Will recovering food waste get big bucks on Shark Tank?

Happy New Year everyone!

We're several days in and hopefully the resolutions are still intact! If you're able to, resolve to watch Shark Tank on Friday, Hungry Harvest will be pitching their idea for a CSA specializing in recovered (too small, not round enough, too big etc.) foods.  This is a big idea!

-Highline College in Chicago got a nice chunk of change, $80,000, to recruit residents from the area to participate in their Urban Agriculture certificate program. The 9 month certificate and 80 acre campus allows unique opportunities to get your hands dirty.

 -In Kenya the government added to their constitution Article 21, which states "Kenyans'..have the right "to be free from hunger and have adequate food of acceptable quality”. What this means in practical terms has yet to be determined.

-Speaking of practical terms, the Montreal Gazette asked a few experts how Montreal can reduce it's climate change impact. Green roofs were on the list and lots of other great ideas too, like urban gardening.

The week of big urban agriculture hits!

It's the week of big hits!


I'm sure many folks have heard about Serenbe in Georgia. But here's one of the first news stories about the development, 2 hours south of Atlanta, which gives you a feel for the houses surrounding the urban farm and the farm itself.




-Right on cue is another article about how food one of the hot trends in real estate is...can you guess?...food!


-What's happening in the Vancouver urban agriculture scene? What are the guidelines, standards and policies? What is being farmed, how is pest management handled? Which farms have staff and volunteers? Everything you want to know is here.


-We've seen lots of urban agriculture farms made out of shipping containers. The next step in the evolution is having a farm shipped, IKEA flatpack style, in a shipping container and ready for assembly.

-In Guyana a bold new collaboration has sprung between universities in Chile, the United Kingdom and Guyana to pioneer aquaponics education in the Caribbean.


-North American researchers have said to beware of the soil in urban settings, heavy metals may be present. It seems that the same could be true in Spain.


-Finally the biggest news of all, Gotham Greens opened the world's largest urban greenhouse facility in Chicago.

Horticultural therapy - helping veterans transition back to health and civilian life

Horticultural therapy program and projects have benefited many people and groups over the years. It seems programs focused on veterans are sprouting up everywhere. In the last six months I've seen stories from Chicago, London, Grand Rapids, and Fort Wayne. Heck, three of those are from the last WEEK! There's even a book which came out in the spring and an ongoing study in Virginia.
Let's keep our eyes peeled to see if this is a (mid-western) trend...or phenomenon!

GILA word of the week: Bee highway

The FAO has definitely been busy. This week it announced that Cape Verde has it's first FAO urban agriculture program. Earlier in the month the FAO released a collection of findings from scientists and economists who have taken stock of climate change impacts on food and agriculture at global and regional levels. The document investigates, among other things, how climate change will impact crop production in Africa and grain production in Russia and neighboring Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

-I hope these entrepreneurs can do it, however it will be an uphill climb. By 2017 a Brooklyn duo hopes to produce the first rooftop wine from rooftop vineyard.

-Norway is creating a bee highway. What is that you ask? Private individual, state bodies, companies, and associations post their little slice of green on the website polli.no to map out a bees’ safe route across the Oslo.

-A graduate student has published the first summary, I believe, stating the limits of community gardens in creating communities. One of her preliminary findings (in the Netherlands) is that those who garden together don't often become friends outside the garden, however they are more likely to ask for help from others. As this story hit the web, so did one which focuses on urban agriculture and measuring what it actually yields, in terms of food production and money.

-Chicago laps the fields in rooftop farms, 13 have been documented, compared to 3 in Chicago and only 2 in Toronto. I wonder how many exist outside North America?

Vertical farming in Japan

You may remember my pronouncement a while back how I wouldn't comment on concepts because they are simply artwork until someone puts numbers behind how to make it reality.
Covering Toronto's Gardiner Expressway with a green roof to resemble New York's Highline, was one of those fanciful ideas which got people talking, but seemed far from realistic. And it still is. Especially when you consider the first part of the equation, fixing the Gardiner has gone from $500 million to $950 million in four years.
Now a top bureaucrat is agreeing with some people who think the Gardiner should be torn down. If nothing else, I think we can all agree the Gardiner will never be topped with a green roof.

-Next door the City of Mississauga will add a storm water discharge fee to the bills of building owners to help rebuild their infrastructure.

-Back to Toronto, for a second, how cool would it be if they had a provision, like they do in Seoul, that if you get rebates, public funds to subsidize your green roof or wall, that it must be publicly accessible? Seoul has spent over $57 million in public funds greening their city and has a really big project up their sleeves, look out for their Seoul Skygarden in 2017. It's supposed to be like...wait for it...the Highline!

