World's largest living wall - now & September 2012 + Edible infrastructure meets middle school

With the title of "World's Largest Living Wall" constantly changing hands, I decided it's time to put a date on the blog post. Pretty soon, I'll need not just month and year, but the day as well!

I was excited to read about the current champ on a reputable website...when I noticed that the designers name and the pictures looked kind of familiar.




Wouldn't you know it, this title holder is actually the title holder from September 2012.
The beauty of the web stories that are constantly circulating!!!

-This is a definite first! An apartment ad which boasts its green roof as a main selling feature.

-Forgot to add this to the most recent permaculture post, there's an online course which runs from January 21 through the spring run by the fine folks at Cornell University.

-The Badger Rock Middle School currently has 100 sixth, seventh and eigth graders but will expand to 150 students next year. Students learn in a state-of-the-art building on Madison’s south side utilizing, in part, a pared down Growing Power curriculum In addition to some incredible amenities available through the adjoined community center (two commercial incubator kitchens and a greenhouse) is the possibility of a future yogurt producing room! Virtually the entire building is made with reclaimed material and all of the landscaping is edible. The article is a must read!

-I have speculated as to which city might be the next to get a High Linesque project, New York's amazing aging elevated railway turned park. After all, it is the newest urban development solution. And our winner could be...New York! Wait, what?

 

Studies galore on the benefit of local food + cherry tomatoes on a green roof

One criticism of urban agriculture and local food movements is how there is a dearth of data to truly support more than merely anecdotes and feel good claims. Things are steadily changing. Last week saw the release of a Union for Concerned Scientists report which details how local food creates jobs, keeps money in local economies, promotes community development, and can reduce the environmental and public health costs of the food we eat. On a regional level, Madison, Wisconsin has done something similar, compiling a list of how much is food is grown, by whom and to what effect. Every city needs a report like this!

-We all know green roofs can also play a part in food production and Agriculture and Agrifood Canada biologist Marc-André Valiquette says "a 2,000-square-foot flat roof has the potential to produce one tonne of fresh vegetables."
But these would not be typical green roofs, with mostly inorganic material. Using tomatoes as an example, you can see how cherry tomatoes can grow in such media, not a bigger tomato like beefsteaks. I saw first hand last week, the cherries (here's a picture of a sun ripened beauty and another of a few still waiting for prime time) are coming along fine. The beefsteak tomatoes look like cherry tomatoes.

-There's a new agriculture program in Seattle which links refugees with garden plots in an effort to help with resettlement. Part of the New American Agriculture Program at MercyCorps Northwest the garden joins other established programs in Boise and Seattle.

-Spread over four weekends, Jamaica's first permaculture course was announced last week.

August roundup - green roofs, urban agriculture, green architecture

As the east coast hurricane leaves us and we bid adieu to the end of August, here are a few more stories which caught my eye:

-Faith based groups have often lead the way in change. In Madison, Wisconsin the Holy Wisdom Monastery is the undisputed leader.

-St. Lawrence University has just launched Canada's first Sustainable Local Food Certificate for this fall.

-Here's a fantastic article about what President Obama can do to help fight the recession utilizing urban farming.

-What is the capacity of NYC for urban crop production, green roofs and what are the potential benefits of urban agriculture in NYC? Columbia University's urban design lab has the answers.

And lastly, there are a couple of ways for North Americans to get involved in their city with living architecture.

-In Montreal a working group needs 15,000 signatures on a paper petition by Nov. 8 to have a public consultation on the state of urban agriculture in Montreal.

-If you are an Atlanta resident you can help design an urban farm.