Borrow tools at your library

How much easier would it be to do those small home repairs, if you could just borrow tools from the local library, instead of bothering your neighbor for the 93rd time? Hey, you could even do a little street repair! (I kid.) From Utne reader comes the following:

"If you need a tool in Santa Rosa, you get in touch with Dustin Zuckerman. He's a junior college librarian by day. The rest of the time he's running the Santa Rosa Tool Library from his apartment. Make editor Dale Dougherty writes about Zuckerman's project:

Zuckerman set up his lending library by purchasing circulation software used by small libraries ... "It's good to think like a librarian in setting up a tool-sharing service," he says ... Users register online with their driver's license or ID to borrow a tool. There are no fees for borrowing, but you have to sign a borrowing agreement ... More women than men use his lending library, including a handful who have little experience with power tools. He spends time giving each person a tutorial in how to operate the tools, and provides goggles and earplugs, plus a hard hat, if needed. "I'm not an expert on tools," he says. "I just try to learn the basics so I can pass it on."

A list of tool lending services in three countries and 15 American states lists the Berkeley Tool Lending Library, which opened its dopors in 1979, as the pioneer.

Toronto passes North America's first green roof bylaw

On May 26, 2009, Toronto's city council passed a green roof by-law, the first in North America, mandating green roofs on all new construction, starting in January 2010. There have been at least a dozen articles written about from sources around the world, check out the press release. Torontonians will definitely breathe a little easier!

http://newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2009/27/c8082.html

Toronto's Dufferin Train station will get a green roof

Toronto's Dufferin transit station, which will receive a $275 million upgrade, will get a complete makeover, including a green roof.

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2009/05/11/a-better-brighter-dufferin-station-without-that-sickly-green-hue.aspx

Applications Sought for Agricultural Travel Scholarship

Applications Sought for Agricultural Travel Scholarship

(Innisfail, AB - May 7, 2009) The Canadian Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust is accepting applications for their 2010 program. Applications are due by June 1, 2009 and forms can be downloaded from the Nuffield Canada website at

http://www.nuffield.ca/ApplicationForm.htm


Nuffield Farming Scholarships are awarded to enthusiastic individuals, between the ages of 25 and 45, who wish to explore topics of their choice in agriculture, land management, horticulture or the food chain. The Scholarship provides individuals with the unique opportunity to:

· develop a global perspective on food and agriculture
· achieve personal development through study and travel
· stand back from their day-to-day occupation and study a topic of real interest to them
· access the world's best in food and farming
· deliver benefits to Canadian farmers and growers, and to the industry as a whole

A key part of the scholarship is the opportunity for winners to study a topic of interest to themselves through out their travels. Scholars must complete their project within two years of the award and are required to travel and study for a minimum of two months in total. On return from their study tour, Scholars are expected to produce a written report and present their findings at the annual general meeting as well as to others in their industries.
Canadian Nuffield Scholars are also required to participate in the Contemporary Scholars Conference (CSC) where all of the Scholars from across the world convene for one week. The 2010 conference will be held in March in Washington DC.
For more information on Nuffield Canada, visit www.nuffield.ca or on Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust (the United Kingdom site) -

www.nuffieldscholar.org.

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For more information:
Rod Bradshaw
Secretary, Nuffield Canada
secretary@nuffield.ca
(403) 224 2633

Three Cheers for Toronto

Last week Toronto City council debated a by-law for all new large buildings starting in 2010. Will it happen...I think so. The Toronto Star summarizes it nicely...

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/630393

What the Future Will Bring

-The Wall Street Journal recently asked several prominent architects what the green house of the future will look like, naturally, it will have living walls. Check out the "Incredible Edible House".

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124050414436548553.html


-The Minneapolis Target Center will get a $5.3 Million dollar Green Roof, we all know 'Wolves love green.

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/Target_Center_Green_Roof_April_28_2009

Primer on Green Jobs

Let's get to it, we've been away preparing for the busy planting season but lots of great things are happening...

First up, check out Van Jones, the new special advisor to President Obama on the benefits of green jobs.

http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/green-jobs-47042202