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.
Showing posts with label kenya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kenya. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Thursday, December 10, 2015
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.
-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.
-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.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
President Obama releases comprehensive plan to save American bees
Kibera, Kenya has one of the largest slums in the world. To combat food insecurity the National Youth Service (NYS), a government agency that promotes youth affairs through the ministry of devolution and planning, has begun distributing a series of sacks that are filled with manure, soil and small stones to create simple, and cheap, urban gardens.
-New Jersey has signed into law that the third week in March is now, statewide, know as “Horticultural Therapy Week”.
-D.C. wants more green roofs to ameliorate their overburdened stormwater system and now, they will certainly get more! Speaking of D.C., on the federal side, President Obama has created the first "National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators". As everyone is aware by now, this is definitely needed!
-Historically farmers turned to agricultural colleges, usually in rural areas because that's where the farms are, for assistance on questions like "What crops can I plant (and how) to diversify?" and "Where can I have my soil tested?" With the rise in urban agriculture, perhaps urban operations need similar, expert help...which is local?
The Sustainable Cities Collective is trying to chip in by offering a free webinar on how to start and run a sustainable urban agriculture company. They were incredibly thorough!
-Costa Rica is now the most recent nation to give aquaponics a whirl.
-And lastly for today is NPR tackling food forests. Look at all the comments!
-New Jersey has signed into law that the third week in March is now, statewide, know as “Horticultural Therapy Week”.
-D.C. wants more green roofs to ameliorate their overburdened stormwater system and now, they will certainly get more! Speaking of D.C., on the federal side, President Obama has created the first "National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators". As everyone is aware by now, this is definitely needed!
-Historically farmers turned to agricultural colleges, usually in rural areas because that's where the farms are, for assistance on questions like "What crops can I plant (and how) to diversify?" and "Where can I have my soil tested?" With the rise in urban agriculture, perhaps urban operations need similar, expert help...which is local?
The Sustainable Cities Collective is trying to chip in by offering a free webinar on how to start and run a sustainable urban agriculture company. They were incredibly thorough!
-Costa Rica is now the most recent nation to give aquaponics a whirl.
-And lastly for today is NPR tackling food forests. Look at all the comments!
Thursday, November 20, 2014
GILA words of the week: gated agriculture and cemetery farming
-Romania has it's first horticultural therapy program, but if doctors William Brid and Matilda van den Bosch had their way, horticultural therapy would be part of the publicly funded national health service!
-Everyone wants a Highline, an iconic green roof with seemingly unlimited appeal. But not everyone can have one. Read the comments at the bottom of this article, there are some undiscovered stand-up comedians waiting to be signed!
-Baltimore has a few interesting GILA ideas on the go. The first is called "Green Tracks". There are several component to he project, but the one I'll mention here is using the area along the Amtrak corridor for community gardens. I hope they keep an eye on possible existing contamination and contamination over time.
The second is allocating some of the 14,000 vacant lots in the city for flower production. Nice work Baltimore!
-We all know urban agriculture is huge. How big? Researchers have found all the farms together cover an area the size of Europe. And those 456 million hectares (1.12 billion acres), 15% is in the city proper. Urban agriculture will be crucial, especially in Africa. with half of the continents inhabitants living in cities by 2030. In Kenya a company wants to be a pioneer in providing the produce. The idea? Gate some land and lease it to prospective farmers.
Which gets me to wondering. With development pressures could we see more urban agriculture in marginal or previously taboo lands? In the Philippines a new urban agriculture garden has opened in a cemetery. It seems the cemetery has rich, unused pland within its gates. in the future, could we one day see food production happening anywhere soil is available?
-Everyone wants a Highline, an iconic green roof with seemingly unlimited appeal. But not everyone can have one. Read the comments at the bottom of this article, there are some undiscovered stand-up comedians waiting to be signed!
-Baltimore has a few interesting GILA ideas on the go. The first is called "Green Tracks". There are several component to he project, but the one I'll mention here is using the area along the Amtrak corridor for community gardens. I hope they keep an eye on possible existing contamination and contamination over time.
The second is allocating some of the 14,000 vacant lots in the city for flower production. Nice work Baltimore!
-We all know urban agriculture is huge. How big? Researchers have found all the farms together cover an area the size of Europe. And those 456 million hectares (1.12 billion acres), 15% is in the city proper. Urban agriculture will be crucial, especially in Africa. with half of the continents inhabitants living in cities by 2030. In Kenya a company wants to be a pioneer in providing the produce. The idea? Gate some land and lease it to prospective farmers.
