$2.1 million dollars for aquaponics research

Lethbridge College in Alberta has been at the forefront of aquaponics research for over a decade, really it's the place to go in North America. So the fact that they got over $2 million dollars makes a lot of sense, they deserve it and I can't wait to see what comes from their efforts!

-How something is labelled makes a huge difference. So I often find it interesting to hear the phrases of English speakers outside of the UK or USA. In this article this Vietnamese woman calls the produce she collects from her rooftop garden "clean" food, because it's organic. How would things change elsewhere, if organic produces co-opted the phrase "clean" for their produce?

-Installing a green roof, with the help of a couple of professionals, can be a fantastic community event. And it's tremendously satisfying to put the plants in and stand back as you water the plants to help them settle in. But I have never heard of what these folks in Buffalo are trying to do, getting people to also GROW the plants at home, take care of them and bring them to the installation.

-Following up on last week's email, if you want to see pictures of Patrick Blanc's home, and not just a video, check this out.

-I don't think people took the California drought as something to be worried about until the mandatory cuts came last week. What will this mean for landscapers? A switch to more permaculture based gardens as people look to grow more of their own food? More xeroscaping? More painted grass?
The mayor, seemingly, has taken this crisis to heart and wants to weave sustainability into every city department and proposes things like allowing food stamps to be used at farmer's markets. Which would be great, especially because in 20 years the number of farmer's markets has quadrupled across the USA!

-Please indulge me for a second; I have a little pet peeve. I'd like to have a definition for "vertical farming", because I realize it's not something everyone agrees on. And I think you'll see that, as time goes on, there will need to be standardization of the language because the technologies required for growing plants 2 stories high versus in a plastic drum half the height of an average human, are vastly different.

-Here's a KickStarter campaign everyone can benefit from. If these entrepreneurs get their funding, they will create the first DIY program to turn anyone into a mushroom farmer.

Urban farming under gun fire

Urban farming for refugees in Syria is a risky, but necessary part of daily life. Two facts from the article really stand out to me, first that farming on rooftops is often done under the threat of snipers (!) and secondly that some refugees picked up farming techniques from youtube.

-Washington State is making people who want to keep small livestock take a certification class, I think they're the first state to do this. Smart. Urban agriculture is likely to cost the city extra money for animal control services (rounding up loose or abandoned animals), so this makes a lot of sense. 

-On the east coast a $1.5 million dollar federal grant awarded to Virginia State University will go to refurbish an old building and turn it into an urban agriculture hub featuring both aquaponic and hydroponic systems. 

-Here's a school aquaponics facility which hopes to add snails to its offerings.

-When Land8 talks about urban agriculture it seems to happen in spurts. Two weeks ago they published a helpful 10 principle article for creating food-producing landscapes and then a follow up article which delves into the challenges of urban agriculture.

-As practitioners know permaculture can mean many things. Here's how one group makes it synonymous with activism.

-A rise in community activism and pressure on governments to scale back and save money in the face of declining revenues has led to more do-it-yourself groups. The trend is taking off in San Francisco and Vancouver as residents help build mini-public parks using their own tools and ultimately time and money.

Another really cool Food Security job!

Located in Toronto's North York, check out the Agency Development Coordinator position at North York Harvest Food Bank. Applications are due May 1.

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 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.

Saskatoon next in line for green roof legislation?

I stumbled upon a few high quality websites over the last week. Top of the heap is EfficientGov, I've thought for years "there needs to be a resource for government officials to turn to for great ideas." And it was here all along! This week the good folks cover zoning steps to make to allow for urban farming success. Check out the other articles on leasing rooftops for solar panels and urban farming.
Here's another tip for bureaucrats. I-tree can help you figure out just how much your urban forest is worth.

-Saskatoon could be the next Canadian city with a green roof bylaw. Stormwater management is key for them, hopefully there will be a law of some kind on the books by the end of this year! That's just me hoping...

-For true fans of rainwater harvesting, the meatiest article in a while!

-A recent podcast covers the surge of permaculture in Croatia and Slovenia. It seems the recent economic downturn has led to greater reliance and interest in the movement.

-Staying on the topic of food security, the USDA yesterday released a report illuminating how important food hubs are to rural America.

Enjoy the last day of February!!!

Food security, food justice and urban agriculture

There are "hundreds of nonprofits dedicated to building organic gardens" reports Civil Eats. And their recent article takes a look at a few exciting projects from across the continent. There's one particular project that I wanted to highlight, I forgot to post it back in August! (I know, so bad). But New Roots' work with refugees, particularly in cities.

