It's been a week, so I'm giving everything I've got...
First the continental roundup:
-In California, developers can now get tax credits for including community gardens in their plans. In New York, I was glad (and surprised) to learn you are now allowed to keep bees and that there are over 100 CSA programs in the five boroughs!
Chicago has the green roof crown, it wants the urban agriculture crown as well. Upping the limit for community gardens to 25,000 square feet? Beyond progressive.
In North Carolina, there's increased interest in farming, as we all know this is a great thing.
And across the pond urban agriculture hits Germany, while in England some grocery stores are considering rooftop gardens as well.
-Who wants money for a food project? You've got 5 days left to apply.
-Two head scratchers. What does this app actually do and how can farmers win big if the purchase of local foods is still in doubt?
-Lastly, mark your calendars, the International Permaculture Conference is September 3-15. And just days ago a new book concerning the history of permaculture in Australia, it's birthplace, hit the shelves and web.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
60 year leases on government land?
I haven't looked at the stats for urban farming in North America vs Europe, but it appears things are heating up on the east side of the Atlantic as well.
-In Canada, National Parks and Conservation areas are warming up to the idea of farming. Stat of the day, in Canada 5 year leases are normal but one U.S. national park in Ohio is offering farmers 60-year leases. THAT we need to hear more about!
A similar program to Guelph, Canada's FarmStart is profiled in Ottawa for its local work.
-I am definitely a lover of Utne magazine, they consitently deliver really interesting and timely articles. Case in point, this one about how the local food movement is inching toward inclusion across the USA.
-In Canada, National Parks and Conservation areas are warming up to the idea of farming. Stat of the day, in Canada 5 year leases are normal but one U.S. national park in Ohio is offering farmers 60-year leases. THAT we need to hear more about!
A similar program to Guelph, Canada's FarmStart is profiled in Ottawa for its local work.
-I am definitely a lover of Utne magazine, they consitently deliver really interesting and timely articles. Case in point, this one about how the local food movement is inching toward inclusion across the USA.
Monday, July 18, 2011
2 steps forward, 1 step back?
We all know that urban agriculture is super hot right now.
-In Boston last week a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a pilot urban agriculture project was released. In Dorchester the city hopes to use three vacant properties to produce fresh, healthy food. The governor of Missouri signed a bill to help modernize agriculture law in that state. The big news for me is how urban agriculture is spun to be an important part of the bill, when it is merely window dressing. But, that shows the power of this new movement. And the other big news is he DID NOT sign the ag bill in the BIG Mexico, but Mexico, Missouri. They had me going for a while!
In Toronto, sadly, the city is looking for ways to save money and this could include eliminating urban agriculture programs.
-The Guardian takes a look at what future sustainable cities might look like. To me (and others I’ve talked with) it’s really interesting how so many examples in the article use China as a harbinger of what is possible or what is to come. When a central authority dictates all of public policy and how money and resources are allocated naturally things get done. However it doesn’t make sense to compare that country to countries like the USA where the business community is in control. Will new cities in the US and Canada be built on a massive scale featuring harmonization with nature or a lower reliance on fossil fuels in the near future? Only if developers see a way to make money doing it.
Lastly, if you’d like your say on why you buy local food, Marketplace
is giving you a megaphone!
-In Boston last week a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a pilot urban agriculture project was released. In Dorchester the city hopes to use three vacant properties to produce fresh, healthy food. The governor of Missouri signed a bill to help modernize agriculture law in that state. The big news for me is how urban agriculture is spun to be an important part of the bill, when it is merely window dressing. But, that shows the power of this new movement. And the other big news is he DID NOT sign the ag bill in the BIG Mexico, but Mexico, Missouri. They had me going for a while!
In Toronto, sadly, the city is looking for ways to save money and this could include eliminating urban agriculture programs.
-The Guardian takes a look at what future sustainable cities might look like. To me (and others I’ve talked with) it’s really interesting how so many examples in the article use China as a harbinger of what is possible or what is to come. When a central authority dictates all of public policy and how money and resources are allocated naturally things get done. However it doesn’t make sense to compare that country to countries like the USA where the business community is in control. Will new cities in the US and Canada be built on a massive scale featuring harmonization with nature or a lower reliance on fossil fuels in the near future? Only if developers see a way to make money doing it.
Lastly, if you’d like your say on why you buy local food, Marketplace
is giving you a megaphone!
Friday, July 15, 2011
One dollar invested in a community garden yields...
...$6 worth of vegetables according to Food Security.org Plus gardening is good exercise!
-Mayor Bloomberg has taken a little heat, one critique says PlaNYC is a little light on finding ways to insure equitable future growth. Perhaps the city can tap into some HUD/EPA "superfriends" money to
make transportation more efficient and reliable, and support vibrant and healthy neighborhoods for American families.
-Time has a little piece on urban foraging, mulberries are definitely in season. My socks even got stained this week!