Which gets me to wondering. With development pressures could we see more urban agriculture in marginal or previously taboo lands? In the Philippines a new urban agriculture garden has opened in a cemetery. It seems the cemetery has rich, unused pland within its gates. in the future, could we one day see food production happening anywhere soil is available?
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Panasonic enters the vertical farm race + green infrastructure's many faces
Singapore may be the global leader in vertical farming companies. With precious little land available for farming, they've had to look up or continue importing their food. Panasonic has jumped into the fray, hoping to add "agriculture to their potential growth portfolio." Could this be the start of something big in the industry?
-A county government in Kenya has recruited a private company to set-up aquaponics projects in five cities to increase jobs for youth and food production.
-Solutions for Change has earned itself even more cash, $1 million dollars, to expand aquaponics program to provide 1.6 million servings of greens. These folks know how to raise cash!!!
-Talk about comprehensive, take a look at this article (on all of the links!!!) about the strategies, tools and role parks (especially those in and near Los Angeles) can play in combating climate change.
-Utne magazine proposes that another form of green infrastructure, trails, are the new town square and farms have the potential to be agritourism destinations.
-Tacoma's food forest is 6 months old. Here's an update on how it is coming along. I love how the adults are keenly focused on the trees, the baby is staring right into the camera.
-A county government in Kenya has recruited a private company to set-up aquaponics projects in five cities to increase jobs for youth and food production.
-Solutions for Change has earned itself even more cash, $1 million dollars, to expand aquaponics program to provide 1.6 million servings of greens. These folks know how to raise cash!!!
-Talk about comprehensive, take a look at this article (on all of the links!!!) about the strategies, tools and role parks (especially those in and near Los Angeles) can play in combating climate change.
-Utne magazine proposes that another form of green infrastructure, trails, are the new town square and farms have the potential to be agritourism destinations.
-Tacoma's food forest is 6 months old. Here's an update on how it is coming along. I love how the adults are keenly focused on the trees, the baby is staring right into the camera.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Rent-a-chicken
Over the last couple of years there has been a huge increase in urban agriculture interest. Recent reports of chicken abandonment, once the chickens stop laying eggs or when the going gets tough (winter!), are horrible, so it's wonderful that someone thought of a fantastic solution, rent-a-chicken!
-From the "this is so big, how did I never know that?" file comes the popular Kenyan comic strip magazine and radio broadcast Shujaaz. I may have to learn a little sheng to understand what three million listeners love!
-The University of Vermont’s Spatial Analysis Lab and the USDA Forest Service’s Northern Research Station have come up with a fantastic way to help municipalities to prioritize tree restoration projects. Could this tool be used to figure out where best to place other green infrastructure, like green roofs or green walls?
-Copenhagen has repeatedly shown to be one of the most progressive cities, in regards to green infrastructure. Here's an update on how Copenhagen is tackling climate change through progressive environmental design.
-Social cost benefits for urban agriculture as generally hard to come by, especially ones crunched by esteemed sources, so relish this report from the Netherlands.
-From the "this is so big, how did I never know that?" file comes the popular Kenyan comic strip magazine and radio broadcast Shujaaz. I may have to learn a little sheng to understand what three million listeners love!
-The University of Vermont’s Spatial Analysis Lab and the USDA Forest Service’s Northern Research Station have come up with a fantastic way to help municipalities to prioritize tree restoration projects. Could this tool be used to figure out where best to place other green infrastructure, like green roofs or green walls?
-Copenhagen has repeatedly shown to be one of the most progressive cities, in regards to green infrastructure. Here's an update on how Copenhagen is tackling climate change through progressive environmental design.
-Social cost benefits for urban agriculture as generally hard to come by, especially ones crunched by esteemed sources, so relish this report from the Netherlands.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Urban agriculture word of the week: grand-chickens
Yes, for those of you who are over 50, childless and raising chickens (can I say “chickenfull”...is that a word I just made up but need to trademark ASAP?) comes the word “grand-chicken”, for poultry you treat like family...but you eventually eat. Anyway, I digress. Add Arlington, VA to the list of towns debating current zoning laws restricting urban agriculture.
-Has everyone been following this Occupy the Farm movement in Berkeley, California? You’ve got to read about it daily, because the situation is constantly evolving, from the original occupation, to the ongoing negotiations and the displacement of the occupiers and more.
How about a quick look at some world green infrastructure news?