 -Could big ag and big oil join forces? It's definitely something to be aware of as the US invests more time and energy into fracking.  

-Last for today is a short but illuminating article on the role of urban agriculture in South Africa, urban ag. has historically been illegal but that hasn't stopped people from embracing it across the country.

Shia LaBeouf, Hollywood's aquaponics champ

Wow, with so much aquaponics news I should just start an aquaponics only blog!

We know that Hollywood has it's share of green celebrities, you can add Shia LeBeouf to the list. Movements can often benefit from a well-known spokesperson, and it looks like he's an early candidate for Hollywood's king of aquaponics.

-Last week first indoor farm in Chicago was licensed, an aquaponics set up which has received tremendous support from Silicon Valley.

-For most people learning the art of aquaponics means starting your own system. If you have time to spare and want to learn while doing some good, there are volunteer opportunities in Haiti to develop a community education system which could be scaled down for homes and businesses.

-It's great to get an update on the aquaponics project at the Zayed Higher Agricultural Centre for Development and Rehabilitation in Abu Dhabi. It's the biggest in the world and they are clearly not just mucking about. The staff thought that they would be ready to start selling in May...it looks like they weren't far off and have already produced 10 tonnes (11 tons) of fish!

-Compared to the aquaponics project in Abu Dhabi it seems almost everything else is small. But Greenville, South Carolina has its own "small, but big" aquaponics project up, running and helping make the community more food secure.

A couple of things

-Two green roof studies have been recently referenced on The Earth’s Institute website. It will cost you a bit to get your hands on the studies, but well worth the price.

-Near and far innovative food security efforts continue to assist those in need. Of particular interest is a permaculture project in Malawi which has trained hundreds of teachers and planted thousands of trees.

Food security job opportunities just posted

For those of you in the Toronto area looking for a year long gig, FutureWatch just posted the following opportunities:  Food Box Worker and Food Security Garden Worker.

The Toronto Food Policy Council is looking for new members

From the Toronto Food Policy Council...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are you interested in volunteering with the Toronto Food Policy Council to support and develop innovative food policies and programs for the City of Toronto?

Every year, the TFPC accepts applications for new members.

TFPC members donate their time, energy, skills and experience to keep Toronto Public Health abreast of food policy trends, challenges and possibilities. Members represent a spectrum of Toronto's diverse populations, and bring their insight and experience to the City of Toronto.

If you are interesting in finding out more about the TFPC and our membership, check out our website and blog:

www.toronto.ca/health/tfpc/

www.tfpc.to

To apply, please send a resume and one-page letter to Lauren Baker at lbaker2@toronto.ca, outlining:

- what food sector you are connected with
- the city ward/neighbourhood you live and/or work in
- the skills and experience you will contribute to the TFPC

The TFPC seeks participation from diverse food sectors and areas of the city. Applications will be assessed based on an analysis of current gaps in TFPC membership.

Applications are due April 13, 2012. Nominees will be contacted before May 15, 2012.

Occupy our food supply

-Calling all researchers. Paper submission season is here for bio char and green roofs.

-Since the winter-time occupy movement across the US and Canada was squashed, I have wondered how the movement could possibly morph. We may have one answer in the call to Occupy Our Food Supply.

-Can you get a better name for a city reporter than "Jill Urban"? Here's the appropriately named scribe on a fantastic affordable housing complex. These developers have given their all to get real enviro cred, including both extensive and intensive
green roofs among other amentities.

-If for no other reason, one can always say that urban agriculture brings communities together. In Minneapolis, it's to discuss
urban agriculture zoning amendments.

Urban agriculture is good business in Kenya

-As more municipalities open the doors to raising animals, could we see an uptick in livestock being abandoned, roaming the streets and even going feral if they become to much to handle for the owners? Animal rescue centers are already reporting an
increase in rescue requests.

-$2,000 bucks, USD, buys you a greenhouse and the beginnings of an urban agriculture business in Kenya. Add in another $600 for advice and supplies and in under 2 years you could break even. Not bad in any business.

-In the past we have talked about various ventures linking
refugees and food sovereignity. ISED is another organization with a fantastic track record of helping small scale and limited resourced farmers around the world. Check them out.

Happy March everyone!!!

Two green infrastructure/ living architecture (GILA!) words of the week

-More on the practice of countries buying agricultural land abroad and global food security. This really is a hot topic.

