We're Not in Kansas Anymore
On May 4, 2007, Greensburg, Kansas, was wiped off the map. An EF5 tornado ravaged the small town of 1,400 residents, destroying or severely damaging 95 percent of the city. Less than a week later, however, the survivors did the incredible: At a meeting under a tent, they rallied to rebuild as a sustainable city.
Some community members at first were skeptical, but they later embraced the idea of following in the footsteps of their ancestors, who had lived off the land. With the backing of the city, state, and federal governments and the nonprofit Greensburg GreenTown, founded by nearby Stafford County residents Daniel Wallach and Catherine Hart, the town has become a sustainable mecca—boasting more than 25 green projects so far and attracting thousands of eco-tourists.
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Articles
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Daniel Wallach of GreenTown
After an EF5 tornado devestated the tiny town of Greensburg, Kansas, (then populartion 1,500) in 2007, the residents came together and did the unbelievable: Rebuilt as a sustainable town. Leading…
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Kansas City Bus Shelters
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Green Wreath
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Easy Being Green: Off the Grid
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Travel Accessories
Associate Editor Miyoko Ohtake: For the past few months, I’ve been in a Japan state of mind. This December, my sister and I are heading to the archipelago of our ancestors—our…
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Videos
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Building Green in Harlem: A Green Brownstone?
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Building Green in Harlem: Building The Green Dream Team
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Building Green in Harlem: It's Not Easy Being Green
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Events
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Green California Summit
The 2010 Green California Summit will take place in the state capital, at the Sacramento Convention Center. State and local governments in California have long set the standard for public sector…
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Women in Green Forum
The Women In Green Forum will highlight women’s impact on the environmental arena, promote the sustainable products offered by emerging green companies and provide opportunities for women to…
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2011 Green California Summit
The 2011 Green California Summit is coming to Sacramento on April 19-20, with pre-Summit sessions on April 18. 2011 also brings the first-ever CALGreen Academy, a special series of classes…
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Wait, why wouldn't you find wind turbines in Kansas? The wind blows all the time, and we Kansans are so used to it we don't even notice until the wind speed hits 50 m.p.h.. A lot of farmers use old-fashioned windmills to draw water into tanks for livestock in pastures.
You do find wind turbines in Kansas, actually. In a town a little over an hour west of Greensburg called Russell. Also, if I am correct, there are some just west of Salina.
Our nonprofit, Andrews Valley Initiative has been working for years in our beautiful Appalachian community and have not been able to accomplish what these people did. Our tornado has been a eighty year economic depression that has led to a feeling of hopelessness. While no one wishes for a tornado, the insurance money and government loans would certainly help us reach our goal of a model Appalachian community with a sustainable economy. I am glad for the people of Greensburg, but also a little jealous, and of course sorry for their losses.
I visited the City of Greensburg just because I had heard about it being reconstructed Green. It is truely impressive and they should be very proud. I know how hard it is to get that many people to agree on ANYTHING especially when it involves money which this did. My hat is off to the people of Greensburg, even the ones that did not want to go along with the idea of Green reconstruction. They had an opportunity to run with it and they did. I am sure in the years to come it will be a good decision.
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