-A couple of students in India get a free ride to Saint Mary's University for designing a green roof. New info quantifies some additional benefits of green roofs, before coming to Canada I hope the kids get some good performance results of their own.
-While Toronto cancelled its downspout program, Portland's is still going strong. They even PAY people to disconnect the downspouts, why didn't Toronto think of that instead of getting city workers to do it??? I fear Toronto may loose its green roofs bylaw as well, as the current Mayor was one of two to vote against it when he was on city council. Quick, get this report
in his hands, stat!
-On the bright side, in the Philippines it looks like one ambitious senator hopes to have government sponsored vertical farming research and wide spread urban agriculture adoption. And on the North American continent, it looks like another Maine town (number 3!!!) is ready for their own food sovereignty law!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Of permaculture fans and farmers
If you are a permaculture fan join the Permaculture Research Institute's worldwide database and maybe meet a collaborator or two. If you are a permaculture farmer, consider helping a Ph. D. student with her thesis by filling out this brief survey. If you can help explain why permaculture has not diffused into the mainstream farmer populations in the US and Australia, clue her (and everyone) in!
-Speaking of surveys, the deadline to fill out the green infrastructure has been extended to May 15.
-Sponsored by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, an urban farm in St. Louis is extending opportunities to refugees to spend three years learning the tricks to successful farming.
-Aruba "aka One happy Island" just wrapped up its first permaculture week. By the way, is the man signing the papers a cool customer or what?
-Speaking of surveys, the deadline to fill out the green infrastructure has been extended to May 15.
-Sponsored by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, an urban farm in St. Louis is extending opportunities to refugees to spend three years learning the tricks to successful farming.
-Aruba "aka One happy Island" just wrapped up its first permaculture week. By the way, is the man signing the papers a cool customer or what?
Saturday, April 16, 2011
New contender for biggest green wall + 365 Days of Green in...
...Jersey City?. Believe it. Energy audits for 25 municipal buildings and creating two hydroponic greenhouses which will provide job-training and educational opportunities and more.
-There's a new contender for biggest green wall, some say the biggest in Asia, some reports say the biggest in the world. I've looked far and wide for pictures, none have surfaced yet. When I track some down, I'll be sure to post them!
In the midwest, urban farmers in in Michigan have won the USDA's small farmers of the year and Minneapolis has expanded its urban farming regulations.
-There's a new contender for biggest green wall, some say the biggest in Asia, some reports say the biggest in the world. I've looked far and wide for pictures, none have surfaced yet. When I track some down, I'll be sure to post them!
In the midwest, urban farmers in in Michigan have won the USDA's small farmers of the year and Minneapolis has expanded its urban farming regulations.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Take the Green Infrastructure Survey (yes, that means you green roof enthusiast!) - Deadline April 15!!!
I had to make that explicit because I know sometimes people are tired and don't pick up on information which is germaine to them...unless they see key words. The "Barriers to Green Infrastructure
Implementation Survey" is coordinated by Clean Water Alliance and gives us all a chance to share our green infrastructure barrier experiences to alert the EPA and other officials to what's really going on! The deadline for survey participation is April 15, 2011. That's tomorrow, folks!!!!
Who should take the survey? Those involved in
• Green roofs
• Trees and urban forestry
• Rain harvesting
• Downspout connection
• Rain gardens
• Green streets and permeable pavement
• Vegetated swales
• Water conservation retrofits
• Decentralized systems
• This planet!
-Here's a nice story about some folks on the Queen/Long Island border who have mostly financed an urban farm all by their lonesome.
-Will Allen, on the other hand, is getting some help from some friends.$425,000 to hire 150 workers and make 150 hoop houses I only have one question...when is the book out? Because Will Allen's gets all kinds of awards and, indirectly, serve Obama dinner..If you're in Baltimore, you have an opportunity to do Will Allen one better with your own enterprise. Make it big and Obama can eat your food on a DAILY basis!
