There's no stopping us now

A couple of reports in the last few days indicate that the recession did not effect the green building movement worldwide, and that the green roof industry grew by over 16% in North America.

If you're in NYC and looking for an urban agriculture gig in September, Farm City has the job for you. Also, there's a permaculture offering in Montana. A little bit further from home, if you're in Ho Chi Minh City there should be opportunities in urban ag for decades to come. This article is chock full of stats, a math professor's dream.

Ahh...Venice.

One down, more to come

Last week we completed the first green roof of 2010. It took a while for a few components to come in, which is why the last picture shows an overcast day, but in the first few it is super sunny. I'll have to post a few more pics from the medium installation, it just looks like medium appears from thin air. Big thanks to Genna, Rui, Florian, Carolyn, Annette and Robert, the owner and a terrific host.

Along with the help of various assistants and machetes...

Something about that line just struck me really funnily. On a more serious note, this "Chase and Chase" team sounds like a true dynamic duo. They've unearthed (with some help) that the Mayans were green builders. I wonder what kinds of plants they used on their green roofs?

When you're in Los Angeles and looking for grub, here are some of the best ways to scrounge up some food.
David Craft's latest ebook can help you distinguish even more foraged finds. Give it a preview and see if you want the whole shabang.

The Obama Administration is getting behind the locavore movement. And it includes gems such as "Where possible, use school gardens to educate students about healthy eating. School gardens offer opportunities for fun and physical activity while also serving as an important educational tool to help students understand how healthful food is produced" Sounds good to me.

Montreal bus shelters are getting green roofs. I saw something like this in Toronto, except, I think it was the handwork of guerrilla gardeners because once the city found out, the greenery came down. Heading further east, Nova Scotia Community College recently completed their first vertical garden.



Lastly, if you're in Portland, Oregon...please drop me a line and let me know how the local food cook offwent today.

GSA shelving 250 foot green wall?

It's been a while, so let the flurry begin...

-Sustainable Cities Collective sheds light on Cleveland’s new policy to attract and create local, sustainable business. New legislation allows the city to offer a 5% discount to local food businesses bidding for city contracts. Since most bids are decided by 5% or less, a discount for being a certified Local Sustainable Business—a process that will be determined by the Cleveland Office of Sustainability—will offer a ‘huge’ advantage.

-George Penfold does believe that Canadians have a food security issue, he thinks Canucks have a convenience issue.

-Will the GSA scrap the 250 foot green wall idea from the Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building? There has been lots of buzz about the project, both good and bad.

-It's wonderful that municipalities are working on urban agriculture issues, KC is trying to straighten out their urban agriculture ordinance. But, uh, what's this? Urban farmers could hire employees???

-Vertical farms are neat, but won't save us in the long run say folks from the Land Institute. Their solution? Converting cropland to the production of diverse, food-producing, perennial crops and a reliance on natural processes and cohesive rural communities, not technological fantasies.

New certificates, Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Local food

Let's kick it off with a nice green wall from Vancouver at the Sheraton.



Will definitely have to check that out later in the year during a break at the Cities Alive.

-Chicago and all of North America, have come so far, but so many opportunities still!

-The University of Guelph announced a new Sustainable Urban Agriculture Certificate which kicks of September 2010. Learn things like how to convert degraded urban green space into functioning ecological areas and more. Or if you like, give St. Lawrence College's part time, online sustainable local food certificate a try!

-Oh yes, and the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development is looking for contributors. It's a NEW online, international, peer-reviewed journal focused on applied research and best practices in the development of thriving farming communities and sustainable food systems. Peer reviewers include development practitioners, organization and agency staff, faculty, graduate students, consultants, and farmers from around the world with expertise in a wide range of agriculture and food-systems issues as they relate to community, ecological sustainability, and economic development. JAFSCD is online at www.AgDevJournal.com.

Authors are invited to submit articles on Best Practices in Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Development and may address topics such as:

Urban livestock management and regulation
Urban market gardening and backyard gardening
Aquaculture and hydroponics
Marketing and value-adding
Waste management and reuse
Urban farming by immigrant or other special populations
Farming on the fringe.