See photos from illegal dump sites in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and from a radical backyard garden in Bluffton, Ohio. And as always, check out portraits of our interviewees!
Myrna Newman, Executive Director of Allegheny Cleanways in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
A Starburst wrapper found in the dirt at an illegal dumpsite in Pittsburgh, PA. This site is one that Allegheny Cleanways has cleaned up before, and continues to clean up.
Soda cans, straws, and other fast food wrappers at an illegal dumpsite near Allegheny Cleanways.
A bed frame and other household items litter the side of a hill in Allegheny County, PA.
Hot sauce packets seen at an illegal dump.
Al Chernov works for Allegheny Cleanways leading cleanups and properly disposing of waste from dump sites.
Signs stating the consequences for illegal dumping don’t prevent people from adding to the waste piles in Gershon.
A crumbling road in the Gershon neighborhood in Pittsburgh. Illegal dumps are often found at abandoned sites like this one.
Al told us that this road collapsed over a year ago. He said this is a common occurrence in Pittsburgh due to the topography. Instead of repairing the street, the city has blocked it off.
Trash at the bottom of a hill in Gershon neighborhood.
Tires, construction materials, and other types of trash thrown over a hillside.
Tires are commonly found at illegal dump sites because it’s difficult to properly dispose of them.
Jordan Luther recently graduated from Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, TN where he was training to become a pastor in the Mennonite church.
Wendy Chappel-Dick stands in her backyard which she calls Noah’s garden. Her beds are full of what many people would deem weeds. Instead of seeing these plants as disruptions in her garden and pulling them out, Wendy encourages them to grow. She appreciates the gifts each plant brings to her yard.
Wendy stands in front of her vibrant backyard garden.
Wendy’s garden is a certified wildlife habitat. She is working to restore it to it’s “wild” state so that it is more inviting for insect and animal life.
This small trail in Wendy’s backyard used to be an alleyway filled with trash.
For Wendy, this lush old alleyway illustrates nature’s desire to heal itself.
Looking at this grove of trees, you’d never know it was covered in trash and concrete just a decade ago.
Hosts Michaela and Harrison prepare for our interview with Wendy Chappell-Dick in her home.
Wendy’s cat peeks out over the kitchen of their tiny home in Bluffton, Ohio.
Wendy’s cat perches in a little window above the kitchen.