Implementation Survey" is coordinated by Clean Water Alliance and gives us all a chance to share our green infrastructure barrier experiences to alert the EPA and other officials to what's really going on! The deadline for survey participation is April 15, 2011. That's tomorrow, folks!!!!
Who should take the survey? Those involved in
• Green roofs
• Trees and urban forestry
• Rain harvesting
• Downspout connection
• Rain gardens
• Green streets and permeable pavement
• Vegetated swales
• Water conservation retrofits
• Decentralized systems
• This planet!
-Here's a nice story about some folks on the Queen/Long Island border who have mostly financed an urban farm all by their lonesome.
-Will Allen, on the other hand, is getting some help from some friends.$425,000 to hire 150 workers and make 150 hoop houses I only have one question...when is the book out? Because Will Allen's gets all kinds of awards and, indirectly, serve Obama dinner..If you're in Baltimore, you have an opportunity to do Will Allen one better with your own enterprise. Make it big and Obama can eat your food on a DAILY basis!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
A community cannery guidebook
Slowly, but surely the numbers of folks reading the blog is increasing. Is it the writing or the weather? Either way, it sounds good to me.
-Toronto's West End Food Co-op released a community cannery guidebook, Canada's first and when I get my hands on it, I'll let you know if it's the best as well.
-Also out last week was a report which illuminates the canyon between rules and reality for farm workers in the USA. That children as young as 12 are legally allowed to farm, although it's one of the most dangerous occupations!
A quick continental farming roundup...if you're in Buffalo 2 hours a week gets you free vegetables at Coldspringfarm. In Vancouver you'll need to join a waiting list, unless a garden comes with your condo unit. In Toronto I've been made aware that shares are available at a newish CSA called Plowshare Farm. Those in Guelph and Orangeville can join in the fun!
-Toronto's West End Food Co-op released a community cannery guidebook, Canada's first and when I get my hands on it, I'll let you know if it's the best as well.
-Also out last week was a report which illuminates the canyon between rules and reality for farm workers in the USA. That children as young as 12 are legally allowed to farm, although it's one of the most dangerous occupations!
A quick continental farming roundup...if you're in Buffalo 2 hours a week gets you free vegetables at Coldspringfarm. In Vancouver you'll need to join a waiting list, unless a garden comes with your condo unit. In Toronto I've been made aware that shares are available at a newish CSA called Plowshare Farm. Those in Guelph and Orangeville can join in the fun!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Landscape architect = the cool teen; Architect = the cool teen's old man...so what does that make Living architecture?
Perhaps the cool teen's exchangestudent friend, that decides to stick around for a while? With healthy growth of nearly 28.5% in 2010, the comparison could be apt.
-How many websites does it take to bridge a gap between computer technology and urban agriculture? One!
-With April here there are a ton of opportunities in the living architecture field. From July 10-22 you can take a trip to Venezuela and spend 11 days (lodging, transportation and most meals included) visiting farms, social programs and government officials to learn about urbanization issues, food sovereignty and more and a month earlier check out the Pine Ridge Permaculture Design Course in South Dakota.
-Earlier in the week a Republican lawmaker from Minnesota called green roofs and other earth friendly measures frivolous, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak jumped all over that one like he was the second coming of Jesse "The Body" Ventura.
-How many websites does it take to bridge a gap between computer technology and urban agriculture? One!
-With April here there are a ton of opportunities in the living architecture field. From July 10-22 you can take a trip to Venezuela and spend 11 days (lodging, transportation and most meals included) visiting farms, social programs and government officials to learn about urbanization issues, food sovereignty and more and a month earlier check out the Pine Ridge Permaculture Design Course in South Dakota.
-Earlier in the week a Republican lawmaker from Minnesota called green roofs and other earth friendly measures frivolous, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak jumped all over that one like he was the second coming of Jesse "The Body" Ventura.
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