In Zimbabawe, urban agriculture=environmental degradation

Over the last week we have seen some really interesting urban agriculture developments in North America and Africa.

-In Roanoke, Virginia, a 12 acre urban farm was scuttled by local opposition. In Vancouver, British Columbia, the protest seems to be less about the agriculture part and more about the misappropriation of funds or at least, one party doesn't like the projects which the other party is funding.

-In Zimbabwe, urban agriculture has become even more of a political football. The Harare City Council is enforcing the pre-existing ban on urban agriculture and police have been charged with razing any gardens defying the law. The reason? The farming is causing serious environmental degradation. Another political party claims ill-will towards President Mugabe is behind the push.

I totally, totally forgot about this. The Rocky Mountain Institute think there are big opportunities for this new energy era. With a book entitled "Reinventing Fire", you know they are shooting for the moon.
In their words "it offers a blueprint for a business-led transition from a fossil fuel-based economy to one based on renewables, saving $5 trillion without requiring new federal taxes, subsidies, mandates, laws or policy innovations that call for Acts of Congress."
I can't wait to read this book!

And lastly, here's a rendering of what that massive aquaponics facility will look like:

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.

Urban agriculture around the world

It has been a while since my last post, lots is going on!

Some states are in the news for their urban agriculture ventures. Quebec has drafted a public policy an agri-food which includes a local food policy.

Belize is providing seeds and technical assistance for its residents.

-South Sudan is a brand new country and it needs to get its agriculture sector up and running. $50 million from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) should be a good start.
In Cairo, urban agriculture is growing as well.

-Entrepreneurs in Switzerland havea new urban agriculture closed loop aquaponics system. Will it be commercialized soon? We'll see.

-Last is a North American story, with roots in
Burma and Nepal.

"Urban agriculture is the new golf"

The LA Times let's us know that more housing developments are being built around urban farming...therefore making urban ag "the new golf".

-Meanwhile in Senegal, officials agree that city-planners must make urban horticulture an integral part of their development and planning and Belize has taken up the cause as well.

-Vertical gardens have hit the big time when they get a TIME profile. It's great to see the author did his homework and can share the costs with the readers. There's something TIME's straightforward writing which is refreshing.

-Lastly I'll cut and paste a press release, because I can't for the life of me find a link, with some exciting news for urban farmers in Canada:

Wednesday December 8th, 2010
NFU OPENS MEMBERSHIP TO URBAN FARMERS
Saskatoon, Sask - National Farmers Union (NFU) membership is now open to urban farmers, according to a resolution passed at the NFU's 41st Annual Convention, held from December 2-4 in Saskatoon. The NFU constitution, states that, membership is open to any person that is engaged in farming in Canada.
Newly elected, NFU Youth Vice-President, Paul Slomp stated that "young and new farmers are supporting themselves and feeding their communities by producing fruits, vegetables, grains and some cases livestock on lands within city boundaries." Paul, a livestock farmer from Eastern Ontario, went on to say, "These farmers tend to be well-educated and innovative in their efforts to reclaim unused acreage. The NFU is very inclusive and our members have diverse operations. It makes sense to include urban farmers in the organization. Membership in the NFU will give these farmers a forum to bring policy to all levels of government, and allow them to contribute both their expertise and their concerns to the betterment of all farm families."
"These plots may be small but these skilled farmers use them quite extensively, returning from $5000 to $10,000/acre," said NFU Womens President, Joan Brady. Brady, who operates an intensive market garden on 3.5 acres in Huron County went on to say, "communities are increasingly concerned about planning for their food needs for the future. Food production in the cities will act as a buffer to the insecurity of a global food system, well beyond the control of the average Canadian."
The NFU is a non-partisan, nation-wide democratic organization made up of thousands of farm families from across Canada who produce a wide variety of commodities, including grains, livestock, fruits and vegetables. The NFU was founded in 1969 and chartered in 1970 under a Special Act of Parliament. The mandate is to work for policies designed to:
1. raise net farm incomes from the marketplace;
2. promote a food system that is built on a foundation of financially-viable family farms which produce high-quality, healthy, safe food;
3. encourage environmentally-sensitive practices that will protect our precious soil, water and other natural resources; and
4. promote social and economic justice for food producers and all citizens.
- 30 -
For more information, questions about NFU policies, or questions about membership, please contact:
Joan Brady, NFU Womens President (519) 237-3139
Paul Slomp, NFU Youth Vice President (613) 230-0684
Kevin Wipf, NFU Executive Director (306) 652-9465

Things a' sprouting in the Midwest

This week, all of a sudden urban agriculture news came streaming in from the Midwestern States...