-Everyone loves top 10 lists, how about the top 10 most forward thinking US Cities on climate change. Another index looks at the top US and Canadian green cities and ranks them on individual policies, energy, land use and much more.
-Mayor Bloomberg has taken a little heat, one critique says PlaNYC is a little light on finding ways to insure equitable future growth. Perhaps the city can tap into some HUD/EPA "superfriends" money to
make transportation more efficient and reliable, and support vibrant and healthy neighborhoods for American families.
-Time has a little piece on urban foraging, mulberries are definitely in season. My socks even got stained this week!
-Everyone loves top 10 lists, how about the top 10 most forward thinking US Cities on climate change. Another index looks at the top US and Canadian green cities and ranks them on individual policies, energy, land use and much more.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Urban agriculture around the world
It has been a while since my last post, lots is going on!
Some states are in the news for their urban agriculture ventures. Quebec has drafted a public policy an agri-food which includes a local food policy.
Belize is providing seeds and technical assistance for its residents.
-South Sudan is a brand new country and it needs to get its agriculture sector up and running. $50 million from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) should be a good start.
In Cairo, urban agriculture is growing as well.
-Entrepreneurs in Switzerland havea new urban agriculture closed loop aquaponics system. Will it be commercialized soon? We'll see.
-Last is a North American story, with roots in
Burma and Nepal.
Some states are in the news for their urban agriculture ventures. Quebec has drafted a public policy an agri-food which includes a local food policy.
Belize is providing seeds and technical assistance for its residents.
-South Sudan is a brand new country and it needs to get its agriculture sector up and running. $50 million from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) should be a good start.
In Cairo, urban agriculture is growing as well.
-Entrepreneurs in Switzerland havea new urban agriculture closed loop aquaponics system. Will it be commercialized soon? We'll see.
-Last is a North American story, with roots in
Burma and Nepal.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Green roof webinar tomorrow!!!
In Toronto, a Horticultural Technician Pre-Apprenticeship training program is still accepting applications
From the flyer “this unique FREE 10 month intensive academic and practical training program is offered to candidates meeting the minimum entrance requirements for apprenticeship training (Ontario Grade 12 or equivalent).
Typical jobs/employment in this industry include landscape construction, grounds and golf course maintenance, parks operations, nursery, greenhouse and garden center operations. For even more information, check out Microskills.
Just another friendly reminder that my webinar on a cold climate, shade tolerant green roof is tomorrow.
Be there!
From the flyer “this unique FREE 10 month intensive academic and practical training program is offered to candidates meeting the minimum entrance requirements for apprenticeship training (Ontario Grade 12 or equivalent).
Typical jobs/employment in this industry include landscape construction, grounds and golf course maintenance, parks operations, nursery, greenhouse and garden center operations. For even more information, check out Microskills.
Just another friendly reminder that my webinar on a cold climate, shade tolerant green roof is tomorrow.
Be there!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Growth is a ponzi scheme?
Wow, I've got a ton to comment on starting with an article from the New Urban Network. I've never heard
growth referred to as a ponzi scheme, but the more numbers he crunches...the more ponzi like it seems. If our government officials are aware of this and haven't sought to remedy the problem (more taxes or doing things VERY differently), I don't know what to say. If they are not aware of the facts, that is probably just as bad.
-On the positive side, there are a couple of great stories about urban agriculture in
Hong Kong and, closer to home Philadelphia, where refugees are planting crops from back home.
-A little further south, if you're in DC "Wildman" Steve Brillis in town to drop some foraging knowledge.
-More urban agriculture news. There are rooftop garden classes in
New York City and Toronto this week. Speaking of Toronto, it looks like a buy local food bill is in trouble as council is under pressure to cut costs and go with the cheapest produce.
-On the climate change front, the Guardian has a great article about how El Paso, Texas, is beating the worst drought in a generation. Hopefully others in Texas and abroad are paying attention to their conservation efforts and start listening to Paul Epstein as well. Who's Paul Epstein? Glad you asked.
growth referred to as a ponzi scheme, but the more numbers he crunches...the more ponzi like it seems. If our government officials are aware of this and haven't sought to remedy the problem (more taxes or doing things VERY differently), I don't know what to say. If they are not aware of the facts, that is probably just as bad.
-On the positive side, there are a couple of great stories about urban agriculture in
Hong Kong and, closer to home Philadelphia, where refugees are planting crops from back home.
-A little further south, if you're in DC "Wildman" Steve Brillis in town to drop some foraging knowledge.
-More urban agriculture news. There are rooftop garden classes in
New York City and Toronto this week. Speaking of Toronto, it looks like a buy local food bill is in trouble as council is under pressure to cut costs and go with the cheapest produce.
-On the climate change front, the Guardian has a great article about how El Paso, Texas, is beating the worst drought in a generation. Hopefully others in Texas and abroad are paying attention to their conservation efforts and start listening to Paul Epstein as well. Who's Paul Epstein? Glad you asked.
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