A new online green roof course

-First Sweet Water Organics folded up shop, now another pioneering aquaponics operation in New York has to call it quits as well.

-Here's an online outlet to learn about green roof design, installation and management courtesy of Iowa State University this fall. In the design section, hopefully the course will touch on professional tools like this handy stormwater calculator.

-Remember that green roof which just collapsed way back when? The $13 million dollar lawsuit is just now being heard in court. A ruling could happen in November.
This was big news back in 2011 with many people who knew nothing about green roofs captivated by this rare, tremendous failure. Thankfully we see green roofs, normally, in a more positive light. For instance as a lead character in the Amazing Race Canada.

Shhh...it's coming!

This is all I can say...for now!

Sydney rules living architecture!

Sometimes the stars aline and cool stories from one place hit the web at the same time.

The beautiful picture above is from a decommissioned ship west of Sydney. Living...and floating...architecture! How would the world look if more ships were turned into buoyant gardens... bobbing around in harbours around the world?
-Sydney’s University of Technology is introducing Sydneysiders to living walls with edible plants or as some call them, edible walls. Although that term always strikes me funnily, but maybe that’s the next frontier? Walls that produce food...and that you could eat? Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factoryesque!

-If you're in a horticultural therapy program or just studying on your own, here are some flash cards to help your preparation.


-Los Angeles has upped the ante and is now offering all property owners $2 per square foot (up from $1.50) to rip up their lawns and to plant drought tolerant plants!

-Here’s a story which I thought would’ve gain wider attention. Milwaukee is well-known for its environmental leanings, they are one of a few municipalities with a green roof rebate. So I sympathize with small landowners that bigger ones are getting special treatment...and three times the rebate.

Kelven, I mean Kleven, is synonymous with living architecture?

They call this place, in Kleven, Ukraine, the "Tunnel of Love". I'm not making this up. 

The Farmery, an update

It's been 10 months since I last wrote about the Farmery.  Here's an update on their development since then.
 
-Super huge news out of Vancouver. The parks board unveiled a local food action plan, which includes 55 strategic actions (like planting fruit trees and community gardens in parks) to implement over the next five years.

-Can anyone help me understand why this article uses the term "green roofing" at all?

-I wonder if the abandonment of chickens in Montreal by those who discover that they can't (or don't want to) take care of them is a continent wide trend? Sadly it looks like it may be.

40 hours of free permaculture lecture + urban agriculture opportunities in Africa

A supermarket in South Africa has embraced alternative technologies like no one else, by incorporating solar energy and aquaponics to get closer to being a fully sustainable supermarket.

-Watch, listen, revel in 40 hours of permaculture lectures from Bill Mollison!

 

-An urban agriculture internship, with flexible starting times and lengths from 2-8 months, has 

opened up in South Africa.

-Even better is an urban agriculture scholarship to pursue a PhD co-sponsored by schools in Sweden and Ghana!

A closer look at vertical and rooftop farming leaders

Even if you're new to the vertical and rooftop farming industry you know the major players spend their time heads-down trying to produce food, not on the radio, TV or in the papers touting what they do. That's why it's nice to see, over the last 6 weeks or so, some longer articles and audio on some of the pioneers, Lufa Farms, Alterrus and FarmedHere.

-In general I believe the more green the better. But when it comes to a place like Abu Dhabi, I would love to see this proposed lush 19,000 square foot green roof become something more climate relevant, like a xerogarden. With deck chairs and umbrellas too, perhaps?

-In Uganda one enthusiast is trying the simplest materials possible to make an aquaponics system, included in his list of components are an old fridge, water and perfume bottles.

-Another innovator in Canada, this one 16 years old, has invented his own green wall system and turned it into a educational opportunity for children.

-Kwantlen Polytechnic University has been involved in some inspiring projects over the years, recently they've been involved in developing a curriculum to accompany the farm based at a suburban Vancouver school.

The Art of Fermentation - Sandor Katz

Sandor Katz is the godfather of Fermentation. As we slide into the summer with pickling season right around the corner, it's a good time to brush up.

Aquaponics for profit

Across the world those involved with aquaponics are trying to make it work. We've seen some failures recently and some will succeed, some won't. In Melbourne, Australia a local non-profit is giving it a go, while in New York State a two year old operation needs an influx of cash to keep things going.

-If you're in New York and want to provide some expertise to get their green infrastructure program off the ground,  don't dawdle...there's only 2 weeks left to apply. (See middle row, bottom of page 7).

-I forgot to post this a while ago but it's not too late to join a free course on the Sustainability of Food Systems.

-And lastly for today check out how Russians are proving small scale organic farming can feed a village and more!