-In Kansas City city gardeners can now sell produce from their homes! Wow!

-In Wisconsin farmers are trying to make the switch to organic and are looking for community support. I must admit, I was totally suckered by this next headline "Will city shut off water for urban gardens?". Turns out in Milwaukee people are allowed to pay to tap into unmetered fire hydrants to water urban gardens on unused lots. Really? You can do this in Milwaukee??? Is this common elsewhere? Come 2011, that's it for this practice it seems. What now?

And one pick before I go, this green roof on the Urrezkoenea House in Spain! Nice!!!

There's no stopping us now

A couple of reports in the last few days indicate that the recession did not effect the green building movement worldwide, and that the green roof industry grew by over 16% in North America.

If you're in NYC and looking for an urban agriculture gig in September, Farm City has the job for you. Also, there's a permaculture offering in Montana. A little bit further from home, if you're in Ho Chi Minh City there should be opportunities in urban ag for decades to come. This article is chock full of stats, a math professor's dream.

Ahh...Venice.

GSA shelving 250 foot green wall?

It's been a while, so let the flurry begin...

-Sustainable Cities Collective sheds light on Cleveland’s new policy to attract and create local, sustainable business. New legislation allows the city to offer a 5% discount to local food businesses bidding for city contracts. Since most bids are decided by 5% or less, a discount for being a certified Local Sustainable Business—a process that will be determined by the Cleveland Office of Sustainability—will offer a ‘huge’ advantage.

-George Penfold does believe that Canadians have a food security issue, he thinks Canucks have a convenience issue.

-Will the GSA scrap the 250 foot green wall idea from the Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building? There has been lots of buzz about the project, both good and bad.

-It's wonderful that municipalities are working on urban agriculture issues, KC is trying to straighten out their urban agriculture ordinance. But, uh, what's this? Urban farmers could hire employees???

-Vertical farms are neat, but won't save us in the long run say folks from the Land Institute. Their solution? Converting cropland to the production of diverse, food-producing, perennial crops and a reliance on natural processes and cohesive rural communities, not technological fantasies.

Green roofs, 1/2 off...in Singapore!

Well, I guess I acquiece. If there are less blog posts, that means there are more projects going up or in the works. And that's a good thing, right? Even though the frequency will be reduced to probably once a week, I'll make sure it's good...

When was the last time you could get a 384 page book...free? Well, Plan B 4.0 authored by Lester Brown of the Washington, DC-based nonprofit Earth Policy Institute (www.earth-policy.org), outlines a plan to address current worldwide challenges facing our civilization through a serious mobilization that will work to stabilize climate and population, address poverty, and restore the natural systems that our economy depends upon.
What a treat. Great thanks goes to NextStep Newsletter editor, Paul Moss, for making us all aware of this.

-More from the permaculture world. Great article from Science Alert about the risks and solutions for global food security. 9 billion in 2050. Over 11 billion in 2060. We had better get on it.

-If you're already hip to permaculture and ready to help others, the 2nd edition of the Permaculture Teaching Manual is now available.

-Sweet fancy moses, Singapore is offering incentives for green roofs. Does 50% of the cost whet your appetite?

-I will most DEFINITELY try making this dandelion preserve.

-Vancouver wanted to make 2010 urban gardens by 2010. looks like they broke their goal.

Hmmm...could Detroit learn from East German examples on how to make shrinking cities mini-meccas?

More internship news + the Office of Urban Agriculture

Two separate calls for interns in Chile!!!

The first one can be found at Volunteer Abroad.

The second one, right here:

Two Permaculture Interns Wanted in Chile! Please forward widely. The Apple Tree Eco School in Chile is looking for two experienced entrepreneurial permaculture interns starting May 2010. We need (1) an experienced administrator proficient in English and Spanish to help manage a busy permie office, planning and promotions and (2) an experienced gardener to assist in production, processing and distribution of organic food. This is an unprecedented opportunity to work in Permaculture centre connected to Gaia University, Transition Towns and the Permaculture Research Institute. Get hands on experience in the management of Permaculture projects, relief work, design consultancy, teacher training,
transition training and much, much more. All food and board provided.
Successful applicants will also have opportunities to self-generate income. Start your Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design, on the edge, working where it counts. Contact Grifen Hope or Javiera Carri?n with a detailed CV and a letter of application through our website: www.ecoescuela.cl or via the information below...

Planificador Urbano / Phone: +56-09-92292398 / Skype: wholehabitat / Ecoescuela El Manzano
Planning & Design for Resilience / Web: www.ecoescuela.cl

-Also, a bill by Marcy Kaptur from Ohio was introduced to create an within theOffice of Urban Agriculture within the Department of Agriculture.