In London there are already over 1200 green roof projects (covering more than 500,000 square meters) and the market is exploding. New modular systems, for both green roofs and roofs incorporating green roofs and solar panels, have hit the market. Even speciality butterfly attracting plug and play plant blankets are available! All of this without major government incentives or legislation!
Also profiled in the article are next generation green roof systems, ones designed to hold large quantities of water, intensify the phytoremediation process or utilizing bioresponsive materials.
If you read one piece about green roofs this year, this may be the one.
-Can anyone guess where Canada's largest urban farm is located? If you guessed Calgary, I tip my hat to you!
-Sacramento will host the year two of the Cultivating Change Summit from June 8-11. It's the first summit for LGBTQ+ agriculturalists and allies. Register here!
-Big things are happening in Toronto. An alley behind a public library has been bought and is being converted into a community garden and a vacant plot of land in the east(ish) end will become a temporary home to a 1500 crate mobile urban garden.
Showing posts with label toronto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label toronto. Show all posts
Monday, May 23, 2016
Monday, March 14, 2016
New Toronto development plans trees inside and out
Westbank Corp. has big plans for Toronto, have a gander at the trees on top and inside the building.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
France bans supermarket food waste + 10 trees make you feel 7 years younger
So much going on in the living architecture world, it’s very exciting! After a lull during late December, early January, there is now a ton to follow…
The picture above is perhaps a sign of things to come, in Holland they are floating trees as part of an art installation. But with North America’s first climate refugees confirmed, one wonders as rich countries like the USA continue to dither on the federal level to embrace concrete climate change abatement, how many municipalities, communities and individuals effected by climate change will resort to “doing the best they can”, instituting band-aid solutions for their neck of the woods, and stop pressuring the big guys altogether. Maybe changes need to happen from the bottom up?
We can look at the efforts of one developer proposing adjoining his buildings with green walkways to give people a chance to stroll way up high. Or look to Madrid doing way more than this, as the global city goes all-in by encouraging living architecture and green infrastructure, in the form of green roofs and mass tree planting. Hopefully this will encourage other Spanish cities, the region and beyond.
-On nature.com there was a stunning report which illuminates how important trees really are to our lives and pockets, "10 more trees in a city block, on average, improves health perception in ways comparable to an increase in annual personal income of $10,000 and moving to a neighborhood with $10,000 higher median income or being 7 years younger”. There’s much, much more in this is one you should read.
-Speaking of health, we need a lot more information on how much lead there is in the urban environment and whether it is harmful to our health or not. Case in point are numerous articles about the dangers, now there have been a couple of articles which maintain we should not be worried, there isn’t much in the soil (or wherever that researcher tested…since we don’t have nationwide data in either the US or Canada yet) and if it's present it shouldn’t be an issue as most lead is locked in the plant roots. If you're eating root vegetables, however, well, then, that's not so good...
-At the World Economic Forum’s annual summit in Davos, Switzerland a few weeks ago, goals were set to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030. France has heeded the call and is certainly ready to lead the way with their legislation which bans supermarkets from throwing away unused food…this year! Imagine that!!!
-In Istanbul, unfortunately, things may be going backwards. Some farms, including one 1,500 years old, are in danger due to encroaching development. Also in the last year a few impressive projects were announced or profiled in Egypt. Although there seemed to be a lot of promise, one author has his spin on why there won’t be a green infrastructure movement anytime soon.
-Closer to home, Auburn, New York is creating a food forest. It’s actually more of edible garden park, as it stretches along a major street. They hope to start planting this spring.
-Lastly, I saw a man on the subway last week reading Peter Wohlleben’s “The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate — Discoveries From a Secret World,” and am anxious to crack it open. Here’s an article about what Peter has been up to most recently, discovering that trees have social networks!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Friday, September 4, 2015
The World's Biggest Green Roof - coming soon...
I try to stay away from commenting on projects still in the development phase, but if a developer is willing to make the largest green roof in the world, at a price tag of at least $300 million, I think it’s worth paying attention.
The idea apparently sprouted from a community consultation. In the future, maybe they could even have their green roof design by children, as is being done in Stockholm with the help of Mine Craft!
-The Great Green Wall is about 10% done, 330 miles out of 4,750 is a great start. However if the UN estimates are true, that by 2025 two thirds of Africa's arable land will be covered by desert, we had better get a move on to plant the other 90 plus percent.
