Politics is top of mind for everyone in the USA and beyond as well. So it was interesting to see the Republican National Congress, Real Clear Politics and several credit unions in Ohio have joined forces to create a year-round horticultural therapy program. The Democrats are doing the same soon!
-Solutions for Change has been the leader in aquaponic education and production. They are tripling their size this year thanks to a $1,000,000 dollar grant.
-In Minneapolis an experimental sunken greenhouse has come through the winter, none the worse for wear, while still producing vegetables. This could be a turning point for those in colder climates.
-The insect farming industry has just reached the next level, as Mark Zuckerberg's sister has invested in a leading company.
Showing posts with label minnesota. Show all posts
Showing posts with label minnesota. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Monday, July 13, 2015
GILA words of the week: Pizza farm + mobile green wall filter
Before getting to the word of the week, here's the new title holder for the largest green wall.
A Taiwan based company built this nearly 2,600 square meter green wall, it beats the previous biggest in Singapore by more than 300 square meters.
An even bigger development may be the invention of a mobile green wall filter. Keep an eye on this company!
-On to the pizza farm! In Minnesota and Wisconsin agritourism is taking off and some farmers have cut out the middle man. Why not grow (or source locally) all of ingredients for a pizza, bake it and serve it up on a farm? You can't get much fresher!
Friday, June 20, 2014
Bike tour of Minneapolis' green roofs + Paolo Soleri's birthday
Join the Minnesota Green Roofs Council (MGRC) tomorrow, Sunday, June 22 for a bike tour of green roofs in Minneapolis. Enjoy a guided bike ride
through the city and visit five of the green roofs that protect water
quality in the city’s lakes and the Mississippi River.
-Tomorrow would have been Paolo Soleri's 95th birthday. As you know he died last April. If you have some time, check out this documentary from last year.
-Tomorrow would have been Paolo Soleri's 95th birthday. As you know he died last April. If you have some time, check out this documentary from last year.
Friday, December 20, 2013
New ways to quantify the benefits of green infrastructure
K-12 Minnesota teachers have released a comprehensive new guide for integrating school gardens with academic standards. At 268 page, there plenty for you to use as well.
-With land becoming more and more scarce, several folks have proposed planting community gardens under power lines. In California, there is a new push and in 2012 a Torontonian won a design award for the same idea.
-The benefits of green infrastructure are at least a dozen fold. But historically it has been difficult to quantify how much a green roof or green wall can increase rental and property values or reduce the cost associated with flooding. The NRDC thought it was about time that these issues were addressed.
-Sydney, Australia has a new draft green roof and green walls policy. I am not sure how this is different than the last one. The next step for Sydney is incentives! That would be exciting!
-With land becoming more and more scarce, several folks have proposed planting community gardens under power lines. In California, there is a new push and in 2012 a Torontonian won a design award for the same idea.
-The benefits of green infrastructure are at least a dozen fold. But historically it has been difficult to quantify how much a green roof or green wall can increase rental and property values or reduce the cost associated with flooding. The NRDC thought it was about time that these issues were addressed.
-Sydney, Australia has a new draft green roof and green walls policy. I am not sure how this is different than the last one. The next step for Sydney is incentives! That would be exciting!
he
draft policy and implementation plan promotes the measures as a means
of improving air quality, supporting biodiversity and creating new
places for relaxation in the city centre.
At the moment, there are around 96,000 square metres of green roofs and walls across Sydney and the trend
continues to grow rapidly. Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the city is
receiving around one new development application featuring a green roof
or wall each week, and that there are more than 50 projects already
approved for construction.
“Green roofs and walls are not only
beautiful additions to buildings, they also improve air quality, clean
stormwater and provide a natural habitat for biodiversity. We want to
support this emerging industry, give local providers a boost and help
city residents and businesses discover the benefits of installing green
roofs and walls,” Moore said when announcing the new draft policy.
- See more at: http://sourceable.net/sydneys-new-green-roofs-walls-policy/#sthash.5vBRqvJm.dpuThursday, November 22, 2012
The world's first aquaponics based horticultural therapy garden
Two worlds have finally been joined. Horticultural therapy, which is definitely on the rise and aquaponics, which has gone stratospheric, have been integrated to make a fantastic garden for advanced-dementia residents at a care facility in Australia.
-A couple of surveys for you to fill out, if you have the time and inclination. And especially if you live in Minnesota or Illinois.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is developing a plan to address urban agriculture within the park system and is looking for your thoughts. Similarly the Ohio State University Extension Office wants your opinion on what sorts of programs would be best in 2013.
