Chicago - first green roofs, now food security, urban agriculture and vertical farming

-Rahm Emanuel was barred from running from mayor in Chicago, managed to get that overturned, then cruised to a victory. Under Mayor Daley, Chicago embraced green roofs; it looks like Emanuel will now go one further by focusing on food security and urban agriculture. Meanwhile, across town Chicago State University’s Aquaponics Facility is experimenting with all sorts of fish and herbs. Billed as the first one in Chicago, I don't think there is another one in the USA. The 2nd city is definitely staking it's claim to being the greenest city in North America.

-How cool would it be to send your 4 year old to an urban agriculture spring break camp?

-Detroit seems to be getting a good deal, but is dragging their heels. I wish I knew more about the city council workings preventing John Hantz from getting something up and growing...it seems like I read the same article 3 months ago.

-If you're a backyard farmer in Vancouver you can now sell your wares at the farmer's market! Tip of the cap, Urban Abundance.

-Mother Nature Network was kind enough to collect their 20 best 'How to' share guides
and share them with us. Epic!!! If you don't read another post this year, this is the one.

Incentives for urban agriculture on the horizon in Utah?

-As many know, kickstarter has proven to be a good way of funding and following creative projects . If you have a little cash, why not invest in Marathon Farm. And all you really need is indeed a few bucks to make a big difference and help this urban farm in North Philadelphia.

-I hope that you are keeping tabs on Growing Power as they get closer to funding their urban agriculture project to create 150 jobs for low-income city residents in Milwaukee. As leaders in urban agriculture and community empowerment, their financing journey may end up being a template for other organizations with similar goals.

-The Utah legislature is may offer tax incentives for those in Salt Lake County on farms as small as 2 acres. Is a 2 acres plot of land "urban" in Salt Lake City? Hey, you learn something every day!

-From March 3-5 in Ottawa scholars will offer their views and talk about local food systems issues in Europe and the Americas. If you're in the area, feel free to drop in.

Toronto Urban Food and Agriculture Learning Centre opened to the public

Earlier this week the Applied Research Center released "The Color of Food" survey, a look at the food system to "map out the race, gender and class of workers along the supply chain."

-Botswana hopes to reel in Western companies to become a high tech hub and Suzanne Labarre gives us the whole scoop on what is planned. It looks like a big gamble, but, as the first of it's kind in Botswana and Africa, I think the government has a good chance of attracting high profile, long term tenants.

Here's a little more on the green roof collapse at the Aquascape Inc. building in Illinois.

And lastly, on February 1 the Toronto Urban Food and Agriculture Learning Centre opened to the public. Lots of materials to browse through for urban agriculture wonks. The trial period is 3 months long, let's hope it's much much longer.

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Background and overview

FoodShare Toronto and MetroAg – Alliance for Urban Agriculture are opening to the public the Toronto Urban Food and Agriculture Learning Centre (TUFALC). The aim is to provide information to all researchers, practitioners, advocates and others interested in urban food and agriculture matters in greater Toronto, as well as across North America and worldwide. The intent includes the future development of a digital library that builds on the existing collections of publications, books, articles, periodicals, unpublished papers (including conference, seminar and workshop reports), computer files, photos, and recordings.

The TUFALC consists of two separate but related collections housed in the same room within the building occupied by FoodShare at 90 Croatia Street (entrance on Brock Avenue, just south of Bloor Street West, close to the Dufferin Subway Station). Half of the collection comes from FoodShare, and contains primarily published materials pertaining to local and general interest in the areas of growing and managing personal and community gardens and other food-security issues. The other portion is the Jac Smit Library of Urban Agriculture, which was gathered by The Urban Agriculture Network, a US-based non-profit organization. This collection, which was moved to Toronto in 2009, consists of over 4000 individual records, both published and unpublished, dealing with all aspects of urban agriculture. The time period covered is the 1970s to the 2000s.

The FoodShare collection is organized by a simple subject-based cataloguing system with an available legend, while the bulk of the Jac Smit collection is indexed in a database, with some of the more recent materials not yet catalogued. Library attendants are available during public hours to help visitors locate items in both collections.

