GILA word of the week: Food Swamp

I have a bunch of things to mention which have slipped under the radar recently, for instance your GILA word of the week: Food Swamp. We've all heard the term food desert, well a food swamp has lots of food available and most of it is unhealthy.

-It's important that everyone is aware of the benefits of green infrastructure, especially green roofs. In Victoria, Australia, a local university, the city council and state government are trying to put a dollar figure on greening utilizing their own research and the country's Economic Framework for Green Infrastructure. Similarly, Mauritius is attempting to quantify how much green roofs would mean to them.

-The Dutch have taken urban agricultural to new heights, by creating a floating dairy platform making it one of the first urban aquatic agricultural operations.

-Follow a Kenyan family on the front line of climate change in the first episode of Al Jazeera's "The Climate Diaries".

-Speaking of pioneers, urban agricultural guru Will Allen may be in a jam of a different kind as an investor has sued him (and his partner) over the disputed mismanagement of their investment.

-Last week it was announced India is slated to get it's first horticultural therapy garden in 2016. While a new program is opening in India, sadly a popular one is being shut down in the UK.

-Let's end on a positive note, shall we? How about focusing on Detroit's intention to plant tens of thousands of trees on 1/2 square miles of vacant city space. Note, this is only a demonstration. There are over 20 miles of vacant land in the city...right now! Other lots will be filled eventually, whether it's with wildflowers or urban farms.

A food forest begins to sprout in Guelph

Ithaca Permaculture Park, River Valley Food Forest, Greenbelt Food Forest in Maryland and most famously, Beacon Food Forest in Seattle, Washington food forests are already on the map. Now Guelph (Ontario) is in the process of building one. I was lucky enough to be part of the kick off.
It's tentatively called Hanlon Creek Community Food Forest. Six designs were produced by breakout groups, last Thursday, and the common elements will be combined into three workable designs for further elaboration in a couple of weeks. 
This is very exciting for a town of roughly 125,000. Your town can do it too! 

-Some big news out of Ireland as a new green roof bylaw in a suburb of Dublin, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County is set to take effect in a few months. It covers new building construction starting January 1!

-Gigantic retailer Target is teaming up with MIT to explore how they can support urban agriculture.

-There's so much happening in Detroit, lots of good stuff gets underreported. A $15 million dollar, 60 acre, urban agriculture project was announced which will hopefully employ up to 125 ex-offenders and recovering addicts.

-A fantastic permaculture program is taking off in Ethiopia. 450 hectares in total may be transformed.

-Here's a handy dandy guide to growing indoor plants, what kinds of containers you can use and which plants work best in them.

The Lowline is unveiled

Sometimes it's all about the pictures. Sourceable has a very helpful infograph (seen above), which explains the different types of living architecture.

-Two news items from NY. The Lowline has now entered the proof of concept/experiment phase for what underground, public space could become. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the city will double parks funding to $285 million. What a great way to further build the city's green infrastructure.

-A few folks in the UK would like a Highline. But this one, it seems, would be private. And subsidized by public funds. Many people, including environmentalists, claim this is simply a vanity project and want it kiboshed. With the number of people and groups against it, I think this is going nowehre fast.

-Detroit has 274 acres of vacant land. There are numerous ideas what to do with all that space. The City has some ideas, including dumping 85,000 people on one site to improve the soil.


-Do you live in Austin, Texas? Do you have a fantastic idea for how to turn raw materials into a viable enterprise? Would you like $10,000 to help make your idea a reality? This is your chance!

Brown (aka dead green) walls make us all grumpy

No one likes a dead living wall...and this one village councillor's expression is representative of the entire village's feelings!

-How much mulch is good for a green roof and how much do they effect water quality? And is organic farming really better than conventional? Three long running studies (one 30 years long) have your answers.

-One community run, city agency has gone from administering a few hundred to nearly 90,000 empty lots in Detroit in a few years. Is that a good thing or bad?

-Lastly Utne reader has a couple of previews to whet your appetite with two excerpts from upcoming books on the history of herbal medicine and educational benefits of school gardens.

 

Urban farming and music, the next trend?

In the past couple of weeks I've seen two articles about the music industry's link to urban farming.

There's Taja Sevelle, who founded a non-profit back in 2005 called Urban Farming, which is responsible for over 62,000 community gardens across the US.




And let's not forget a newcomer to the scene, Kimbra Lee Johnson best known for the Gotye song below, who recorded her latest album at an urban farm in Los Angeles.

Turn Candlestick Park into a giant aquaponics farm

I know, I know that I made a pledge not to talk about wild renderings. But I couldn't help it this time.
This one is wild, but with a little tweaking perhaps doable?

A couple of weeks ago I saw this urban farming design to retrofit Candlestick Park. (Paul McCartney's concert in mid-August was the last scheduled event.) What will happen with it now?