-In terms of ideas, here are a couple I really like. A team of Chicago entrepreneurs are hoping to lease rooftops to grow veggies. Let's see if they are able to do it, because no one has done it successfully yet. Of greater promise, I think, is leasing parking lot space for these pop-up farms. Maybe even stacking them a several stories high to maximize the space.

-In Japan this semi-conductor company has entered the vertical farming race and found a niche market for their lettuces, growing low potassium lettuces for those with kidney problems. That's a smaller version of their system up above.

-I'll round out with the best news of the week. France now has a ban on supermarket food waste. All surplus food must be donated to charities or used for animal feed!

The big question...will food one day be a government regulated industry?!

In New York a few organizations have banded together to establish a rather large shade food forest. Stay tuned, this is definitely a first for that area.

-Here's an awesome infographic detailing the major ways buildings can grow food.

-It was just last week I was writing about agrihoods, here's one in Chicago in the works. 

-A number of people are drawn to aquaponics because it offers self-sufficiency. Two brothers hope that one day every Native American tribe will have their own operation.

-I was reading an article about how vertical farming have yet to take off in New York City, despite the best efforts of many enthusiasts. One entrepreneur thinks things could heat up as urban agriculture systems become embraced as amenities.
For me there a few things which are hard to square. If food is essential why is it so lightly regulated? One day, could we see food be more closely regulated, since so much of our food is made up of a regulated resource...water. With California experiencing droughts, will politicians there (maybe in 10 years???) and in other drought stricken locations advise, then perhaps incentivize, farmers to grow certain water friendly crops? Will home owners battle farmers for the rights to water and how they can use it?
Will the government one day be responsible for growing food for everyone...and locally?


Speaking of land battles, here's one happening today in Ontario as farmers disagree with conservationists about the use of an urban park.

2015 Midwest Urban Farmers Summit at the Plant, March 14-15

Toronto, or better yet the Greater Toronto Area, has it's largest aquaponics operation to date based in Mississauga.

-New York City hopes to develop over a dozen vacant lots to make more community gardens available across the city. DC wants twice that number and wants an "army of urban growers".

-Chicago is holding it's 2015 Midwest Urban Farmers Summit at the Plant, March 14-15. They are still taking presentation proposals and requests.

-Most of the time when people think about horticultural therapy, they think about the numerous benefits to seniors or veterans. But everyone can benefit, especially kids.

Public parks with private poppy

As you know New York's Highline was the catalyst behind big changes on the westside of Manhattan. More changes are coming down the pike with a new park. But is that a good thing? Sponsored by private money, what is private wealth's role in remaking public spaces?

-This fall was the first time MillionTreesNYC free tree giveaway featured exclusively edible fruit trees, in total 4,500 were claimed!

-Since the spring residents of a retirement facility, just outside of Chicago, have grown vegetables on their rooftop hydroponic facility for use in their kitchen and others kitchens across the city. This is the first of it's kind, I believe.

-If you'd like to peer into the life of one horticultural therapist practicing in New Jersey, check out this blog. I've linked to the latest posting in the past, she periodically updates it with interesting anecdotes.

-An Emory College student has launced a vineyard to study the American starvine, a threatened native plant which may have tremendous medicinal benefits.

-Earlier in the year I wrote about Brightfarms opening a urban farm in DC, it will be one of the biggest in the USA. Make that, it would have been. The site is so contaminated, they make walk away from the project and $700,000 already invested. A recent paper highlighted the problem in Buffalo and New York City.

Monsoon rooftop gardens + app to help Californians save water

-I definitely want to see more articles like this! Here's how to set up a succesful roof garden for monsoon veggies like sheem and borboti!

-Both Montreal and Charlottetown (P.E.I.) are turning to green roofs, Montreal is looking to streamline their approval process and Charlottetown is investigating green roof legislation. 
 
-A few weeks ago I wondered whether a place like Syria should be using more temporary agricultural systems  than rooftop farming, it just didn't seem feasible to dodge bullets while tending to rooftop gardens. It seems aquaponics systems are now being used in Gaza.