-Speaking of changes, Americans’ lawns gobble up more land than Texas, that’s three times larger “than any irrigated crop in the U.S.A.” How will that change in the coming decades?
-Here’s what Toronto could have done if the City council had decided to tear down part of their Gardiner Expressway. Welcome to Providence!
The idea apparently sprouted from a community consultation. In the future, maybe they could even have their green roof design by children, as is being done in Stockholm with the help of Mine Craft!
-The Great Green Wall is about 10% done, 330 miles out of 4,750 is a great start. However if the UN estimates are true, that by 2025 two thirds of Africa's arable land will be covered by desert, we had better get a move on to plant the other 90 plus percent.
-Speaking of changes, Americans’ lawns gobble up more land than Texas, that’s three times larger “than any irrigated crop in the U.S.A.” How will that change in the coming decades?
-Here’s what Toronto could have done if the City council had decided to tear down part of their Gardiner Expressway. Welcome to Providence!
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
World Water Week - Starts August 24
-Just around the corner is World Water Week. Of course with droughts in California and elsewhere water security and scarcity, is now top of mind.
The UN FAO released a report examining the importance of water to global food security, it's definitely worth your time.
-Look at the bones for what will be a very interesting "green canopy", part roof, part wall in Texas.
Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has a wonderful new horticultural therapy program.
-Egypt has launched a green rooftop fund, the first roofs covered were the Education and Scientific Ministries. This is the second big piece of news from Egypt in the last year.
-Pittsburgh is supporting green roofs too, they are offering $250,000 to 17 projects for their green commitment.
-Here's a tremendous resource if you'd like to get create an educational food landscape at your school!
-So many South Koreans are leaving the cities to farm in the country there is a name for them: guinong. NPR delivers the audio goods once again.
-How do you record ever tree in a city? New York has recruited volunteers and they have mapped nearly 100,000 trees in 3 months!
-Okay, it's not the World's first farm to table community, as the article would suggest, but these Californians have dreamed big and deserve applause.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
GILA word of the week: Personal Food Computer
There's only one eco-village in Cameroon and it's called the
Ndanifor Permaculture Eco-village. Here's a little about their unique story.
-Urban foraging has come a long ways, from back in the day when it wasn't permitted because it just wasn't. And then officials let folks forage for decades because most residents weren't into it. Now in places like Toronto the tide has turned, with foodies and chefs on the prowl and overforaging, officials are hoping to stop foraging before it gets out of hand.
Look up, people, there are always tons of mulberries on city streets!
-Quezon City supports urban agriculture. How much? The vice-mayor advocates for it!
-Open-source farming....data-driven agriculture. The term most likely to catch on is "personal food computer". At least, that's what I think!
-Urban foraging has come a long ways, from back in the day when it wasn't permitted because it just wasn't. And then officials let folks forage for decades because most residents weren't into it. Now in places like Toronto the tide has turned, with foodies and chefs on the prowl and overforaging, officials are hoping to stop foraging before it gets out of hand.
Look up, people, there are always tons of mulberries on city streets!
-Quezon City supports urban agriculture. How much? The vice-mayor advocates for it!
-Open-source farming....data-driven agriculture. The term most likely to catch on is "personal food computer". At least, that's what I think!
through
her campaign “The Joy of Urban Planning” which started in 2010 --
advocates the development of green thumbs among city dwellers.
Right in the Quezon Memorial Circle are rows and rows of vegetables planted in a 1,500 square-meter area.
“Quezon City is lucky that places, especially in Fairview and Novaliches, still have a province-like ambiance. We have organic piggeries and chicken farms. As long as you’re not near streets, even if you’re at the slumps, you can grow organic produce,” said Ms. Belmonte.
She credits Mayor Herbert Bautista because “he started it in 2010 [with a program] called Halamanan sa Bakuran (Backyard Gardening), I only continued and grew it. This is the most well-funded in all of my projects because I really believe in it.”
HOW VIABLE IS URBAN FARMING?
“When I started the program, the problem was the mind-set that farming isn’t compatible in the city. It’s all in the mind-set. You can do vertical garden or start with small containers,” said Ms. Belmonte.
She said residents, like senior citizens who find it therapeutic, are interested in organic farming. “They write us a letter, we check if they are sincere and check their space. We give them farming materials, the soil they need, and unlimited seminars. We assign an agriculturalist and a provide greenhouse,” she said.