-Chicago wants to leave other urban agriculture friendly municipaliies in the dust by creating an urban farming center 13 miles long! That is amazing news, sensational actually. And makes it easier to relay this article from Macedonia as a group of permaculture enthusiasts look to get their project up and running.
-A couple of surveys for you to fill out, if you have the time and inclination. And especially if you live in Minnesota or Illinois.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is developing a plan to address urban agriculture within the park system and is looking for your thoughts. Similarly the Ohio State University Extension Office wants your opinion on what sorts of programs would be best in 2013.
-Chicago wants to leave other urban agriculture friendly municipaliies in the dust by creating an urban farming center 13 miles long! That is amazing news, sensational actually. And makes it easier to relay this article from Macedonia as a group of permaculture enthusiasts look to get their project up and running.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Knoxville vs Milwaukee: The Urban Agriculture battle for $5 million dollars
A few quick hits before the videos, which I am sure you have spied, down below, waiting to be watched!
Last week Israel launched its first green roof research center, making it also the first in the Middle East.
-In urban agriculture policy news, while Minneapolis is just getting started on its urban agriculture policy, Sioux Falls is at the end of the process and is ready for public comment.
-Bloomberg’s Mayor Challenge has whittled its list of finalists to 20 cities. Both Milwaukee and Knoxville have urban agriculture themed ideas, let's take a look at the entrants.
Last week Israel launched its first green roof research center, making it also the first in the Middle East.
-In urban agriculture policy news, while Minneapolis is just getting started on its urban agriculture policy, Sioux Falls is at the end of the process and is ready for public comment.
-Bloomberg’s Mayor Challenge has whittled its list of finalists to 20 cities. Both Milwaukee and Knoxville have urban agriculture themed ideas, let's take a look at the entrants.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
A quick aquaponics round up
With the amount of aquaponics information coming out these days, I could probably have a blog just devoted to aquaponics.
-For those looking to start their own large scale aquaponics system, a Cape Cod operation has some tips. Much I have read about aquaponics stresses starting small and scaling up, these owners have different advice.
-A 2 hour drive north a Lynn (Greater Boston) elementary school is getting their own system. I think this may be the first school system in Massachusetts, need to double check that.
-From Minnesota we learn of two new aquaponics ventures, the 55,000 square foot one featured and another 38,000 square foot, a few years old.
-For those looking to start their own large scale aquaponics system, a Cape Cod operation has some tips. Much I have read about aquaponics stresses starting small and scaling up, these owners have different advice.
-A 2 hour drive north a Lynn (Greater Boston) elementary school is getting their own system. I think this may be the first school system in Massachusetts, need to double check that.
-From Minnesota we learn of two new aquaponics ventures, the 55,000 square foot one featured and another 38,000 square foot, a few years old.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Bright Farms scales up urban farming production + your template for urban ag business survival
-If you're active in the urban agriculture field you know how difficult it can be to earn a living as an urban farmer. Global Green USA has released a report, which could serve as a template, for what your organization needs to become a sustainable urban agriculture endeavor.
-Bright Farms is scaling up in a major way, announcing a new partnership in Minnesota with other greenhouses on their way soon. How are they doing it? This article pulls the curtain back a bit on their financing scheme.
-Check out Boston's pilot urban agriculture rezoning initiative. Instead of removing regulations, like other cities have, they have chosen to add more to make it easier to grow food.
-Bright Farms is scaling up in a major way, announcing a new partnership in Minnesota with other greenhouses on their way soon. How are they doing it? This article pulls the curtain back a bit on their financing scheme.
-Check out Boston's pilot urban agriculture rezoning initiative. Instead of removing regulations, like other cities have, they have chosen to add more to make it easier to grow food.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Before you get married, you must plant a tree
-Not sure what this statement means, but it appears the Gill Tract saga at UC Berkeley has entered a different stage. Does anyone know where one can get an objective summary of what happened in Berkeley and what it means for all stakeholders?
-It’s the best when press releases are issued which include the names and contact information for your elected officials. Last week Sioux Falls began a discussion on urban agriculture husbandry, while St. Paul launched a new website to “encourage the increased consumption, production and distribution of healthy, sustainable and locally grown food.
Minnesota has a ton of fantastic initiatives growing strong, like the Minnesota Food Association, a “small business incubator teaching immigrant and minority persons how to operate financially viable farms. A member of the National Immigrant Farming Initiative, the MFA is just one of many such programs thriving across the USA.