Who knows what the price tag would be for something like this. Astronomical, I am sure. But something should be done with it soon, did you see how the Silverdome looks after 10 years of disuse?

 

In 1975 the Silverdome cost $55.7 million to build, which is roughly $245 million in today's dollars, according to Deadspin. In 2009, it was purchased at an auction for $583,000.
Such a shame.

Something should be done, and fast. I think the second picture is key. It's going to be expensive to retrofit and the urban farming is a great idea, but what about if we could make it half as expensive? By that, I mean make the stadium a huge aquaponics operation. The floor is a fish farm and then the water can be pumped up into the stands (where the plants grow) and trickle its way back down.

Sound crazy? Not when you consider shopping malls have spontaneously become fish ponds already! Here's one in Thailand where someone introduced a small population of Koi and Catfish.

What do you think?

GILA (green infrastructure living architecture) word of the week: Foodtech Startup

-What is a Foodtech Startup? I am so glad that you asked!

-The American Planning Association released a tasty report entitled "Planning for Food Access and Community-Based Food Systems" a couple of weeks ago. Evaluating over 21 plans from around the US, it is a great tool for other municipalities.

-Here's a short audio report on aquaponics being embraced by Vietnamese-American farmers in New Orleans in the wake of the BP Oil Spill, which, as I learned today, may still be leaking!

-The enormously contentious fight appears to be over as Hantz Farms in Detroit finally got their land.

-And I present to you a little video on the future of farming to wrap up the day!

Sedums not the best green roof plant?

This research is sure to cause a stir. Sedum species plants have long been a staple of green roofs and sometimes green walls as well. Researchers in the UK now argue that the best all-around performance, including the effects of water ability on the plants and their ability to reduce air temperatures, should be major factors, not just survivability in minimal amounts of medium.

-Looks like Detroit may yet get its zoning ordinance allowing large-scale urban agriculture within city limits. However something tells me this isn't all sewn up just yet.

-Interested in a web application which helps make growing food easier? Then support the Agrisaurus campaign on Kickstarter.

-Dodgy veggies from mainland China have inspired a wave of Hong Kong residents to grow their food wherever they can, especially on rooftops. Two quick nuggets: Hong Kong imports about 90% of their food and they have gone from 0 to 100 organic farms in just 7 years!

New Jersey says "yes" to green roof incentives; Sydney says "maybe"

Some great green roof news in the last few days. We can now add New Jersey to the list of North American cities (soon to be) offering incentives for green roof installations. 

Sydney, Australia is also considering adopting various green roof and green wall incentives. Fun fact of the day, although just a city, Sydney has a population 1/2 the size of New Jersey in 1/900th of the space!

-In other green infrastructure news, Pittsburgh will be making a deep investment in their tree canopy. Hurray!!! 

-Last year I wondered what the hold up in Detroit was for the Hantz urban agriculture project. After years of waiting Hantz may finally get approval from the city, but this article describes some of the reasons for opposition to the farm. Does this seem familiar, Fort Lauderdale?

Should Buffalo invest in vertical farms?

We haven’t had a video in a while, how about peeking in on the University of Detroit Mercy’s School of Law’s Urban Agriculture Symposium? They have been kind enough to put a great deal of the proceedings online and have been at the forefront of discussing urban ag and law for at least 5 years.

-I guess there’s a first time for everything. I’ve never really seen a green infrastructure company campaign for a certain city to buy their product by talking about said product on tv. Maybe they are looking for government funding to make the Plantagon feasible for somewhere in the US? What the spokesperson says is true “we are living in a world where the pollution is increasing and acreage is decreasing.” But the opposite is true of Buffalo, with a decrease in population comes the need to shrink the city. Residential land can become agricultural once again. 

-Remember that Occupy the Farm movement in California? Of course you do! Well, it looks like a lawsuit against the occupiers has been dropped. 

-A model for all of North America, Chicago’s award winning Vanguard Weiss Memorial Hospital is highly accommodating to it’s neighbors, including embracing various payment methods, letting disadvantaged community members garden and growing more “ethnic” crops. 

Urban agriculture bonanza

Urban agriculture is many things to many people. Frequently food is about social justice. From NY to San Francisco to Washington DC we have examples all within the last week, big and small, up high and low, demonstrating how food implores urbanites to act. 

More news:

-The City of Vancouver has joined a chorus of other cities changing their bylaws to allow more urban agriculture. Question to anyone out there, is it common for municipalities to have legislation caused by one plant (marijuana) prohibiting the sale of others (everything else)?

-Colorado has it’s first urban agriculture extension agent. Looks like he is the only urban agriculture extension agent  in North America so far!