The city currently has 68 farms of various sizes found in barangays, public elementary schools, daycare centers, parishes, and nongovernment organizations. The city works with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture, which provide financial grants.
But even if city farmers fail to bring their items to market, urban farming is still a win-win situation.
“If they don’t produce [enough] for selling, as long as they can eat their products to decrease the issue of malnutrition, it’s already a triumph,” said Ms. Belmonte.
Urban farming can also be a matter of self-suffiency, especially when calamity strikes. “We still rely on the provinces to deliver our food. [The produce is delivered by] carbon-emitting vehicles that only add to climate change.”
- See more at: http://www.bworldonline.com/weekender/content.php?id=112163#sthash.twQAEZOT.
Right in the Quezon Memorial Circle are rows and rows of vegetables planted in a 1,500 square-meter area.
“Quezon City is lucky that places, especially in Fairview and Novaliches, still have a province-like ambiance. We have organic piggeries and chicken farms. As long as you’re not near streets, even if you’re at the slumps, you can grow organic produce,” said Ms. Belmonte.
She credits Mayor Herbert Bautista because “he started it in 2010 [with a program] called Halamanan sa Bakuran (Backyard Gardening), I only continued and grew it. This is the most well-funded in all of my projects because I really believe in it.”
HOW VIABLE IS URBAN FARMING?
“When I started the program, the problem was the mind-set that farming isn’t compatible in the city. It’s all in the mind-set. You can do vertical garden or start with small containers,” said Ms. Belmonte.
She said residents, like senior citizens who find it therapeutic, are interested in organic farming. “They write us a letter, we check if they are sincere and check their space. We give them farming materials, the soil they need, and unlimited seminars. We assign an agriculturalist and a provide greenhouse,” she said.
The city currently has 68 farms of various sizes found in barangays, public elementary schools, daycare centers, parishes, and nongovernment organizations. The city works with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture, which provide financial grants.
But even if city farmers fail to bring their items to market, urban farming is still a win-win situation.
“If they don’t produce [enough] for selling, as long as they can eat their products to decrease the issue of malnutrition, it’s already a triumph,” said Ms. Belmonte.
Urban farming can also be a matter of self-suffiency, especially when calamity strikes. “We still rely on the provinces to deliver our food. [The produce is delivered by] carbon-emitting vehicles that only add to climate change.”
- See more at: http://www.bworldonline.com/weekender/content.php?id=112163#sthash.twQAEZOT.
Monday, June 22, 2015
Latin America & Africa pave the way for 21st century urban agriculture
Although many of us have been involved in urban agriculture for some time, once upon a time everyone was new to it. Remembering that, it’s awesome to stumble upon an article which summarizes so many of the key issues and big projects for newbies. Here is a great one.
-We all know how much surplus and less than perfect food goes to waste. An ex-President of Trader Joe’s has decide to do something about it by opening a second hand grocery store, so to speak. Do we ever need this!!!! It’s a non-profit to boot!
-Here’s your next Highlinesaque project. It’s called the “Lowline” and features, maybe, growing vegetables in a park underground. Three years ago they garnered over $150,000 on Kickstarter, and they are hoping to finish negotiations with New York City by 2017 for a 2018 launch.
-Wednesday was the World Day to Combat Desertification. It’s a good start for sure, but we need to think about this and act on it every day.
-Preliminary findings from a green roof project based at the University of Toronto indicate a few things, including that indigenous plants may attract more native pollinators. Speaking of findings another study which shows just 40 seconds of viewing a green roof can improve your attention span.
-In the next 85 years, how can we make greener cities capable of producing food to achieve zero hunger? The FAO has an exhaustive report about what is currently being done in countries around the world.
-We all know how much surplus and less than perfect food goes to waste. An ex-President of Trader Joe’s has decide to do something about it by opening a second hand grocery store, so to speak. Do we ever need this!!!! It’s a non-profit to boot!
-Here’s your next Highlinesaque project. It’s called the “Lowline” and features, maybe, growing vegetables in a park underground. Three years ago they garnered over $150,000 on Kickstarter, and they are hoping to finish negotiations with New York City by 2017 for a 2018 launch.
-Wednesday was the World Day to Combat Desertification. It’s a good start for sure, but we need to think about this and act on it every day.
-Preliminary findings from a green roof project based at the University of Toronto indicate a few things, including that indigenous plants may attract more native pollinators. Speaking of findings another study which shows just 40 seconds of viewing a green roof can improve your attention span.
