-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!
