Alleys have a reputation for being places to avoid. We may think of them as dangerous, dark, uninviting, places where you do not want to linger for long, if at all.

But alleys are experiencing a dramatic makeover, turning them into environmentally friendly places with permeable hard surfaces replacing solid asphalt, and with greenery, places to sit and artwork on the walls.

Instead of avoiding them, people flock to them, to enjoy them as pleasant public spaces where concerts are held, or where vendors and food trucks pop up on weekends.They are called green alleys and that’s what we’re talking about in this edition of Mothering Earth.