-In the next 85 years, how can we make greener cities capable of producing food to achieve zero hunger? The FAO has an exhaustive report about what is currently being done in countries around the world.
Friday, June 5, 2015
Vertical farming in Japan
You may remember my pronouncement a while back how I wouldn't comment on concepts because they are simply artwork until someone puts numbers behind how to make it reality.
Covering Toronto's Gardiner Expressway with a green roof to resemble New York's Highline, was one of those fanciful ideas which got people talking, but seemed far from realistic. And it still is. Especially when you consider the first part of the equation, fixing the Gardiner has gone from $500 million to $950 million in four years.
Now a top bureaucrat is agreeing with some people who think the Gardiner should be torn down. If nothing else, I think we can all agree the Gardiner will never be topped with a green roof.
-Next door the City of Mississauga will add a storm water discharge fee to the bills of building owners to help rebuild their infrastructure.
-Back to Toronto, for a second, how cool would it be if they had a provision, like they do in Seoul, that if you get rebates, public funds to subsidize your green roof or wall, that it must be publicly accessible? Seoul has spent over $57 million in public funds greening their city and has a really big project up their sleeves, look out for their Seoul Skygarden in 2017. It's supposed to be like...wait for it...the Highline!
-In terms of ideas, here are a couple I really like. A team of Chicago entrepreneurs are hoping to lease rooftops to grow veggies. Let's see if they are able to do it, because no one has done it successfully yet. Of greater promise, I think, is leasing parking lot space for these pop-up farms. Maybe even stacking them a several stories high to maximize the space.
-In Japan this semi-conductor company has entered the vertical farming race and found a niche market for their lettuces, growing low potassium lettuces for those with kidney problems. That's a smaller version of their system up above.
-I'll round out with the best news of the week. France now has a ban on supermarket food waste. All surplus food must be donated to charities or used for animal feed!
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Self-guided living architecture tour of Toronto
A green minded philosopher in Toronto has compiled a list of living architecture in Toronto and mapped it so that you can give yourself a self-guided tour of the publicly accessible green beauty.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Ambitious aquaponics operations
There seems to be some political momentum for putting an aquaponics operation in an empty, east end Toronto convenience store. I hope that they have an owner/operator in mind, it's wonderful a politician is so enthusiastic about creating a food hub!
It makes me think of those fellows who headed to the suburbs just a few months ago, if they only knew this store front would be available, maybe they would've chosen it?
-New York City doesn't have an commercial aquaponics operation yet...or didn't until earlier this year. With the price of real estate there, perhaps the suburbs would make more sense than setting up in Brooklyn.
-One more aquaponics story. Here's a team of folks trying to make "the largest aquaponics farm in the US" via strictly crowdfunding. That means they need millions of dollars. Ambitious! I hate to be that guy, but if I'm going to give $251 dollars to a venture, I would probably want more than a coffee mug.
-I had no idea that Calgary's first living roof was in 1875. Someone (maybe you, faithful reader) should do an inventory of all the green roofs (and walls!) in North America's major cities.
-Foraging in Singapore! This is definitely a first for me.
-Coca-cola has converted its concentrated beverage drums and donated dozens to community gardens in Toronto. This is a great upcycling idea!
It makes me think of those fellows who headed to the suburbs just a few months ago, if they only knew this store front would be available, maybe they would've chosen it?
-New York City doesn't have an commercial aquaponics operation yet...or didn't until earlier this year. With the price of real estate there, perhaps the suburbs would make more sense than setting up in Brooklyn.
-One more aquaponics story. Here's a team of folks trying to make "the largest aquaponics farm in the US" via strictly crowdfunding. That means they need millions of dollars. Ambitious! I hate to be that guy, but if I'm going to give $251 dollars to a venture, I would probably want more than a coffee mug.
-I had no idea that Calgary's first living roof was in 1875. Someone (maybe you, faithful reader) should do an inventory of all the green roofs (and walls!) in North America's major cities.
-Foraging in Singapore! This is definitely a first for me.
-Coca-cola has converted its concentrated beverage drums and donated dozens to community gardens in Toronto. This is a great upcycling idea!
Monday, February 2, 2015
2015 Midwest Urban Farmers Summit at the Plant, March 14-15
Toronto, or better yet the Greater Toronto Area, has it's largest aquaponics operation to date based in Mississauga.
