Participants contribute to the collaborative environmental art project entitled ‘Edible LA’ during the 8th Annual AltBuild Expo & Conference at the Santa Monica Civic on Friday, May 6, 2011.

From skyscraper farms to community food swaps, participants are asked to imagine a future where urban food production can supply our increasing needs. Participants are given thousands of small, colorful, vibrant, and tactile objects, which are intended to trigger their connections to the built environment. Green yarn becomes grass, blue poker chips become the ocean, and hair rollers become apartments or office buildings. By seeking out and touching these objects participants begin to merge this micro experience with objects with their macro experience of how they move through and experience urban space. The city is a visual language and a tactile experience.

The AltBuild Expo & Conference is the largest green design and building expo in Southern California. It feature over 150 exhibitors in green building and design materials; energy efficiency techniques and technologies; alternative energy; water conservation and management; environmental plumbing; municipal and state agencies, and non-profit organizations. 40 speakers in sustainable and alternative building practices. The event offers the best practices and practical knowledge of green building.