-Remember this title: The State Of Urban Farming In The United States: Enhancing The Viability Of Small And Medium-Sized Commercial Urban Farms. A recently awarded $453,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture will allow researchers at Penn State to study urban agriculture in fifteen cities. Can’t wait for the  findings. 

-Lastly, Rick Foster and Michigan State University are totally with me. I love this quote “Detroit ‘could be the research and innovation engine’ for urban agriculture around the world”. They are certainly dreaming big.

Atlanta's low flying giant urban agriculture farm

-In the last two months I would say “the most ignored urban ag project” goes to an urban agriculture farm in southwest Atlanta. Why? Maybe because it has over 10 corporate and civic partners, so it's not a David vs Goliath story? But I think this Atlanta BeltLine Farm project is one to watch. You be the judge.

-Nearly 30% of the land within the Detroit city limits is vacant. Gardens are popping up and people are doing all sorts of creative things with the land without the city’s permission. With so many things in Detroit happening all at once, I think managing urban agriculture is low on their list of concerns. But I truly hope everyone in Detroit embraces this unfortunate opportunity, urban agriculture could lead to Detroit’s resurgence, be a massive source of pride and become what it is known for around the world.

-In San Francisco one particular group is involved in urban agriculture without city permission. NPR did a short story last week on the Guerilla grafters; I wrote about them earlier in the year. At the time I thought they were assertive, perhaps a little sneaky by grafting onto city trees. It looks like it’s actually a form of city disobedience and could be an offense worthy of a fine.

-Speaking of last week, as you know I was totally bummed to read some of the climate change news. Mother Jones heard my call for solutions to the despair. Of note, a scientist claims the sacrifice to establish a true cap and trade system, as one possible part of the solution, could be minimal, only the cost of a stamp for each family per day.

-The pretty much inaccessible green roof at Cincinnati City Hall is in need of someone to provide maintenance...for free. Any green roofers in Cincinnati looking to perform some valuable community service while getting valuable experience call City Hall!

-Lastly Edmonton’s first food and agriculture conference is scheduled to take place May 25 and 26, 2012. According to a local city councillor it’s “an opportunity for Edmontonians to participate in the conversation, so that we can capture and integrate diverse ideas into a consensus around a new strategy.” You’ve got lots to choose from, including focus groups, citizen panels and online questionnaires. Might "the Big E" be in line for a food policy council as well? We’ll see.

Each city should have their own FBI

-The year of aquaponics continues. In Indianapolis an entrepreneur is drumming up support for a $20 million facility. It is still far from a done deal, but the mayor is involved, team leader is a serial entrepreneur and board member of the local aquaculture association. Let's track this one to see where it goes. I'm predicting big things.

Let's move on from Indianapolis to Agropolis. (Wow, what a segue!) Back in October I introduced you to a truly innovative project in the Philippines. The Agropolis project provides a slew of urban agriculture programs training out-of-school youth to be savvy entrepreneurs.

I was blown away by what they were doing and got in contact with Jose Rene Gayo, who is heavily involved with both the Farm Business Schools and the MFI Farm Business Institute. He was kind enough to answer a few of my questions about the projects.

Of note, the partnership between the stakeholders has entered its third year and the eco-farm tourism entrepreneurship diploma program is two years long (!).

For more information, like how your town can have their own farm business institute (FBI), you can email Jose Rene Gayo at renegayo (at) gmail (dot) com.

Another must have for every big city is an organization designed to navigate bureaucracy, governance structures, and neighborhood dynamics. 596 Acres does just that in Brooklyn. Of course not every one of those 596 acres will be used for urban agriculture, if they were, that's enough land to feed almost 3,000 people!

-Finally last week brought word of not one, but two one-stop shops for urban homesteaders. Detroit's is up and running, Vancouver's will open soon.

Catching up

The first week of January has brought a ton of news and stories.

-On the local education front, in Detroit a high school will offers kids a chance to learn about urban agriculture via their new training center, complete with solar hoop house, photovoltaic labs and more.
In Edmonton high schoolers can now learn about raising fish and veggies and serving them to their classmates in the cafeteria. And a Vancouver university is rolling out a four year degree in small scale, sustainable agriculture!!!

-On the city level, Cleveland announced funding for several green projects, look for more community gardens and other projects designed to mitigate stormwater and flooding.
Ottawa was considering a green roof bylaw and now they are not so sure. Thanks to freedom of information requests, intrepid reporters dug up earlier drafts which reiterated mayor Jim Watson's support of green roofs and then, for some reason, mention of the bylaw didn't make the final speech. We'll see what happens in the spring!

-Let's go bigger, country big. Qatar is developing a food sufficiency plan. Makes sense when 90% of your food is imported. Or does it???
And lastly, check out Lebanon's first green wall.