-New York City hopes to develop over a dozen vacant lots to make more community gardens available across the city. DC wants twice that number and wants an "army of urban growers".
-Chicago is holding it's 2015 Midwest Urban Farmers Summit at the Plant, March 14-15. They are still taking presentation proposals and requests.
-Most of the time when people think about horticultural therapy, they think about the numerous benefits to seniors or veterans. But everyone can benefit, especially kids.
-New York City hopes to develop over a dozen vacant lots to make more community gardens available across the city. DC wants twice that number and wants an "army of urban growers".
-Chicago is holding it's 2015 Midwest Urban Farmers Summit at the Plant, March 14-15. They are still taking presentation proposals and requests.
-Most of the time when people think about horticultural therapy, they think about the numerous benefits to seniors or veterans. But everyone can benefit, especially kids.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Aquaponics courses in Colorado + Buffalo's Urban Agriculture Turnaround
At the end of this year and in 2015, aquaponics enthusiasts have the opportunity to learn from the best in Colorado. Advanced aquaponics and aquaponics immersion courses I'm sure will be well-attended, up next in December is the aquaponics and medical marijuana course.
-Toronto has a municipal election coming up in about two weeks. It looks like two of the major candidates strongly support more funding for urban agriculture! Not to be outdone, prominent American politicians are throwing their support behind urban ag as well, Congressman Tim Ryan is probably the biggest proponent so far.
-How did Buffalo, a resource-strapped city, go from a laggard to an urban agriculture mecca in just 10 years? A University of Buffalo researcher outlines their path to success:
-Engaging in “ordinary, incremental, persistent practices” ;
-Building a diverse but unified coalition ;
-Balancing incremental and systemic change;
-Nurturing communitywide capacity ;
-Responding nimbly to windows of opportunity ;
-Getting support from local government ;
-Connecting food to the popular issues of the day .
Check out the whole article in the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development
Engaging in “ordinary, incremental, persistent
practices”
Changes in local laws followed years of on-the-ground action by MAP, which grew food, sold it to low-income residents, and raised fish on an urban aquaponics farm.
Building a diverse but unified coalition
MAP’s “Rust Belt radicals” had limited policy reach on their own, so they partnered with the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, government officials, farmers and others to get messages out. All had a shared vision for improving Buffalo’s food system.
Balancing incremental and systemic change
MAP built urban farms (incremental change), while also pushing lawmakers to amend land use laws (systemic change).
Nurturing communitywide capacity
MAP trained hundreds of youth to produce, distribute and sell food, and worked with partners to send policymakers to food-related workshops. This created a large body of experts with the know-how to move Buffalo’s food policies forward.
Responding nimbly to windows of opportunity
MAP and its allies jumped at the chance to advise planners writing the city’s new Green Code. Such windows of opportunity may open rarely; activists must take advantage when they do.
Getting support from local government
Continual engagement with city planners and councilmembers resulted in an awareness of problems surrounding food, which in turn led to proposals for new laws.
Connecting food to the popular issues of the day
Economic revitalization is a priority for post-industrial cities across the Rust Belt. Recognizing this, MAP lobbied policymakers on the idea that food — and good food policy — could be vehicles for economic development.
- See more at: http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2014/10/018.html#sthash.J8mbpbD5.dpuf
Engaging in “ordinary, incremental, persistent
practices”
Changes in local laws followed years of on-the-ground action by MAP, which grew food, sold it to low-income residents, and raised fish on an urban aquaponics farm.
Building a diverse but unified coalition
MAP’s “Rust Belt radicals” had limited policy reach on their own, so they partnered with the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, government officials, farmers and others to get messages out. All had a shared vision for improving Buffalo’s food system.
Balancing incremental and systemic change
MAP built urban farms (incremental change), while also pushing lawmakers to amend land use laws (systemic change).
Nurturing communitywide capacity
MAP trained hundreds of youth to produce, distribute and sell food, and worked with partners to send policymakers to food-related workshops. This created a large body of experts with the know-how to move Buffalo’s food policies forward.
Responding nimbly to windows of opportunity
MAP and its allies jumped at the chance to advise planners writing the city’s new Green Code. Such windows of opportunity may open rarely; activists must take advantage when they do.
Getting support from local government
Continual engagement with city planners and councilmembers resulted in an awareness of problems surrounding food, which in turn led to proposals for new laws.
Connecting food to the popular issues of the day
Economic revitalization is a priority for post-industrial cities across the Rust Belt. Recognizing this, MAP lobbied policymakers on the idea that food — and good food policy — could be vehicles for economic development.