-I'm not sure if vertical farming can work, but my takeaway from this article is that the business is as much about operations (in particular, software) as it is about offerings.

fighting in Gaza has forced farmers and herders to abandon their lands and has paralysed fishing activities, bringing local food production to a halt and severely affecting livelihoods, the United Nation’s FAO warned last week.
Recovery in the agriculture sector, once hostilities cease, will require significant external assistance over the long term. And this is where we see opportunities for alternative agriculture systems for smallholder farmers and families. Aquaponics and hydroponics can be done on rooftops, and it is especially meaningful in areas where water is severely limited.
The FAO estimates that the recent fighting has resulted in substantial direct damage to Gaza’s 17,000 hectares of croplands as well as much of its agricultural infrastructure, including greenhouses, irrigation systems, animal farms, fodder stocks and fishing boats.
According to the latest update Gaza has lost half of its population of poultry birds (broilers and layers) either due to direct hits on their shelters or lack of water, feed or care resulting from access restrictions.
Around 64,000 head of small ruminants are in need of animal feed and water in order to avoid further animal deaths and the additional erosion of herders’ productive assets.
Meanwhile losses by Gaza’s fishing sector so far are estimated at 234.6 tonnes over the period 9 July – 10 August –equivalent to 9.3 percent of local fishers’ yearly catch.
“Up to now, ongoing military operations have prevented detailed assessments of damages to agriculture from being completed,” said Ciro Fiorillo, head of FAO’s office in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The Gaza Strip imports most of what it eats — however locally produced food represents an important source of nutritious and affordable food, and some 28,600 people in Gaza rely on farming (19,000 people), livestock raising (6,000) and fishing (3,600) for their livelihoods.
“Under the most recent ceasefire many farmers and herders are now able to access their lands, however resumption of food production faces serious obstacles given the damages sustained and shortages of water, electricity, inputs and financial resources, as well as ongoing uncertainty regarding the possible resumption of military activities”, said Fiorillo.

- See more at: http://www.greenprophet.com/2014/08/why-gaza-needs-hydroponics-and-aquaponics-for-food-security/#sthash.IciZDFYI.dpuf

-How can food transform healthcare for both the patient and provider? Will Allen will speak at the Transform symposium to let us know.

-What some thought was impossible has come to pass, Canadian Pacific has torn up some community garden plots over 15 years old. Naturally Vancouverites are not happy.

-Chicago's urban fruit orchard featured rare and unusual apples has gone quickly from concept to reality and is now a go.

-Climate Central has published a study which states 57 of the 60 largest cities in the U.S. have significantly higher temperatures than adjacent rural areas. In some cases those discrepancies had reached a difference in daytime highs by 27 degrees Fahrenheit. Yikes! Denver is going to need more green roofs and green infrastructure...soon! Florida has done something quite interesting, they've purchased some land to close the gap in their greenway and trail system so now it looks like you can travel from west coast to east. What do you think, Denver? A good idea?

-Despite a three year drought, one of the worst in 500 years (what!!!), Californians still aren't saving water. Hopefully an app, will raise awareness...even a little!

Urban agriculture growing and dying

It's always good to check in with the folks at the permaculture podcast. Last week we heard what could be done with 1/6 of an acre in a temperate climate.

-Check out this app, it ranks neighbourhoods by environmental criteria like green roofs, community gardens, farmers markets, parks and public transit. It's a great way to help select your next home.

-A children's hospital in San Antonio is building a massive 2 acre garden to teach the community about the relationship between food and health.

-After 360 years a South African community garden will sprout again. Boston is similarly celebrating urban agriculture with their first Urban Agriculture Day.
Unfortunately in Bangalore things are going in the opposite direction. The city, which was a burgeoning urban agriculture oasis, will probably see urban agriculture wither because of development pressures.

-The USA's first urban agriculture kids camp kicked off a couple of weeks ago. I'll add this to my end of the year predictions...I think you'll be seeing a lot more of these in the future.

The giant urban greenhouse just keep coming

It has become quite clear that Bright Farms has its eye on establishing itself in urban locations across the US, not just in one particular region. They are entrenched in the Midwest and have their first building in DC going up soon.

-I need to confirm this, but Randolph Community College in North Carolina may be the first school in the South to run an aquaponics course.
 

-In Malaysia the Agriculture minister believes about 20 percent of city dwellers will take up urban agriculture with the aid of technological advances and government help in the form of seedlings, fertilizer, training and guidance.

-We've seen how aquaponics is sweeping the Caribbean, the same can be said for permaculture in general.

