until the funding timeline completes (16 days to go), every couple of days we will feature one of the plants common to the Detroit 'urban prairie' ad hoc ecosystem.
If you look around Detroit this time of year, you will find Chicory blooming everywhere, more than happy to provide basic cover in the old field conditions of Detroit's industrial wake. Though this naturalized plant of European origin is common throughout North America, it's penchant for filling Detroit's once empty fields with an explosion of sky-blue is something to behold. Though considered a weed in some circumstances, The leaves are actually edible in their basal rosette form and the roasted root has a storied history as a coffee substitute or additive, as well as similar medicinal use to dandelion. Known alternatively as Blue Sailors, Succory, Coffeeweed and Cornflower, you'll see this plant in virtually any open disturbed area.
[Photo of chicory by Detroit house from http://www.themotorlesscity.com/2009/07/21/detroits-wildflowers/ with permission, detail photo of Wild Chicory from pawpaw67@flickr with attribution]
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on September 28, 2011.
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Every dollar counts. Everyone who contributes will get their name listed in the credits section the website and in the mobile apps we create.
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The above + A limited edition zine containing pictures and details of 25 of the most common flowers of Detroit, an effective identification guide for Southeastern Michiganders in the field or an informative micro-fieldbook for national and international friends.
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All above + Spread the word in style - $50 gets you one Wildflowers of Detroit silkscreened tshirt! Original artwork by Gwen McKay: http://tinyurl.com/4262hnd
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All above + 3 handmade recycled paper, hand silk screened, seed embedded postcards. Send a special message to your friend, and then they can plant it! Postcards look like this: http://tinyurl.com/3k2m5fx
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All above + Receive an embroidered WinterRoot hoodie, letting everyone know that you are part of the team. Left breast reads 'WinterRoot - Vision Tech for Counter Tech' and is embroidered in electric turquoise thread. Check the layout here: http://tinyurl.com/3w7ahak
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Love this idea?!?!!!!?????!!? Take the plunge and donate $1,000 or more and we will implement a sister project based in YOUR town / city / global village. We will provide mobile apps, MMS service, and a custom website including unlimited hosting forever. Help us help you show everyone the value of the wild spaces, nooks and crannies, all around us. (and yes for anyone willing to take it this far, you'll get all the above rewards as well)
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WinterRoot is a technology collaborative started by Southeast Michigan natives and centered in Detroit for a solid 7 years, now operating from Oakland, CA. WinterRoot develops software that bridges ecologically aware practice together with dynamic information systems. We work on both commercial and noncommercial projects, including Wild Edibles - an iPhone foraging application with Wildman Steve Brill, Lattice - an open source graph database API being built on Kohana PHP, and hosting a series of community alternative energy skill shares. Our projects aim to combine principles of permaculture, renewable energy, and information systems into self reinforcing structures.