-If you want some interesting banter and a few urban agriculture yucks while doing your household errands, listen to last week’s Science Friday talk on NPR. From rooftops to abandoned lots, there’s much to be eaten in your city, wherever you are.
-Naturally you are wondering about today's title. Across the world people understand the importance of trees and in different places, different things are being done to preserve the tree canopy. From the Great Green Wall in the Sahara, to an interesting idea in the Philippines where before getting a marriage license one city would like to mandate that the couple must first plant a tree.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
New contender for biggest green wall + 365 Days of Green in...
...Jersey City?. Believe it. Energy audits for 25 municipal buildings and creating two hydroponic greenhouses which will provide job-training and educational opportunities and more.
-There's a new contender for biggest green wall, some say the biggest in Asia, some reports say the biggest in the world. I've looked far and wide for pictures, none have surfaced yet. When I track some down, I'll be sure to post them!
In the midwest, urban farmers in in Michigan have won the USDA's small farmers of the year and Minneapolis has expanded its urban farming regulations.
-There's a new contender for biggest green wall, some say the biggest in Asia, some reports say the biggest in the world. I've looked far and wide for pictures, none have surfaced yet. When I track some down, I'll be sure to post them!
In the midwest, urban farmers in in Michigan have won the USDA's small farmers of the year and Minneapolis has expanded its urban farming regulations.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Landscape architect = the cool teen; Architect = the cool teen's old man...so what does that make Living architecture?
Perhaps the cool teen's exchangestudent friend, that decides to stick around for a while? With healthy growth of nearly 28.5% in 2010, the comparison could be apt.
-How many websites does it take to bridge a gap between computer technology and urban agriculture? One!
-With April here there are a ton of opportunities in the living architecture field. From July 10-22 you can take a trip to Venezuela and spend 11 days (lodging, transportation and most meals included) visiting farms, social programs and government officials to learn about urbanization issues, food sovereignty and more and a month earlier check out the Pine Ridge Permaculture Design Course in South Dakota.
-Earlier in the week a Republican lawmaker from Minnesota called green roofs and other earth friendly measures frivolous, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak jumped all over that one like he was the second coming of Jesse "The Body" Ventura.
-How many websites does it take to bridge a gap between computer technology and urban agriculture? One!
-With April here there are a ton of opportunities in the living architecture field. From July 10-22 you can take a trip to Venezuela and spend 11 days (lodging, transportation and most meals included) visiting farms, social programs and government officials to learn about urbanization issues, food sovereignty and more and a month earlier check out the Pine Ridge Permaculture Design Course in South Dakota.
-Earlier in the week a Republican lawmaker from Minnesota called green roofs and other earth friendly measures frivolous, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak jumped all over that one like he was the second coming of Jesse "The Body" Ventura.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Last post of 2010
Whenever possible I like to post about exotic locations and imagine I was working (or, not working) there. Here's a profile of a permaculture project in Maui. Speaking of exotic, for those deep, and I mean DEEP into green roof research, this one's for you.
-For those in Minnesota (and those who love Minnesota), you've got about 10 days to comment on their draft Urban Agriculture Policy.
-More good news, in the form of an urban agriculture charter school and Kingsborough (New York) Community College running NYC's first campus farm worked by students.
-It's nice when folks attend cool gatherings and blog about it, here are two perspectives from the recent Black Farmers and Urban Gardeners conference.
-Lastly, couldn't find a link to this online, so I'm dropping the whole press release. The Economics of Happiness is coming to a town near you in 2011.
Happy New Year everyone, read on and I'll see you in '11...
"Please join us for a special screening of ISEC Director Helena Norberg-Hodge’s new documentary film, “The Economics of Happiness”, which illuminates the worldwide movement for economic localization including the small scale and urban farming movement. We are launching the film in North America with events in Seattle, Berkeley, Portland, Toronto, Garrison (NY), and New York City. If you can’t attend one of the launch events, there are other ways to be involved (see below).
“The Economics of Happiness” is a call, from every continent, for systemic economic change. Among the voices in the film are Vandana Shiva, David Korten, Michael Shuman, Richard Heinberg, Rob Hopkins, Juliet Schor, Zac Goldsmith, Bill McKibben, and Samdhong Rinpoche, Prime Minister of the Tibetan government in exile. Each screening will be followed by a presentation or panel discussion with Helena Norberg-Hodge and other special guests.
Even if you are unable to attend any of the launch events, you can still help ISEC in one or more of the following ways:
Forward this email to colleagues, friends, family, and local media who might want to attend
Tell your friends, family, colleagues and neighbors about our film
Set up a screening event in your area by signing up at: http://www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org/email-newsletter
Make a donation to help us spread the message of “The Economics of Happiness” to the world at: http://www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org/donate-now
Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Wiserearth or Twitter at the links below.
To learn more about the film and how you can help, please visit our website: http://www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org
Where You Can See “The Economics of Happiness”
Seattle, WA Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 6:30-10:00pm
Town Hall (downstairs), 1119 8th Ave., Seattle, WA 98101-2738, http://www.townhallseattle.org/
The film will be followed by a panel discussion with producer Helena Norberg-Hodge, authors David Korten and John de Graaf, and Yes! Magazine Executive Director Fran Korten.
Berkeley, CA, Thursday, January 13, 2011, 6:30-10:00pm
David Brower Center (Goldman Theater), 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704, www.browercenter.org
The film will be followed by a panel discussion with producer Helena Norberg-Hodge, author Richard Heinberg, Jenny Kassan of the Sustainable Economies Law Center, Rosa González of Bay Localize, and Eric Holt-Gimenez of Food First.
Portland, OR, Friday, January 21, 2011, 7:00-10:00 pm
Main Street Sanctuary, First Unitarian Church, 1011 SW 12th Avenue, Portland, OR 97205, www.firstunitarianportland.org
The film will be followed by a discussion with producer Helena Norberg-Hodge.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Monday, January 24, 2011, 5:30-9:00 pm
William Doo Auditorium, University of Toronto, 45 Willcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, http://www.harthouse.ca/location/william-doo-auditorium-new-college
The film will be preceded by a reception and exhibit of artwork by Sheridan College students entitled “Animating Good Food Ideas”. It will be followed by a panel discussion with producer Helena Norberg-Hodge, activist chef Joshna Maharaj and urban farmer Eric Rosenkrantz, moderated by author Wayne Roberts.
Garrison, New York, Wednesday, January 26, 7:00-9:00 pm
The Garrison Institute, c/o Glenclyff, 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, NY, http://www.garrisoninstitute.org/
The film will be followed by a talk with producer Helena Norberg-Hodge.
No reservations required, but the Garrison Institute asks that you RSVP so they can anticipate attendance. For more information or to RSVP, please call 845.424.4800 or email garrison@garrisoninstitute.org
New York City, NY, Thursday, January 27, 2011, 6:30 pm-10:00 pm
The Great Hall, The Cooper Union, 30 Cooper Square (7 East 7th Street), New York, NY 10003, http://cooper.edu/
The film will be followed by a panel discussion with producer Helena Norberg-Hodge, Judy Wicks, co-founder of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), Gloria Steinem, acclaimed writer and co-founder of New York and Ms. magazines, and Stacy Mitchell, author and senior researcher with the New Rules Project.
A $15 donation is greatly appreciated at each event; no one turned away.
I look forward to hearing from you if you need more information about the film or wish to get involved.
Sincerely,
Robert Ovetz, Ph.D.
Outreach & Events Coordinator
International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC)
PO Box 9475
Berkeley, CA 94709
USA
+1 510.548.4915 (office)
economicsofhappiness@isec.org.uk
www.isec.org.uk
www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org
Watch our trailer on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ISECeconofhappiness
Join us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/The-Economics-of-Happiness/129994847035746?ref=ts
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EconofHappiness
Join us at Wiserearth at: http://www.wiserearth.org/group/Economicsofhappiness
-For those in Minnesota (and those who love Minnesota), you've got about 10 days to comment on their draft Urban Agriculture Policy.
-More good news, in the form of an urban agriculture charter school and Kingsborough (New York) Community College running NYC's first campus farm worked by students.
-It's nice when folks attend cool gatherings and blog about it, here are two perspectives from the recent Black Farmers and Urban Gardeners conference.
-Lastly, couldn't find a link to this online, so I'm dropping the whole press release. The Economics of Happiness is coming to a town near you in 2011.
Happy New Year everyone, read on and I'll see you in '11...
"Please join us for a special screening of ISEC Director Helena Norberg-Hodge’s new documentary film, “The Economics of Happiness”, which illuminates the worldwide movement for economic localization including the small scale and urban farming movement. We are launching the film in North America with events in Seattle, Berkeley, Portland, Toronto, Garrison (NY), and New York City. If you can’t attend one of the launch events, there are other ways to be involved (see below).
“The Economics of Happiness” is a call, from every continent, for systemic economic change. Among the voices in the film are Vandana Shiva, David Korten, Michael Shuman, Richard Heinberg, Rob Hopkins, Juliet Schor, Zac Goldsmith, Bill McKibben, and Samdhong Rinpoche, Prime Minister of the Tibetan government in exile. Each screening will be followed by a presentation or panel discussion with Helena Norberg-Hodge and other special guests.
Even if you are unable to attend any of the launch events, you can still help ISEC in one or more of the following ways:
Forward this email to colleagues, friends, family, and local media who might want to attend
Tell your friends, family, colleagues and neighbors about our film
Set up a screening event in your area by signing up at: http://www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org/email-newsletter
Make a donation to help us spread the message of “The Economics of Happiness” to the world at: http://www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org/donate-now
Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Wiserearth or Twitter at the links below.
To learn more about the film and how you can help, please visit our website: http://www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org
Where You Can See “The Economics of Happiness”
Seattle, WA Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 6:30-10:00pm
Town Hall (downstairs), 1119 8th Ave., Seattle, WA 98101-2738, http://www.townhallseattle.org/
The film will be followed by a panel discussion with producer Helena Norberg-Hodge, authors David Korten and John de Graaf, and Yes! Magazine Executive Director Fran Korten.
Berkeley, CA, Thursday, January 13, 2011, 6:30-10:00pm
David Brower Center (Goldman Theater), 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704, www.browercenter.org
The film will be followed by a panel discussion with producer Helena Norberg-Hodge, author Richard Heinberg, Jenny Kassan of the Sustainable Economies Law Center, Rosa González of Bay Localize, and Eric Holt-Gimenez of Food First.
Portland, OR, Friday, January 21, 2011, 7:00-10:00 pm
Main Street Sanctuary, First Unitarian Church, 1011 SW 12th Avenue, Portland, OR 97205, www.firstunitarianportland.org
The film will be followed by a discussion with producer Helena Norberg-Hodge.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Monday, January 24, 2011, 5:30-9:00 pm
William Doo Auditorium, University of Toronto, 45 Willcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, http://www.harthouse.ca/location/william-doo-auditorium-new-college
The film will be preceded by a reception and exhibit of artwork by Sheridan College students entitled “Animating Good Food Ideas”. It will be followed by a panel discussion with producer Helena Norberg-Hodge, activist chef Joshna Maharaj and urban farmer Eric Rosenkrantz, moderated by author Wayne Roberts.
Garrison, New York, Wednesday, January 26, 7:00-9:00 pm
The Garrison Institute, c/o Glenclyff, 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D, Garrison, NY, http://www.garrisoninstitute.org/
The film will be followed by a talk with producer Helena Norberg-Hodge.
No reservations required, but the Garrison Institute asks that you RSVP so they can anticipate attendance. For more information or to RSVP, please call 845.424.4800 or email garrison@garrisoninstitute.org
New York City, NY, Thursday, January 27, 2011, 6:30 pm-10:00 pm
The Great Hall, The Cooper Union, 30 Cooper Square (7 East 7th Street), New York, NY 10003, http://cooper.edu/
The film will be followed by a panel discussion with producer Helena Norberg-Hodge, Judy Wicks, co-founder of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), Gloria Steinem, acclaimed writer and co-founder of New York and Ms. magazines, and Stacy Mitchell, author and senior researcher with the New Rules Project.
A $15 donation is greatly appreciated at each event; no one turned away.
I look forward to hearing from you if you need more information about the film or wish to get involved.
Sincerely,
Robert Ovetz, Ph.D.
Outreach & Events Coordinator
International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC)
PO Box 9475
Berkeley, CA 94709
USA
+1 510.548.4915 (office)
economicsofhappiness@isec.org.uk
www.isec.org.uk
www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org
Watch our trailer on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ISECeconofhappiness
Join us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/The-Economics-of-Happiness/129994847035746?ref=ts
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EconofHappiness
Join us at Wiserearth at: http://www.wiserearth.org/group/Economicsofhappiness
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
What the Future Will Bring
-The Wall Street Journal recently asked several prominent architects what the green house of the future will look like, naturally, it will have living walls. Check out the "Incredible Edible House".
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124050414436548553.html
-The Minneapolis Target Center will get a $5.3 Million dollar Green Roof, we all know 'Wolves love green.
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/Target_Center_Green_Roof_April_28_2009
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124050414436548553.html
-The Minneapolis Target Center will get a $5.3 Million dollar Green Roof, we all know 'Wolves love green.
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/Target_Center_Green_Roof_April_28_2009
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