-San Diego city council is firmly behind urban agriculture. Let the goat keeping begin.

-In a couple of articles this week I saw attempts to expand the definition of green infrastructure. Trees are a quintessential (read: budget threatened) example.
I think most people would agree rain gardens are already seen as such. Urban agriculture, not yet, but if adopted city wide (a definite possibility in New York City in a few years), it would be hard to argue against it.

-A double dose: two living architecture/green infrastructure words of the week: regenerative cities and way finding. Yes, things can get wacky in February!

A few things

-An interesting aquaponics/food security project is developing in India. It includes a buy back guarantee for farmers who participate.

-We tend to think of the food security movement as being mostly small players, but there are large organizations doing their part as well including Feeding America.

-On January 31 San Diego's city council will be discussing various urban agriculture ordinances. On tap are the requirements for farmer markets (both daily and weekly), honey bees (2 hives per lot), community gardens and miniature goats...which have to be dehorned. Do you really have to dehorn a miniature goat???

Boston's big urban agriculture month

-If you're looking for a job in the food security field and live in Ottawa (Ontario, not Kansas) get that resume updated.

-Lots happening in Boston. January 30 you can join Will Allen to brainstorm the future of agriculture in Boston. While you're downtown, you can hop on that Red Line to check out the first winter farmer's market.

-Italian architect Stefano Boeri goes big (and green) or goes home. He has created six bold, transformational "ideas for a bio-diverse metropolis" that could be installed in and around the city of Milan, to establish "transitional states between the city, nature and agriculture" and provide "energy sources for a new model of urban economics." Visionary and Idealistic, they challenge us to think about cities and the possible in new ways. The concepts were first introduced to the public at an exhibition in Rome last year.

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.

Cities Alive - green roofs/green walls conference starts next week

I hope everyone in the USA had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
For those of us who've celebrated an American Thanksgiving, we know indulgence is par for the course, as is leftovers which may or may not be eaten quickly. America's first package free/zero waste grocery store, has a few good tips for what to do with the leftovers so everything goes fast!

-Next week, the big event for the living architecture community is the Cities Alive conference in Philadelphia. It's the 9th annual conference, this year focusing on restoring urban waters.
And more municipalities are waking up to the importance of living infrastructure. For instance, Durban, South Africa has launched a green roof pilot project.

-We're all aware of New York City's work in this area, last week Mark Bittman welcomed guest bloggers to talk more about initiatives in the City.

-Last up for today, those who live in Toronto and part of the food security scene know Anan Lololi and the Afri-Can FoodBasket program. Now, thanks to Canadian Geographic we all are.

If you want to keep bees, you might need a permit

It's that way to city hall!

Madison, Wisconsin is considering a bylaw requiring beekeepers to have permits.

-I had someone recently ask me about influences for the creation of permaculture and Hugelkultur is definitely one. I stumbled across a spring 2011 article from Permaculture Magazine and thought I should share it with everyone.

-"Food-sensitive urban planning is now a necessity" said an expert at a UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) workshop in Bangkok last week. And we'll need to utilize everything from "rooftops to railroads".

-If you know someone deserving to be on the steering committee of Food Secure Canada, November 25 is the deadline for submitting their name. You can also submit your own name...that is allowed!

Green roofs pick up steam in British Columbia

For the peak oil fans out there, last week via the wonderfully eclectic Journal of Sustainable Human Development came an address from Richard Heinberg (of the Post Carbon Institute) to the graduating class of Worchester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts. He gave an "alternative" commencement speech, some objected to having an oil company CEO be the only voice they heard before leaving the Institute.

-Port Coquitlam, in British Columbia, is one of the few cities to have a green roof bylaw. And it's great to see there isn't push back
from developers or retailers, everyone seems to be quite happy to do their part. The mayor, in particular, seems to be a big advocate and it lends credence to the belief that change starts with a few people in power at the top or a lot of people at the grassroots level.

-The web has made our world so small, I now know how urban agriculture and food security benefits those in Ethopia.

-Toledo, Ohio has it's own urban farming training center
opening in February 2012. Partnering with a local community college, it will feature greenhouses, a commercial kitchen and much more.

-15,000 signatures was no problem for Agriculture Montreal! They made the deadline in time and now Montreal's executive committee will hold public hearings on urban agriculture in Montreal. Congrats to the fifty organizations and thousands of people who worked so hard!