Canadian permaculture courses this summer + Reclaimed Living Wall

Very cool structure going up this summer on Governor's Island, in New York utilizing reclaimed milk crates.

-There are a few permaculture courses happening this growing season in Canada, one in Winlaw, BC May 30 - June 12, 2010 and August 15 -28, 2010. Cost is about $1000. The other in Orangeville, ON from July 17 -24 (The Fundamentals of Permaculture Course) and the Permaculture Practicum will also be offered in Orangeville, Ontario (July 25 - August 1st, 2010).
For more information contact:

Gregoire Lamoureux
Kootenay Permaculture, Winlaw, BC
spiralfarm@yahoo.com
http://www3.telus.net/permaculture

-Urban foraging meets social media, as this facebook page is slowly growing!

-Nice SPIN idea sprouting in Binghampton, New York. A group is leasing unused parcels to CSAish endeavor!

Green roofs, 1/2 off...in Singapore!

Well, I guess I acquiece. If there are less blog posts, that means there are more projects going up or in the works. And that's a good thing, right? Even though the frequency will be reduced to probably once a week, I'll make sure it's good...

When was the last time you could get a 384 page book...free? Well, Plan B 4.0 authored by Lester Brown of the Washington, DC-based nonprofit Earth Policy Institute (www.earth-policy.org), outlines a plan to address current worldwide challenges facing our civilization through a serious mobilization that will work to stabilize climate and population, address poverty, and restore the natural systems that our economy depends upon.
What a treat. Great thanks goes to NextStep Newsletter editor, Paul Moss, for making us all aware of this.

-More from the permaculture world. Great article from Science Alert about the risks and solutions for global food security. 9 billion in 2050. Over 11 billion in 2060. We had better get on it.

-If you're already hip to permaculture and ready to help others, the 2nd edition of the Permaculture Teaching Manual is now available.

-Sweet fancy moses, Singapore is offering incentives for green roofs. Does 50% of the cost whet your appetite?

-I will most DEFINITELY try making this dandelion preserve.

-Vancouver wanted to make 2010 urban gardens by 2010. looks like they broke their goal.

Hmmm...could Detroit learn from East German examples on how to make shrinking cities mini-meccas?

Mushrooms galore!

Since the last post spring has sprung and things are getting busy. Looking back at the blog last year, this is around the time when the blog production started to decrease. Hopefully not this year. It's weird how the news cycle goes, I don't know if you can even call it a cycle. 10 days ago, there wasn't that much (seemingly) happening in the living architecture world and then an explosion of activity.

-We'll start off with some news from Africa,first in Ghana Greg Knibbs from Australia drops in to run the first Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course in the country. Great article. Then a little bit from Tanzania and some great permaculture ideas for the urban environment.



-Speaking of mushrooms, there's a weekend mushroom workshop in late May at the Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute. The 5th annual!!!

-Here's a novel idea in LA. How about instead of just serving customers, have restaurant goers become part of the process?
Why not have them source ingredients? Which is what happens at Forage.
If the restaurant wants something specific they turn to urban foragers, not distributors, to get what they want. Communal, local, provocative...and radical.
Oh and there's only one month left in San Francisco to see an exhibit by Exit Art called "Vertical Gardens". I think some Patrick Blanc work should be profiled as well.

Looks like Austin, Texas is trying to make some headway with a green roof advisory panel, hoping, by August 2010, to recommend policies and priorities about where green roofs will make the most impact, what kind of incentive programs to implement, and how city codes should encourage practices consistent with the goals of conservation, and discourage those that are not. And a lot more.

Algae growers unite!

A great project started in Ireland, I believe, to map every permaculture project around the world. If you know of any projects, known or under the radar, please drop this guy a line. While we're at it, a couple of new permaculture websites in Porteguese and Spanish.

-The next frontier for home-growers? Can you get more local than your backyard? How about algae in the kitchen? Aaron Baum seems like a fantastic person, willing to help with installations for free!

-There's an urban agriculture farming bill that was unanimously passed in the Missouri House of Representatives to study urban agriculture and vertical farming in Missouri's metropolitan areas. Score a big one for State Rep. Jason Holsman, D-Kansas City.

-Reason number 1034 why urban planning is a great career choice for the future. This blogger's stance makes sense, want to affect food systems on a large scale? Be a planner.