-Food forests have begun to spring up across North America. An off shoot of this phenomenon? How about an urban rare apple orchard.

rld face hunger everyday and Randolph Community College is teaching its students a new and sustainable way to combat starvation.
Randolph Community College science lab facilitator Kevin Jones is using a fish tank and plants to teach students a new way of sustainable farming known as Aquaponics: a combination of breeding fish and using their waste to feed plants without soil.
"It's a re-circulating system,” Jones said.
The idea behindthe system is to create an automated system so growers can focus more on harvesting and less time on maintenance.
“You don't need a lot of land. You don't need soil, there's no fertilizer, no pesticides. [It is] more natural, it uses 10 percent less water than a traditional farm would,” Jones said.
The World Food Programme said about 840 million people worldwide don't have enough food to eat.
“There are those who are using this right now on mission projects such as Haiti. There are medical missions that try to establish sustainable food sources for communities in third world countries," Jones said.
Sophomore biology major Joseph Vanbencoten said Aquaponics should reach beyond the classroom.
"It's not just a greenhouse for the school, give a basis for people to do out in the own world, to help do a sustaining garden and they can produce their own food, be organic, healthy,” said Vanbencoten.
It is a farming practice which may change how people around the world grow and collect their food.
To get started, people only need a small aquarium, some gold fish, and just a few plants.
- See more at: http://centralnc.twcnews.com/content/news/triad/707921/randolph-community-college-teaches-sustainable-farming#sthash.f2MDJYr2.dpuf

rld face hunger everyday and Randolph Community College is teaching its students a new and sustainable way to combat starvation.
Randolph Community College science lab facilitator Kevin Jones is using a fish tank and plants to teach students a new way of sustainable farming known as Aquaponics: a combination of breeding fish and using their waste to feed plants without soil.
"It's a re-circulating system,” Jones said.
The idea behindthe system is to create an automated system so growers can focus more on harvesting and less time on maintenance.
“You don't need a lot of land. You don't need soil, there's no fertilizer, no pesticides. [It is] more natural, it uses 10 percent less water than a traditional farm would,” Jones said.
The World Food Programme said about 840 million people worldwide don't have enough food to eat.
“There are those who are using this right now on mission projects such as Haiti. There are medical missions that try to establish sustainable food sources for communities in third world countries," Jones said.
Sophomore biology major Joseph Vanbencoten said Aquaponics should reach beyond the classroom.
"It's not just a greenhouse for the school, give a basis for people to do out in the own world, to help do a sustaining garden and they can produce their own food, be organic, healthy,” said Vanbencoten.
It is a farming practice which may change how people around the world grow and collect their food.
To get started, people only need a small aquarium, some gold fish, and just a few plants.
- See more at: http://centralnc.twcnews.com/content/news/triad/707921/randolph-community-college-teaches-sustainable-farming#sthash.f2MDJYr2.dpuf

-This is not about living architecture at all, but I wanted to pass along a fantastic opportunity for those living in Canada. This summer youth can spend time in Ghana, Tanzania, or Costa Rica on a Turtle Conservation Project and have their airfare taken care of!

New spaces (and places) for living architecture

Spring has exploded and so has the big living architecture news across North America.

BrightFarms, known for its rooftop greenhouses in hyper urban settings, is the first of the frontrunners to open a location in America's heartland, Kansas City. Does this mean it's ready to take on the established hydroponics industry? We may look back at this week as a turning point in the hydroponics industry.

-While the BrightFarms behemoth is getting off the ground, school kids in Dallas are in the midst of creating their own youth lead urban farm operation. 

-The aquaponics field had it's own huge announcement, as a 100,000 square foot state-of-the-art production facility will be producing medical marijuana. Early projections suggest first year sales of $25 million with a market valuation in excess of $500 million!!!

-It just recently came to my attention, but in 2013 Wal-Mart produced their green roof case study, profiling a store in Chicago and the massive benefits it has enjoyed. If Wal-Mart gets behind green roofs, like they did organics...watch out world!

Last, but not least. If you have a little time on your hands check out this well-researched article on the botanical diversity of our cities.

A profitable aquaponics business?

Lots of big stories from the past week...

-A cool and potentially huge story is developing in Tampa. One man's vision to create an Urban Food Park now has the backing of an entire community. The hope is for a national model showcasing exhibits ranging from a commercial urban vegetable farm and food museum to an aquaponic farm and food cooperative. Definitely one to keep track of!

-Systematic urban agriculture changes might be on tap for Rotterdam as well, by utilizing a former “tropical swim paradise” as the project hub.

-The latest successful warm weather aquaponics project to receive buzz belongs to American Samoa, however this aquaponics business in Chicago seems to take the cake. They've stayed afloat for three years and now have raised $300,000 for expansion.

-You can't blame these folks for trying. A couple in New Jersey set up a crowdfunding campaign to add a green roof to their primary residence.

