verticiel joins the EcoHome campaign

Joining Urban Farms Organic and Earthwall, verticielhas joined the Eco Home Campaign. Designed as a one stop shop for the major technologies one needs to make a maximum eco-friendly building, we hope to get your ideas for technologies we have missed and if your business or organization would like to join, please let us know!

-One question for everyone "Can you make big bucks with permaculture?" You be the judge...

More green roof and green wall incentives on the way?

-Some state senators in North Carolina are trying their hardest to make a big splash. And it would indeed be a big splash if the lawmakers agreed to offer a 75% tax credit for the installation of green roofs.

-With the Skyrise Greenery Incentive Scheme Singapore now offers cash incentives of up to half the cost of installation of green roofs AND green external walls for existing buildings.

-Clients of a homeless shelter Squamish, British Columbia, will be putting together four raised garden boxes and cold-frame hoophouses in a vacant parking lot so they can enjoy some veggies throughout the year.

First project of the year, not a green roof, green wall but...

This space could look radically different very soon.



Ahh..cliffhangers. How can you not love them? As many of you know if there's an opportunity to green verticiel is up for it in any capacity, be it green roofs, green walls or permaculture inspired gardens. It looks like the first project which we're involved in this year will be with Seneca College in Toronto as students turn underutilized space on the campus into a school garden where folks can get grubby and grow some grub.

If you're a Seneca student at the Newnham Campus (or any Seneca student for that matter) and are interested in learning more, give us a call pronto! Stay tuned for further details about the project!

Real green wall information!

As many folks know, I'm a cooperative guy and like to share. And anyone affiliated with verticiel Inc. relishes helping as well. So it's great to see McRae Anderson release this ebook, free, with more info than I can remember coming from one person in a while.

-Continuing on the sharing topic, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension has a comprehensive guide to Urban Agriculture for Nebraska and beyond. Speaking of resources, there are always new ways to build community and save a few bucks too.
-I don't know when it will be done, but be sure to read
the Design Trust for Public Space's plan for the future of urban farms in New York City.

Okay, now a quick global roundup:

-In the Phils the Bureau of Agricultural Research plans to introduce the concept of "edible landscaping" to the mainstream population.
-In Taxco, Mexico, not far from Mexico City, residents are being encouraged to implement Cuban farming techniques to grow certain crops.
-And I've just recently read, African Indigenous Vegetables in Urban Agriculture. A touch expensive, but worth buying if you have some extra cash. Or...you can share with a few friends!

Lastly, here's a job alert for those in DC who want to write about food!

Week of the report

This week saw a number of urban agriculture and green energy reports. If you missed some of them, read on...

-"We won't solve hunger and stop climate change with industrial farming on large plantations" is one of the many powerful statements made in a new UN report which instead pushes for " small-scale farmers’ knowledge and experimentation". So if you're into those things, you have a friend at the UN. Jill Richardson also weighs in with her views. The report outlines several initiatives various levels of government can tackle. Oklahoma City's officials would do well to digest the findings. It's always sad when trees must fall, but when it's on a permaculture homestead and the planting of said trees had been given clearance, what can you say?

-Overshadowed by the UN report on Tuesday was another report by the American Planning Association entitled Urban Agriculture: Growing Healthy, Sustainable Places . Check it out for more information on" issues relating to agricultural practices within cities" .

-Oops, someone released a report to the Montreal Gazette that several thousand jobs will be lost in Canada as a result of Stephen Harper's government putting the kibosh on federal clean energy programs. Oh yeah, those programs have also cut tons of pollution as well. All the parties have to be chomping at the bit on this one. To follow that up, Environmental Defence Canada says by being slow to get on the green jobs train, Canada has lost out on 60,000 jobs. Forget that "chomping on the bit" line, it'll be an all out feeding frenzy.

What's a p-patch?

-A community minded org in Seattle, Urban Farm Hub, has created a blog plotting all of the urban agriculture sites in Seattle. One question...does anyone know what a p-patch is?

-An eco-lodge in Ethiopia is looking for a cook for it's permaculture kitchen.

-The Telus building in Vancouver will be LEED Platinum, which I think is a first for a building in Canada, and also provide vegetables to local restaurants. I hope Telus works with local entrepreneurs to farm the site!

A few things

-If you're in the Italian Alps and want to learn permaculture why not check out
this year's Chiaverano full design course, from May 17 - 29, 2011. The course will be in English.

-Hear ye, hear ye, the Future Generations Graduate School seeks applications for its Master's Degree program in Applied Community Change and Conservation. Applications are due June 1, 2011 and class begins September 2011.
This M.A. program is geared toward mid-career community development practitioners, with a special focus on conservation and natural resources/sustainable development.
It allows working professionals to remain their home countries and continue to serve their communities without having to relocate. For more information, visit our website WWW.FUTURE.EDU

-Last but not least, Sedgwick, Maine joins exclusive company as it ushers in a local food ordinance. It's the first in Maine, maybe the fourth or fifth on the continent.
For more information and to share your praise, contact Bob St.Peter at bobstpeter at gmail dot com or Mia Strong at meezermia at gmail dot com.

-Did everyone already know that California's Million Solar Roofs initiative ran out of money 5 years early due to demand???

-If you're in Cincinnati there are still CSA shares available at Enright Ridge Urban Farm Project in Price Hill. And their price is definitely right!

Green roofs in depth in Oregon

A few more quiet days before lots of projects take off for us and others. So, here are a few stories before things get wacky.

-Wedded dynamic duo Nicole Sangsuree and Katie Boeh bring spin farming and more to Oregon, although with the recent brouhaha over trademarked names, surely someone will be clambering that the term
Farming for Victory was actually theirs first. We all know Oregon is miles beyond most of North America, Sustainable Business Oregon reports the city has a total of 273 ecoroofs over 13 acres!

-Here's another entrant into the vertical farming field, looks like these folks based in San Diego focus on greenhouse growing. Cityponics in Chicago I think is one step beyond with their system, but maybe doesn't have the community contacts yet. But that's just a guess.

- In Bayramic, Turkey, from June 4-11, there's a natural building workshop which will cover adobe, strawbale, earthen plasters and local plastering methods.

For questions contact Filiz Telek at filizatbaraka@gmail.com or peruse the website.

-And one quick permaculture job posting in Pakistan