- See more at: http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2014/10/018.html#sthash.J8mbpbD5.dpuf
-Toronto has a municipal election coming up in about two weeks. It looks like two of the major candidates strongly support more funding for urban agriculture! Not to be outdone, prominent American politicians are throwing their support behind urban ag as well, Congressman Tim Ryan is probably the biggest proponent so far.
-How did Buffalo, a resource-strapped city, go from a laggard to an urban agriculture mecca in just 10 years? A University of Buffalo researcher outlines their path to success:
-Engaging in “ordinary, incremental, persistent practices” ;
-Building a diverse but unified coalition ;
-Balancing incremental and systemic change;
-Nurturing communitywide capacity ;
-Responding nimbly to windows of opportunity ;
-Getting support from local government ;
-Connecting food to the popular issues of the day .
Check out the whole article in the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development
Changes in local laws followed years of on-the-ground action by MAP, which grew food, sold it to low-income residents, and raised fish on an urban aquaponics farm.
MAP’s “Rust Belt radicals” had limited policy reach on their own, so they partnered with the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, government officials, farmers and others to get messages out. All had a shared vision for improving Buffalo’s food system.
MAP built urban farms (incremental change), while also pushing lawmakers to amend land use laws (systemic change).
MAP trained hundreds of youth to produce, distribute and sell food, and worked with partners to send policymakers to food-related workshops. This created a large body of experts with the know-how to move Buffalo’s food policies forward.
MAP and its allies jumped at the chance to advise planners writing the city’s new Green Code. Such windows of opportunity may open rarely; activists must take advantage when they do.
Continual engagement with city planners and councilmembers resulted in an awareness of problems surrounding food, which in turn led to proposals for new laws.
Economic revitalization is a priority for post-industrial cities across the Rust Belt. Recognizing this, MAP lobbied policymakers on the idea that food — and good food policy — could be vehicles for economic development.
Changes in local laws followed years of on-the-ground action by MAP, which grew food, sold it to low-income residents, and raised fish on an urban aquaponics farm.
MAP’s “Rust Belt radicals” had limited policy reach on their own, so they partnered with the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, government officials, farmers and others to get messages out. All had a shared vision for improving Buffalo’s food system.
MAP built urban farms (incremental change), while also pushing lawmakers to amend land use laws (systemic change).
MAP trained hundreds of youth to produce, distribute and sell food, and worked with partners to send policymakers to food-related workshops. This created a large body of experts with the know-how to move Buffalo’s food policies forward.
MAP and its allies jumped at the chance to advise planners writing the city’s new Green Code. Such windows of opportunity may open rarely; activists must take advantage when they do.
Continual engagement with city planners and councilmembers resulted in an awareness of problems surrounding food, which in turn led to proposals for new laws.
Economic revitalization is a priority for post-industrial cities across the Rust Belt. Recognizing this, MAP lobbied policymakers on the idea that food — and good food policy — could be vehicles for economic development.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Wisconsin wants more green roofs
-Last week plans for a potential urban farm in Battle Creek, Michigan, organized by several (eight, to be exact) churches, were potentially scuttled when neighbors complained that there would be too much traffic and a reduction in property values.
They were hoping the land would produce as much as 220,000 lbs of fruit and vegetables. The timing of this unfortunate disagreement is impeccable as Earth Island reports how cities across the US are struggling with how to amend its’ current laws and the disparate concerns of residents.
-Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources wanted Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District's to install 5 million gallons of rain collecting capacity by the end of 2017. Last year, alone, the City did 4 million! So the DNR may raise it’s bar. Here’s your stat for the day, digging more deep tunnels to store wastewater “would cost between two and six times more per gallon of capacity than the various types of green infrastructure” and "This is our lowest-cost approach."
The ultimate goal? 740 million gallons' worth of storage capacity by 2035. The district estimates it will distribute $1.3 billion over the next 20 years in grants to its green infrastructure partners.
-One city council candidate in Ottawa is suggesting adopting a green roof policy. It could have happened earlier, but the delay comes from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. A change has to be made at the provincial level to allow Ottawa to change its’ own laws. The article references Toronto’s green roof bylaw which has been fantastic. Being one of the first has its advantages. It also has its' disadvantages, as now people seem to realize that the bylaw's emphasis on 90% coverage within 2 years does not help the urban agriculture movement at all. As you know most food we eat are annuals. How (and when) will this be changed? Good question.
