Friday, March 29, 2013

New Jersey Adopts Horticultural Therapy Resolution + World's Largest Vertical Farm

If you're in St. Louis or Washington State there are a couple of ways to make your voices heard to support living architecture/green infrastructure in your cities.
Write to your legislators to support Bill 228 (in St. Louis, to incentivize urban agriculture) and call (1-800-562-6000) in Washington State to support a much bigger measure, $100 million in general obligation bonds. The latter seems to be, at least partially, inspired by Seattle's green infrastructure successes.
One more piece of legislation to consider supporting. Texas House Bill 1306 would reduce the amount of property tax a homeowner would have to pay if they engaged in urban agriculture.

-Speaking of legislation, one already adopted is the most comprehensive Horticultural Therapy Resolution (by New Jersey) to date. What does it mean? I am not sure, but perhaps a funding stream for horticultural therapy projects? We can only hope!

-The biggest news of the week (in my book) is the first Canadian school (and, I think, North American...correct me if I am wrong) to get an working urban farm! In a unique partnership between the school board and local not for profit, the kids have a place to learn about farming and get some fresh food!

-In the winter I passed through Chicago's O'Hare airport and had no idea something so cool was growing there. A demonstration vertical farm, almost 1000 square feet of aeroponics, provides herbs and vegetables for three airport restaurants.
Chicago also will boast the world's largest vertical farm...for now. 90,000 square feet on Chicago's South Side!

-What do you get when "The Plant" meets "Plantagon"? A lovely vertical farming facility where Manchurians are treated to a venture that educates communities about sustainable food production

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

GILA word of the week: Xeriscaping

The two day - 18th Annual Water Conservation Conference kicks off tomorrow, March 28 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Attendance (or following the proceedings online) is a must for those readers from dry regions of the world. In honor of the conference, Xeriscaping is the GILA word of the day!


Monday, March 25, 2013

Paul Wheaton on permaculture and irrigation


Spring is slowly creeping up on us throughout North America. And if you're in the low, low 48 states, you're already knee deep in mud. So maybe it's time for a little refresher course on permaculture and irrigation?

Friday, March 22, 2013

An online permaculture design game!

For all of those in the urban agriculture field across North America, please have a look at these surveys from Portland State University (in English, French and Spanish) and New York University/Penn State University as they attempt to improve agricultural extension agencies and gauge how municipalities are doing in regards to their newest policies and programs.

-Recently Atlanta took a step in the green roof bylaw direction, by amending some ordinances to further promote green infrastructure and runoff reduction practices. This is absolutely necessary in a region plagued by drought over the last decade.

-Toronto has been a leader in the green roof movement and last week released some helpful guidelines for encouraging rooftop biodiversity.
Toronto's own FoodShare offers another free download this week, this one describes how their successful Focus on Food Youth internship program works and how you can make it work for you!

-And this one is especially for the kids and those young at heart, the first free online urban design/permaculture game is here!


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Aquaponics and kids, a natural fit

Cool photos of a Youngstown City School District vacant horticulture building turned into an aquaponics facility by students, teachers and volunteers. The first one in Ohio!

-One state west in New York, Schenectady students have built an aquaponic system and are hoping to win the Guerilla Green contest. Curious to see how their aquaponics system helps them learn about music!

-The USDA has released its Food Access Research Atlas. Check it out, one can explore multiple food access indicators.
A few other food access tools were well-publicized last week, one allows food distributors to provide non-profits with food deemed less than aesthetically pleasing, the other helps restaurants pass out unwanted food.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Horticultural Therapy in the Midwest

A couple of horticultural therapy stories from the Midwest...

First, an appearance by Janice Hoetker Doherty to talk about horticultural therapy in general and her new horticultural therapy book, "A Calendar Year of Horticultural Therapy".


 And secondly a Chicago health care center has received a grant to turn part of their parking lot into a green space for horticultural therapy. 


Thursday, March 14, 2013

GILA word of the week: Terraponics



Living architecture comes in many forms and daily readers of living architecture daily are familiar with quite a few. But how about terraponics and terraculture?

Best known as a form of coastal farming popular in the Pacific-Asia region, historically it has been done in river beds too (aka Chinampas) in North America. Recently interest has been on the increase in Australia and New Zealand.  And in places like the Philippines we are seeing signs of what could be a true resurgence.

Now that I have given you a taste, here's a couple more sources to satisfy your craving...

A primer on integrated agriculture-aquaculture
Rice patties on Pinterest

Monday, March 11, 2013

An ode to random green roof insects - especially those that photosynthesize!

I am definitely missing the warm weather...it can't come soon enough. Of course warm weather means  insects and I miss them too, even the pesky ones.  I have seen a few, but this year I  resolve to look more carefully, to truly appreciate the diversity on the installations we maintain. I'll especially keep my eyes peeled for this one, what's not to love about a photosynthetic animal?

So I salute all the lesser loved insects and hope to see them  around soon.

Donna Fargo - The Cricket Song
Friedemann - The Eye Of the Dragonfly
Mills Brothers - The Glow-Worm 
Jonathan Richman - I'm Nature's Mosquito
Malvina Reynolds  - God Bless the Grass

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Horticulture's hacker - Luther Burbank's birthday is today



Today we celebrate the birth of Luther Burbank, 164 years ago today. And he deserves a post and much more. Without him, we would not have the Shasta Daisy, Russet Potato, Freestone Peach or over 113 kinds of plums and prunes. Yes, 113! His scientific method was lax, say many scientists, but I say if Frida Kahlo paints you, then you have done something right!

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Aquaponics, 3D printing and University of Waterloo Aquaponics Symposium

For you true aquaponics fiends, I am happy to share with you the next level of system customization, 3D printing. Tapped by many to be the next big rage, applicable for everything from cars to Mars (bases), it makes perfect sense for crafting the perfect part for your aquaponics system.
See what this enthusiast did!



-If you're in Southern Ontario there are a few days left to register for an aquaponics symposium at the University of Waterloo. They are working hard at building their own system and helping to create a foundation for an aquaponics movement in southern Ontario and northern New York.