32 square foot green roof for $20,000

A 32 square foot green roof for $20,000??? Yes, you heard right.. No one can argue that this is a good thing, educationally, and that the tiny green roof provides minimal environmental impact (the officials was smart to say that right away)...but in a time where economic austerity is sweeping the continent, that money could certainly have been used for another green roof projects with greater educational and environmental reach.

-PRI Cold Climate is looking for individuals and/or design teams to create a self-sustaining system for growing annual or perennial food crops in cold climates. Deadline for registration is January 6!

-Ahhh...now I understand why Michigan's Right to Farm Act and the City of Detroit seeking an exemption from it to allow urban agriculture, was such a big deal. At least, I think that I understand. Some have fears that "nuisance odors, traffic and similar issues" would be hard to control. However the Michigan Agriculture Commission approved amendments Wednesday to state farm regulations, so we'll see how things turn out.

New living architecture word of the day: Anti-architecture

Coined by a Ph.D. student at Harvard, she uses the term "anti-architecture" to describe the formal and informal deconstruction practice now commonin Detroit.

-Let's also talk about building! There are a couple more permaculture courses happening this fall, Florida's transition/permaculture course looks verrrry interesting and will include instruction on wild edibles and more.

-In the North America while some levels of government are slow (for various reasons) to adopt proactive climate change policies or reluctant to support their own initiatives it's at the local level where much is being done.

-If you're in Toronto and have great container gardening photos, why not win some prizes? You've got until September 30. Ready, go!

New York City law makes green roofs, urban gardens and greenhouses easier, other cities make it harder

Big news this week out of New York City, as City Council passed giving access to more land for urban gardens and to make it easier to build rooftop greenhouses.

Is New York now in the lead for greenest city in North America? We know they take their green seriously, they take it even more seriously in Uganda. How about a fine or imprisonment if you don't report how many animals you own?

Detroit's first commercial farm is finally getting started! It's 1/1000 of the size they wanted, but it's a start. The law needs to be changed to allow more farming in Detroit, Philly and elsewhere. And this article outlines some of the challenges.

Let's introduce these researchers to green roofs!

Saw a couple of articles recently and wished I could have talked to the researchers earlier to encourage them to consider how green roofs could have (or do) impact their findings.

-We all know that trees like carbon, but how about a 10% increase in trees equaling a reduction of 12% in carbon emissions? Sounds good to me. This study covers mid-size cities, that would lead me to think that in large cities which are even more built up and out, green roofs and walls could play the same kind of role.

Another study says that cities are a great place for pollinators because of a range of flowers available at different times. As I am always thinking about green roofs, I wonder, are they more diverse than other gardens in general?

-The living architecture word of the day: Parkmobiles.

-Last week we learned the basics of Chicago's new urban agriculture platform, here's more of the nitty gritty with comments from residents as well.

-Permaculture meets punk in Mexico City.

-And finally, there are year-long urban agriculture internship opportunities in Detroit.

Chicago - first green roofs, now food security, urban agriculture and vertical farming

-Rahm Emanuel was barred from running from mayor in Chicago, managed to get that overturned, then cruised to a victory. Under Mayor Daley, Chicago embraced green roofs; it looks like Emanuel will now go one further by focusing on food security and urban agriculture. Meanwhile, across town Chicago State University’s Aquaponics Facility is experimenting with all sorts of fish and herbs. Billed as the first one in Chicago, I don't think there is another one in the USA. The 2nd city is definitely staking it's claim to being the greenest city in North America.

-How cool would it be to send your 4 year old to an urban agriculture spring break camp?

-Detroit seems to be getting a good deal, but is dragging their heels. I wish I knew more about the city council workings preventing John Hantz from getting something up and growing...it seems like I read the same article 3 months ago.

-If you're a backyard farmer in Vancouver you can now sell your wares at the farmer's market! Tip of the cap, Urban Abundance.

-Mother Nature Network was kind enough to collect their 20 best 'How to' share guides
and share them with us. Epic!!! If you don't read another post this year, this is the one.

New Jersey next on the green roof leg. list? + Wikileaks clears up peak oil picture

More on the LEED AP lawsuit.

-Score one for those who say that oil reserves are overstated, Wikileaks confirms that and leaves me wondering what else is in those wikileaks. Oh yeah, and, what else is in those cables?

-Food czars, responsible for addressing obesity, hunger and food deserts, can now be found in five American cities. Am I the only one uncomfortable with the word "czar"?

The latest Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development will be out soon. "This issue’s papers offer a smorgasbord of views on food production in a wide range of urban environments" including features on cities including Detroit, Flint, Toronto, Vancouver, Havana and Lima!

-Meanwhile in Brazil, we've got kids leading the way in developing green technologies, including green roofs and rainwater harvesting.

-Last but not least, New Jersey's assembly Environment committee approved green and blue roof legislation. It has not yet been introduced in the Senate yet, but tap of the cap goes to NJ.