-Istanbul has rolled out it’s own green roof bus. It’s called the “Botobüs,” a combination of “botanic” and “bus”.
They were hoping the land would produce as much as 220,000 lbs of fruit and vegetables. The timing of this unfortunate disagreement is impeccable as Earth Island reports how cities across the US are struggling with how to amend its’ current laws and the disparate concerns of residents.
-Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources wanted Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District's to install 5 million gallons of rain collecting capacity by the end of 2017. Last year, alone, the City did 4 million! So the DNR may raise it’s bar. Here’s your stat for the day, digging more deep tunnels to store wastewater “would cost between two and six times more per gallon of capacity than the various types of green infrastructure” and "This is our lowest-cost approach."
The ultimate goal? 740 million gallons' worth of storage capacity by 2035. The district estimates it will distribute $1.3 billion over the next 20 years in grants to its green infrastructure partners.
-One city council candidate in Ottawa is suggesting adopting a green roof policy. It could have happened earlier, but the delay comes from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. A change has to be made at the provincial level to allow Ottawa to change its’ own laws. The article references Toronto’s green roof bylaw which has been fantastic. Being one of the first has its advantages. It also has its' disadvantages, as now people seem to realize that the bylaw's emphasis on 90% coverage within 2 years does not help the urban agriculture movement at all. As you know most food we eat are annuals. How (and when) will this be changed? Good question.
-Istanbul has rolled out it’s own green roof bus. It’s called the “Botobüs,” a combination of “botanic” and “bus”.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Pushing boundaries with new green roof plants
So last year I tried a few new species on green roofs and in my backyard. After some research I thought a few could do quite well in lower Canada, upper USA. Here's what I found:
Rhodiola rosea
Did quite well on a rooftop and I am definitely incorporating this into future green roofs!
Rosularia sedoides
This was a backyard experiment, I wondered how it would with just moderate sun (3-4 hours).
It didn't make it to the spring.
Sempervivium arachnoideum "rubrum"
In full sun this could be quite lovely as an accent plant, I thought it had no chance of coming back this year but it did...in full-sun.
Erysimum pulchellum
Veronica liwanensis
The two above had a rough time from the very beginning with little water, despite ample (at least 5 hours) of sun. I'll keep both of these for sunny, ground level gardens.
Rhodiola rosea
Did quite well on a rooftop and I am definitely incorporating this into future green roofs!
Rosularia sedoides
This was a backyard experiment, I wondered how it would with just moderate sun (3-4 hours).
It didn't make it to the spring.
Sempervivium arachnoideum "rubrum"
In full sun this could be quite lovely as an accent plant, I thought it had no chance of coming back this year but it did...in full-sun.
Erysimum pulchellum
Veronica liwanensis
The two above had a rough time from the very beginning with little water, despite ample (at least 5 hours) of sun. I'll keep both of these for sunny, ground level gardens.
Friday, October 3, 2014
2 Green roof (and wall!) events, one near and one far
For the one in Toronto. The Conservation Council of Ontario is hosting a Green Energy Doors Open event tomorrow from 1-3 pm. If you've never had a tour of the amazing Robertson Building here's your chance to see their green wall and green roof.
And just a little reminder that the World Green Infrastructure Congress kicks off next Tuesday, October 7!
And just a little reminder that the World Green Infrastructure Congress kicks off next Tuesday, October 7!
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Four Community Food jobs available in Toronto
Toronto's FoodShare has 4 jobs available, 2 Community Food Animators and 2 Student Nutrition Community Development Animators.
Monday, September 1, 2014
A verticiel green roof - 5 years later
It's the end of year 5 of tracking this rooftop. To check out how it has changed over the years, check out last years' look back.
Here's a recent photo:
Some notes from this year...
-Did you know after a large chive flower goes to seed, it has about 300 seeds? And a dandelion...about the same amount! How do I know? I actually counted a few on a rooftop!!!
-Moss mats can make an effective weed blocker.
-These festuca grasses can be tricky. One of them I thought was dead. Low and behold, it came back this year and even produced seeds!
-The Sedum spurium "dragon's blood" (from the left of the stone path) and Sedum spurium "tricolor" (on the far right) are slowly overtaking the Sedum angelina (in the middle). Notice how the yellow patches are decreasing each year. They are drooping on top of the angelina, sprouting new plants and growing on top of it. It's difficult to see but the sedum angelina is invading new territory by growing low to the ground and filling in space underneath its' neighbors.