-We’ll start off in Britain, where a recent article from the Green Prophet states how gardens play an important role in Islam and Muslim culture and delineates the difference between traditional formal Islamic gardens and gardens reflecting Islamic traditions
-In Kenya, it looks like we have the first rumblings of a green roof movement.
-Lastly in Malaysia, if you have a moment, read more about this groups struggle to save a permaculture influenced farm from the government. And if you are so moved, sign the petition.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
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!!!
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!!!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Gaia university debuts permaculture diploma in 2012
-Starting in 2012 Gaia University will begin offering an International Diploma of Permaculture Design. In my opinion the most important parts of this development are:
*that this diploma offers an intermediate step before one attains their master permaculture teachers and:
*it offers a course (online!) which is not region specific, so anyone, anywhere can get their feet wet with permaculture.
-There was great hope in Baltimore that a bill giving tax breaks to urban farmers might make it through city council.It's not to be, unfortunately.
-In Kenya, urban farming can mean the difference between is life and death. There are a TON of startling facts in this comprehensive article, including that 95 percent of those surveyed in Kibera, Kenya reported worrying about running out of food.
*that this diploma offers an intermediate step before one attains their master permaculture teachers and:
*it offers a course (online!) which is not region specific, so anyone, anywhere can get their feet wet with permaculture.
-There was great hope in Baltimore that a bill giving tax breaks to urban farmers might make it through city council.It's not to be, unfortunately.
-In Kenya, urban farming can mean the difference between is life and death. There are a TON of startling facts in this comprehensive article, including that 95 percent of those surveyed in Kibera, Kenya reported worrying about running out of food.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
"Cash for grass" or "rip your strip" + the latest from Africa
For many of those on this side of the continent, Las Vegas' cash for grass program is a brand new idea. Hmmm...there are a few cities which have had issues with droughts over the last decade (I'm looking at you, Atlanta), I wonder how a similar program would work elsewhere? This article does a really nice job rounding up the water conservation problems and programs around the US.
Speaking of roundup, lots of info from the plateau continent in the last few weeks, including some rainwater recovery programs in Tunisia, sponsored by
International Development Research Center (IDRC-CANADA) and urban agriculture developments in Morocco.
Further down south there are a couple from Kenya. Run by an Italian NGO and Nairobi based grassroots initiative, the first story features the farm in a sack. Next up is a broader article about the urban farming movement across Africa, but starting off in Nairobi.
Okay, back to the...is there a nickname for North America? Edible geographygoes for the gusto with links galore and a preview of the USDA's Food Atlas. Bring a life vest before you decide to dive into this data.
Kongjian Yu in Harvard Design Magazine details how future cities "will be new garden cities.. emitting low or no net carbon, productive and conservation-minded. Rainwater will no longer be discharged from municipal pipes but will be retained in local ponds and supplement groundwater. Green spaces will be full of crops and fruit trees, instead of ornamental flowers and fruitless trees. Rice and broomcorn will ripen in the fields of communities and schools. In the harvest season, animals and humans will take pleasure together. Architectural surfaces will support photosynthesis. The roofs will be fish-raising ponds, with the functions of heat preservation, energy saving, and food production. Cellars will be great mushroom factories.” Sign me up.
Don't forget to check out the rest of the magazine'ssynopsis.
Speaking of roundup, lots of info from the plateau continent in the last few weeks, including some rainwater recovery programs in Tunisia, sponsored by
International Development Research Center (IDRC-CANADA) and urban agriculture developments in Morocco.
Further down south there are a couple from Kenya. Run by an Italian NGO and Nairobi based grassroots initiative, the first story features the farm in a sack. Next up is a broader article about the urban farming movement across Africa, but starting off in Nairobi.
Okay, back to the...is there a nickname for North America? Edible geographygoes for the gusto with links galore and a preview of the USDA's Food Atlas. Bring a life vest before you decide to dive into this data.
Kongjian Yu in Harvard Design Magazine details how future cities "will be new garden cities.. emitting low or no net carbon, productive and conservation-minded. Rainwater will no longer be discharged from municipal pipes but will be retained in local ponds and supplement groundwater. Green spaces will be full of crops and fruit trees, instead of ornamental flowers and fruitless trees. Rice and broomcorn will ripen in the fields of communities and schools. In the harvest season, animals and humans will take pleasure together. Architectural surfaces will support photosynthesis. The roofs will be fish-raising ponds, with the functions of heat preservation, energy saving, and food production. Cellars will be great mushroom factories.” Sign me up.
Don't forget to check out the rest of the magazine'ssynopsis.
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