-Accomplishments of pre-industrial Edo Japan include having a tree canopy covering 80% of Tokyo and free shellfish for it's residents. Check out the great synopsis first, then read all of Azby Brown's new book, Just Enough: Lessons in Living Green from Traditional Japan. It's on hold at the library already!

More internship news + the Office of Urban Agriculture

Two separate calls for interns in Chile!!!

The first one can be found at Volunteer Abroad.

The second one, right here:

Two Permaculture Interns Wanted in Chile! Please forward widely. The Apple Tree Eco School in Chile is looking for two experienced entrepreneurial permaculture interns starting May 2010. We need (1) an experienced administrator proficient in English and Spanish to help manage a busy permie office, planning and promotions and (2) an experienced gardener to assist in production, processing and distribution of organic food. This is an unprecedented opportunity to work in Permaculture centre connected to Gaia University, Transition Towns and the Permaculture Research Institute. Get hands on experience in the management of Permaculture projects, relief work, design consultancy, teacher training,
transition training and much, much more. All food and board provided.
Successful applicants will also have opportunities to self-generate income. Start your Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design, on the edge, working where it counts. Contact Grifen Hope or Javiera Carri?n with a detailed CV and a letter of application through our website: www.ecoescuela.cl or via the information below...

Planificador Urbano / Phone: +56-09-92292398 / Skype: wholehabitat / Ecoescuela El Manzano
Planning & Design for Resilience / Web: www.ecoescuela.cl

-Also, a bill by Marcy Kaptur from Ohio was introduced to create an within theOffice of Urban Agriculture within the Department of Agriculture.

SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPES SUMMER INTERNSHIP - Chicago

SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPES SUMMER INTERNSHIP

The Sustainable Landscapes internship will allow the selected intern to gain knowledge of, and valuable work experience in the Chicago Department of Environment (CDOE) by assisting the City of Chicago’s Landscape Coordinator in the Natural Resources & Water Quality Division.

Note: This is a temporary position from approximately May 2010 through September 2010.

Minimum Qualifications: Must be a student in good academic standing currently enrolled in an accredited college or university or law school OR a student in good academic standing currently enrolled in a accredited business or data processing/information technology school. Must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 grading scale or a 3.5 on a 5.0 grading scale.

Note: Must maintain the minimum cumulative GPA throughout the duration of employment.

Duties: Duties include but are not limited to: assisting with meeting preparation and follow-up; researching secondary sources to support the development of memos & white papers; assisting with and/or preparing Power Point presentations; benchmarking sustainable landscape programs; identifying speakers and developing agendas for quarterly staff & other meetings; assisting with field inventories for urban forest expansion efforts; responding to Mayoral requests; and assisting other CDOE staff and working on other CDOE projects as needed.

Note: Experience using computer software such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Must possess excellent communication skills and be organized, reliable, punctual, and have a positive attitude. Students in all disciplines are encouraged to apply; however, preference will be given to students majoring in Landscape Architecture, Ecology/Biology, Urban Planning and Environmental Studies. Although work hours are somewhat flexible to meet the needs of the CDOE and the intern, it is desired that the intern is available to work full-time (35 hours/week) during regular weekday business hours.

Salary: $10/hour for college freshman/sophomores.; $12/hour for college juniors/seniors; and $14/hour for graduate students. Salary is based upon grade level completed at the time of hire.

Application Period: 03/29/10 – 04/23/10

How to Apply...

Provide all of the following materials:

Resume
Cover Letter/Personal Statement
References
Current Student Transcript
Letter of current enrollment verification
Proof of residency

Residency Requirement: All paid student Intern applicants must be an actual resident of the City of Chicago. Proof of residency will be required at the time of employment via one of the following: a valid driver’s license, state identification card, voter’s registration card, or a utility bill (gas, electric) displaying a City of Chicago residence.

Please submit all application materials via email to:
Joann Mcneil, Supervisor of Personnel Services
Joann.Mcneil@cityofchicago.org

NOTE: Applications must be submitted by the individual applicant. No second party applications will be accepted. Incomplete packets will not be considered

NOTE: Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.

NOTE: If you are a person with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application process, please contact the City of Chicago, Department of Human Resources at 312-744-4976 (voice) or 312-744-5035 (TTY). You may be required to provide information to support your reasonable accommodation request.

NOTE: ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ANY AND ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer.