Old school green roof recipe

Here's an old school formula for making a green roof. I can't vouch for this as I haven't seen one done, nor watched how it performs over the years, but if you're up for an experiment on the cheap, please let me know how it works out.

-While not exactly living architecture, these new mechanical trees are supposed to replicate the real thing, while generating wind power.

-It's wonderful to see more hospitals embracing horticultural therapy and all its benefits, in Philadelphia Magee Rehab Center plans to open a $4 million dollar creative therapy center and healing gardens.

Although this is outside my normal purview, it is too cool not to pass on. Norway hopes to spend $1 billion dollars on bike infrastructure!

GILA word of the week: Compost Cuisine

One of these days I'll do another "best GILA websites". Allafrica.com, will definitely be on it. In the last week they've had great permaculture features. Check out this one detailing how students in ten schools split between Malawi (with some assistance from Norway) and Zimbabwe are getting a taste of entrepreneurism as they raise, harvest and sell fruits and vegetables.

-Yes, this story is too good to pass up. While looking into some green roof media I discovered a restaurant in Japan that serves dirt. Dirt in drinks, dirt in dessert, dirt as a dressing. A review of the restaurant points out that some of the dishes made use compost, not dirt. Duly noted. I've never heard of it before, but this can't be the only restaurant in the world...can it? Either way, I have to get there. One day...
While we're on the topic, it's probably a good time to talk about biosolids and ask your municipality if they are allowed in your compost.

-More research into the plants that are best for green roofs; in southern California a student's experiment suggests that the indigineous dudleyas may be a better fit than sedum species plants.

-Should the USA have an Office of Urban Agriculture? 200 of the nation's mayors think so.

Controversy, controversy and more local food controversy

Not sure if the food sovereignty movement has taken a more political turn and if this article is a harbinger of things to come or if this is an isolated article, but check out how local food and politics mix in this article about a small, Maine town. From the top, an objective observer might wonder what "EPA overreach" has to do with local food. The author never says, exactly, but we are just supposed to take it for granted.

-The new trade association USFRA (which includes Dupont and Monsanto) has been formed to host some "food dialogues" in DC and to battle the "misconceptions" of movies like Food Inc. and the "Pollan-ization" of the US.

-Moving on, how much did it hurt me to read this article in the NY Times about people being forced to choose less environmentally friendly products because of the bad economy?

-Enough with the bad, on to the good! Here are a couple of new permaculture websites (new to me, at least) in Norwegian and French.

-Year 15 (can you believe it???) of Barking Frog Permaculture's online certificate course kicks off in January. Taught by Dan and Cynthia Hemenway and Robert Waldrop, get in early! And there are scholarships available for those in need.