The largest horticultural therapy garden opens

It's hard to make money as an urban farmer...really hard. One entrepreneur in Philadelphia has done just that. Mary Seton Corboy deserves a ton of acclaim and your full attention.

-Community gardens normally are built on public lands, for obvious reasons...building a garden on private lands raises a number of potentially thorny issues. So this guide full of best practices is definitely a handy addition to your virtual book shelf.

-As far as I know the aquaponics certificate offered in the Northern Mariana Islands may be the first of its kind in the world. Maybe it went lightly reported because it's the Northern Mariana Islands and few people know where that is? Congratulations to the inaugural five.

-The largest horticultural therapy garden opened in Chicago last week. At 12,000 square feet it is the biggest in North America by far.

-No doubt you've seen a few crowdsourcing campaigns focusing on aquaponics. Some based on mushrooms, others urban agriculture. How about one that tries to do them all?

The growing population in Australia’s major cities poses a problem for city planners as well as residents seeking to find adequate green space. A rising number of previously desolate urban rooftops are now being put to use as private residential green spaces for relaxation, personal well-being and socialisation.

“There’s no question about the environmental benefits of green roofs but the social benefits are not yet fully explored,” said 360 Degrees landscape architect Daniel Baffsky, who designed the rooftop garden for the M Central building in Pyrmont last year.

“Up on the roof everyone is equal,” said Baffsky, speaking of the social hub he created for the building’s 400 residents which provides a common area for interaction. This provides a huge benefit for urban apartment owners who previously had no place for chance encounters in which they could get to know their neighbours. It also offers a community feel to those living in urban jungles.

Even single family residences are adopting green roofs as an added sanctuary and to reap the environmental benefits. Australian green roof design firm Junglefy says its main market these days is for roof gardens on home extensions.

Nick Williams, University of Melbourne plant ecologist says tough, versatile plants for a rooftop garden are a must so they can survive long periods without being watered and require little maintenance. Plants with a high tolerance to sunlight are also essential.

- See more at: http://sourceable.net/sydney-rooftop-gardens/#sthash.cWmv6RCH.dpuf

Green roof to extend over entire European city

Lots of little stories, that fit neither here nor there. But I can't forget to mention...

-A great aquaponics news item from the last week. I've talked a bit about aquaponics being used in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. More programs are underway, including this one which boasts an aquaponics co-op.

-ICLEI and RUAF have teamed up to improve food and nutrition security of urban populations through training and technical assistance.

-City planners in Sudbury are entertaining the idea of asking residents to grow more of their food, while government officials in the Montreal suburb of Côte-St-Luc are easily the most excited elected officials I have ever seen. Talk about support!

-An entire city is slated to receive green roofs! EuropaCity is an entirely new city to be constructed on 200 acres of land in a suburb of Paris.

-For those outside Chicago who can't see the tranformation of the Plant this article helps keep us up to date.

Urban agriculture + horticultural therapy summer internships

A couple of GILA stories which have fallen through the cracks, but first it's that time of year again. If you're looking for summer work, here are a few of opportunities to whet your appetite:

-The Chicago Botanic Garden has a horticultural therapy internship and in Toronto there are multiple opportunities to work with kids and to garden.

-Switching to peak oil, it looks like Sweden wants to be oil free in 7 years and Europe's biggest living wall now resides in ?

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. 

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".

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. 

Permaculture in Germany and New York's bold post Sandy green infrastructure plans

There's a ton to catch up on from the last two weeks. Good stories with no central theme. Well, two central themes, green infrastructure and living architecture!

-The LEED system appears to be under attack from a few folks with big money. I don't usually write much about LEED, but the "dark money" behind its attack begs the question what would happen for any other technical organization, especially an environmental one, which gains the trust of the market?

-Permaculture continues to spread across the world, here's a video of a permaculture community in Germany!

-True composting efforts and even businesses are growing in Washington DC and around the US! Great news for us all!

-New York is making bold moves to combat global warming by authorizing initiatives like having the state by back land ruined by Hurricane Sandy and leaving it as green space to buffer against more flooding. Besides the cost ($400 million), this requires a centuries old departure from how New Yorkers look at coastal land and will further cement New York's status as a leader in green infrastructure and urban forests, although there is always room to improve.
In Chicago they are rethinking the work of an architectural giant to make buildings and the city more vibrant and sustainable.

-Tool libraries have been the rage since 1979 and I've been a fan since 2009. Toronto is getting its first in a few short weeks. I will definitely donate a few things and sign up as well!

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.