New green roof research and support of green infrastructure

In the green roof world the last two weeks have been heavy on research and extolling the benefits of green infrastructure.

First the research. One of the first studies on the effect of green roofs on residential neighborhoods in subtropical or tropical environments. And the second one details that what was believed to be anecdotal, that building owners prefer buildings with vegetation, is now scientific fact.

And now the green infrastructure articles...well, not much more to say than it is confirmed, green infrastructure is absolutely necessary for smart communities of the future.

February songs of the month

It's a few days early, but I figure, sometimes I am a few days late...so this affords us the opportunity to get us in the mood for the shortest month!

February Moment - Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea
Two Days in February - Goo Goo Dolls
Getaway (February) - Jennifer Trynin
February Sea - George Winston

Introduction to Permaculture with Geoff Lawton

A great video (easy to digest bites) for those new to permaculture! And with Italian subtitles to boot!

Job posting - Permaculture Manager in the Bahamas

A full-time position as a permaculture manager in the Bahamas? Four weeks vacation?? Room, board and medical insurance??? Don't delay, you have until February 1 to submit your best resume and cover letter ever!

Today is International Yam Day!

 For your feasting pleasure, a blog devoted to today's celebrity.

A Free Online Permaculture Course....eventually

And if you support this indiegogo campaign, you'll get your free course sooner rather than later. I know, you're thinking "If I make a donation, it won't be free". You are right. But if you make a $100 donation and get 100 of your friends to do the same thing, you will have paid 1/20th the price of a standard permaculture course!!! And everyone after you gets it for free!

-In the meantime (or in addition to) you can get Bob Waldrop's ipermie book for just $2. Bob is a permaculture master and you get your money's worth (almost 400,000 words!)

-65 acres of urban agriculture has been uncovered by researchers in Chicago. Mostly food grown in backyards and vacant lots. Who's up for doing this for all of North America???

-Deconstruction can be a dirty business. A few companies in Japan have learned how to do it, floor by floor, from the middle down. You could be seeing similar businesses in North America appear in 5-10 years, especially in a city like Toronto, which is currently perched as the king of the condo market.

World's largest living wall - now & September 2012 + Edible infrastructure meets middle school

With the title of "World's Largest Living Wall" constantly changing hands, I decided it's time to put a date on the blog post. Pretty soon, I'll need not just month and year, but the day as well!

I was excited to read about the current champ on a reputable website...when I noticed that the designers name and the pictures looked kind of familiar.




Wouldn't you know it, this title holder is actually the title holder from September 2012.
The beauty of the web stories that are constantly circulating!!!

-This is a definite first! An apartment ad which boasts its green roof as a main selling feature.

-Forgot to add this to the most recent permaculture post, there's an online course which runs from January 21 through the spring run by the fine folks at Cornell University.

-The Badger Rock Middle School currently has 100 sixth, seventh and eigth graders but will expand to 150 students next year. Students learn in a state-of-the-art building on Madison’s south side utilizing, in part, a pared down Growing Power curriculum In addition to some incredible amenities available through the adjoined community center (two commercial incubator kitchens and a greenhouse) is the possibility of a future yogurt producing room! Virtually the entire building is made with reclaimed material and all of the landscaping is edible. The article is a must read!

-I have speculated as to which city might be the next to get a High Linesque project, New York's amazing aging elevated railway turned park. After all, it is the newest urban development solution. And our winner could be...New York! Wait, what?

 

Urban agriculture + green infrastructure = a new term...Edible Infrastructure!

The urban agriculture movement has taken a strong hold in Hong Kong, so much so we have globe trotting videographers stopping in to check out what's going on.


A Tale of Two Rooftops from The Perennial Plate on Vimeo.


California's first public orchard opened last week in Los Angeles. Fallen Fruit was heavily involved in bringing the project together. The article lists New York, Boston and Madrid as other cities experimenting with edible landscaping. Don't forget Seattle (where they call it a "public food forest"), Toronto and London!!!

