Here are excerpts from an article by Leslie Guevarra on greenbiz.com. Click here to read Leslie's article.
With the help of The Corps Network and neighborhood volunteers, Planters plans to turn disused plots of land in New Orleans, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and New York City into peanut-shaped community greenspaces.
The Planters Groves, designed by landscape architect Ken Smith, will feature native trees and plants as well as benches and other amenities made from reclaimed building materials in an eco campaign that includes the rollout of the company's latest Nutmobile, which now runs on biodiesel and sports solar panels and a wind turbine.
The efforts, part of a promotion the company is calling "The Naturally Remarkable Tour," blend urban revitalization, conservation and volunteerism with whimsy to create what Planters hopes will be engaging community projects that serve as living lessons in sustainability.
Though designed by Smith, funded by Planters and coordinated with The Corps Network, each grove is to be built and maintained by local volunteers and neighborhood groups.
"We want to let people know what it's like to be a planter," said Jason Levine, senior director of marketing for Planters. The initiative is based on a concept that's core to the company — peanut crops help replenish the earth — and underscores the firm's sustainability efforts, he said.
Sites are being scouted for the groves in Washington, D.C., San Francisco and New York City.
"These will be great places for communities to get back to nature and experience the outdoors," Levine said.
The New Orleans grove is expected to be complete by late March, with all four groves complete by the end of the year, Jones said. The Planters "Naturally Remarkable Tour" will thread its way from project city to project city with the new Nutmobile in the vanguard.
Read more: http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2011/02/23/mr-peanuts-plan-help-build-greener-communities#ixzz1EtKeuYmq