-I need to look up this phenomenon where tree seedlings change colors to blend into their surroundings. I've noticed the maple seedlings will become more red or green based on what the sedum species are doing next to them...regardless of the season.
-You can see the chives are amazing. Slowly, but surely they are popping up in places where they weren't years ago.
-The sedum mat in some places is 2 inches thick.
Here's a recent photo:
Some notes from this year...
-Did you know after a large chive flower goes to seed, it has about 300 seeds? And a dandelion...about the same amount! How do I know? I actually counted a few on a rooftop!!!
-Moss mats can make an effective weed blocker.
-These festuca grasses can be tricky. One of them I thought was dead. Low and behold, it came back this year and even produced seeds!
-The Sedum spurium "dragon's blood" (from the left of the stone path) and Sedum spurium "tricolor" (on the far right) are slowly overtaking the Sedum angelina (in the middle). Notice how the yellow patches are decreasing each year. They are drooping on top of the angelina, sprouting new plants and growing on top of it. It's difficult to see but the sedum angelina is invading new territory by growing low to the ground and filling in space underneath its' neighbors.
-I need to look up this phenomenon where tree seedlings change colors to blend into their surroundings. I've noticed the maple seedlings will become more red or green based on what the sedum species are doing next to them...regardless of the season.
-You can see the chives are amazing. Slowly, but surely they are popping up in places where they weren't years ago.
-The sedum mat in some places is 2 inches thick.
Monday, May 19, 2014
See the School Grown Rooftop this weekend
You've perhaps heard about the School Grown Rooftop in Toronto at Eastdale Collegiate Institute.
For those late to the game, it's a 16,000 square foot rooftop atop a high school on the east side of Toronto with gardening beds for vegetable and fruit production. verticiel Inc. was fortunate to be part of the team which brought the project to life.
From 10 am - 4:45 pm this weekend, May 24-25, you can visit the rooftop during Doors Open Toronto and see what the buzz is about.
For those late to the game, it's a 16,000 square foot rooftop atop a high school on the east side of Toronto with gardening beds for vegetable and fruit production. verticiel Inc. was fortunate to be part of the team which brought the project to life.
From 10 am - 4:45 pm this weekend, May 24-25, you can visit the rooftop during Doors Open Toronto and see what the buzz is about.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Another really cool Food Security job!
Located in Toronto's North York, check out the Agency Development Coordinator position at North York Harvest Food Bank. Applications are due May 1.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Urban agriculture gets the National Inquirer treatment + $200 green wall
This is probably the first GILA article I have ever read which somehow manages to incorporate violent crime and takes a turn towards the truly sensationalistic.
-Check out this living wall in Jakarta, which reportedly costs only $200. How is that possible?
-Whenever Nevin Cohen publishes something new, we would be wise to listen. His recent paper shows that race and class based disparities, in addition to resource needs, still remain in the urban agriculture system. For any municipal official, this would be a handy tool.
-Toronto's own Foodshare shares some more information about their tremendously successful and productive School Grown initiative plus details about their Eastdale Collegiate Institute's Rooftop garden.
-I don't know if this job exists, if not, it could be a great opportunity for someone. The other day I spied this article about urban agriculture in China. No doubt, there is much more going on there than we ever hear about, simply because it is not written in English. Perhaps there is someone who can splash some cash to pay people to translate relevant articles about their subject of interest to leap the linguistic barriers.
-The world's second largest green wall was just completed in Colombia, feast your eyes:
-Check out this living wall in Jakarta, which reportedly costs only $200. How is that possible?
-Whenever Nevin Cohen publishes something new, we would be wise to listen. His recent paper shows that race and class based disparities, in addition to resource needs, still remain in the urban agriculture system. For any municipal official, this would be a handy tool.
-Toronto's own Foodshare shares some more information about their tremendously successful and productive School Grown initiative plus details about their Eastdale Collegiate Institute's Rooftop garden.
-I don't know if this job exists, if not, it could be a great opportunity for someone. The other day I spied this article about urban agriculture in China. No doubt, there is much more going on there than we ever hear about, simply because it is not written in English. Perhaps there is someone who can splash some cash to pay people to translate relevant articles about their subject of interest to leap the linguistic barriers.
-The world's second largest green wall was just completed in Colombia, feast your eyes:
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