Hmm...I think I am ready to coin a new term. How about Edible Infrastructure or Edible Architecture to describe using edible plants specifically to meet all of your green infrastructure needs?

Despite what the creative grant writers of the Los Angeles public orchard say, I am not sure how the orchard is edible art...but it is definitely a place ripe for an ecopsychological experiment. Do public orchards or fruit trees in general make people feel differently about their municipality and life?

Late 2012 GILA roundup!

Normally during late December, early January there is precious little to relay. Not this year!!! Dig in...

-The best news is a creation of a biological concrete by researchers in Spain. It's being tested in Belgium right now and may be on the market sometime soon!

-An intrepid entrepreneur has taken the plunge to live their dreams by opening a new urban agriculture farm supply store in Providence, Rhode Island. There may only be five of these, at most, on the entire continent!

-If you're looking to break into the green infrastructure/living architecture (GILA) fields Front Range Community College in Colorado just launched an urban agriculture management class to provide students with the knowledge and skills to start their own urban farms. And there are internship opportunities in Washington D.C. as part of the Anacostia Watershed Society's green roof management team.

-And for those with an insatiable green roof appetite, a study detailing how various plants perform on unirrigated green roofs in subtropical (American) climates hit the web in early December. Researchers say four species survived at least two growing seasons without any losses: Graptopetalum paraguayense, Malephora lutea, Manfreda maculosa, and Phemeranthus calycinus. Six species experienced varying levels of mortality: Bulbine frutescens, Delosperma cooperi, Lampranthus spectabilis, Sedum kamtschaticum, Sedum mexicanum and Nassella tenuissima. Five species had no survivors: Dichondra argentea, Stemodia lanata, Myoporum parvifolium, Sedum moranense, and Sedum tetractinum.

-In permaculture news around the world there were two fascinating articles released concerning Islam and permaculture and the development of the permaculture movement in Poland.

-Lastly Seattle announced an additional 185 community gardening plots will be made available to residents.

Virtual Living Architecture Summit - 2013 + permaculture conferences

Starting tomorrow, January 9 and continuing through February 8 greenroofs.com is hosting the 2013 virtual summit. Check it out if you have time!

Also starting tomorrow is a permaculture conference at Oregon State University. This one lasts even longer...until March 22, 2013.

Often folks interested in permaculture feel more comfortable with college/university based permaculture offerings, which is totally understandable. Here are a few more if the Oregon State dates don't work for you:

California State University - Stanislaus
Indiana University - Bloomington
University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Must have aquaculture books for your aquaponics system

For the past few year I have talked a lot about aquaponics, the sector's growth and promise. Many newcomers struggle with the aquaculture component. Naturally it can be tough. Below I have listed five books, all a bit older, which are great for everyone from the novice to expert. A bit pricey and maybe hard to find, but worth your money and the effort!

Aquaculture: The Farming and Husbandry of Freshwater and Marine Organisms - John E. Bardach
Aquaculture Training Manual - Donald Swift 
 Freshwater Aquaculture: A Handbook for Small Scale Fish Culture in North America - William McLarney
Principals of Aquaculture - Robert R. Stickney
Simple Methods for Aquaculture: Pond Construction for Freshwater Fish Culture - A.G. Coche

GILA (green infrastructure, living architecture) trends 2013 - it grows up and aquaponics

So many great things happened in 2012, from the explosion of aquaponic ventures across the world, to more green roof legislation and courses. To guess what will be hot in the new year, I think we have to look back a bit.

-Aquaponics - will stay hot, red hot.

-Other cities will continue to chase their version of the massively successful Highline, including Sydney, Australia, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, London and Chicago.

-Vertical farming and rooftop farms will continue to proliferate.

-The last big trends to look for will be the development of policies revolving around continuous productive landscapes, retrofitting neighborhoods to deal with fluctuations in rainfall due to climate change and the idea of like-minded groups joining forces to create holistic whole system urban agriculture solutions, instead of stand alone endeavors.

Let's see what happens!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!