Current status and Short-term schedule

Starting Tuesday February 1st, the TUFALC is open to the public on a limited trial capacity. The planned public hours are 2 full days and 1 half day per week. Visitors can browse the collection during the following hours:

Tuesdays: 9:30am - 12:30pm and 1pm - 4pm
Wednesdays: 9:30am - 12:30pm
Fridays: 9:30am - 12:30pm and 1pm - 4pm

During this trial period, it is best to confirm any planned visit 1-2 days in advance by emailing toronto.ufalc@gmail.com . Questions and feedback can also be sent to this address.

For the time being, the TUFALC is a reference collection, and does not circulate. Visitors who wish to use materials off-site may speak with the library attendants to discuss options, including limited scanning and copying. We will also be using this trial period to seek feedback from users to guide future circulation policies and other potential adjustments in the learning centre.

This trial period is expected to last three months.

Green roofs - the blooper file

It's never good when something goes wrong in the living architecture field. In an industry still on the rise, any green roofs or green walls problems can affect everyone in the industry.

So I was a bit dismayed to read two potentially damaging articles in one day.

-In Toronto the auditor general reports that several city grants, including one for green roofs, has lacked oversight...big time. One project which received $135,000 went without a report for almost a year. Aye folks!!!

-In Chicago a portion of a green roof just flat out collapsed, luckily there are no reports of injury. Some people are blaming the collapse on ice and/or snow, but people remember headlines no matter how many experts say this was probably not linked to the green roof. Hopefully there will be some details on what actually happened soon to assuage any concerns.

-And one piece of permaculture news. From March 12- March 20, 2011 there's a permaculture design course at the
WOOLMAN/SIERRA FRIENDS CENTER in Nevada City, CA.

New Jersey next on the green roof leg. list? + Wikileaks clears up peak oil picture

More on the LEED AP lawsuit.

-Score one for those who say that oil reserves are overstated, Wikileaks confirms that and leaves me wondering what else is in those wikileaks. Oh yeah, and, what else is in those cables?

-Food czars, responsible for addressing obesity, hunger and food deserts, can now be found in five American cities. Am I the only one uncomfortable with the word "czar"?

The latest Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development will be out soon. "This issue’s papers offer a smorgasbord of views on food production in a wide range of urban environments" including features on cities including Detroit, Flint, Toronto, Vancouver, Havana and Lima!

-Meanwhile in Brazil, we've got kids leading the way in developing green technologies, including green roofs and rainwater harvesting.

-Last but not least, New Jersey's assembly Environment committee approved green and blue roof legislation. It has not yet been introduced in the Senate yet, but tap of the cap goes to NJ.

Battle of the C towns, Community engagement + can Rio Ferdinand keep fit on his green roof?

I'm a friendly fellow and as always I'm looking for more ways to get to know my neighbors. Yes magazine comes through with a great article about the awakening the power of families and neighborhoods.

-The local food movement is expanding throughout the US heartland, Indianapolis keep doing your thing!

-Whole Village , just an hour from Toronto, is looking for more folks to join their eco-village. Previous members have moved on there's a terrific opportunity for those interested to join right away!

-Interesting developments in Colorado, Colorado Springs. 1/3 of the traffic lights have been turned off, evening and weekend bus service was eliminated entirely. Sounds like the anti-Cranston, Rhode Island.

-Soccer is the best sport in the world...I can state that unequivically and there is no way one can argue that. :) Exhibit one, when you have luminaries of your sport, like Rio Ferdinand, building eco-friendly homes (which will include a green roof, naturally) how can your sport be beat? The house will be 12,000 square feet, however. Don't laugh, I didn't say footballers were perfect!

They're ready to grow in Venezuela

-It took 131,552 farmers four days to sign up in Venezuela to learn the ins and outs of urban agriculture. Since then, another 40,000 have signed on. I'm looking forward to reading more about Agro Venezuela!

-Often people ask me about "cool roofing", which I know nothing about, and I don't know where to send them. Now I do!

-Sweet eco-village in Los Angeles.

Tis all.