GILA word of the week: Food Swamp

I have a bunch of things to mention which have slipped under the radar recently, for instance your GILA word of the week: Food Swamp. We've all heard the term food desert, well a food swamp has lots of food available and most of it is unhealthy.

-It's important that everyone is aware of the benefits of green infrastructure, especially green roofs. In Victoria, Australia, a local university, the city council and state government are trying to put a dollar figure on greening utilizing their own research and the country's Economic Framework for Green Infrastructure. Similarly, Mauritius is attempting to quantify how much green roofs would mean to them.

-The Dutch have taken urban agricultural to new heights, by creating a floating dairy platform making it one of the first urban aquatic agricultural operations.

-Follow a Kenyan family on the front line of climate change in the first episode of Al Jazeera's "The Climate Diaries".

-Speaking of pioneers, urban agricultural guru Will Allen may be in a jam of a different kind as an investor has sued him (and his partner) over the disputed mismanagement of their investment.

-Last week it was announced India is slated to get it's first horticultural therapy garden in 2016. While a new program is opening in India, sadly a popular one is being shut down in the UK.

-Let's end on a positive note, shall we? How about focusing on Detroit's intention to plant tens of thousands of trees on 1/2 square miles of vacant city space. Note, this is only a demonstration. There are over 20 miles of vacant land in the city...right now! Other lots will be filled eventually, whether it's with wildflowers or urban farms.

Philly official wants a green roof tax credit

Although the New York City green roof tax abatement deadline for 2014 ,just passed on March 15, beginning July 1, 2014 the per project allotment has doubled from $100,000 to $200,000 and one can receive $5.23 per square foot, up from the already generous $4.50.

-State Rep. Brian Sims, D-Philadelphia introduced several bills designed to stimulate green job growth. Of particular note is his proposed Green Roof Tax Credit, available to all sectors with at least four layers (waterproof membrane, drainage, medium and plants). The tax credit would be up to 25% of total cost incurred. The tax credit will not exceed $10 million per year.

-In Australia horticultural researchers from the University of Melbourne have released a new study in the Journal of Plant and Soil detailing some fantastic native green roof plants. The lead researcher, Dr. Claire Farrell, is a true superstar. You can see some of the other papers she has published over the last couple of years.
Speaking of Melbourne, I forgot to throw up a link to Melbourne and Victoria new green roof, wall and fascades guide released last month.

-I'll wind up with some green (living) wall information. London is hosting a green walls forum in mid-April. Mayor Boris Johnson has a target of 5% coverage (in central London) by 2030 and this conference (one of the first in the world) confirms his support. It seems like a collegial gathering, focused on information sharing the latest academic research, systems and life cycle analysis.

Green roofs set to get a big boost in DC...8 years from now?

-Washington DC is grappling with how to deal with its stormwater and is considering expanding its popular green roof program to help with some other green infrastructure technologies as well.

Several questions are raised by the article, for instance, what has the District been doing over the last 8 years since they were sued by the federal government to put these stormwater drains in place? And do they really need another 8 years to experiment with the various green technologies before backing them completely?

-In Victoria, Australia a local advocate is imploring green infrastructure enthusiasts to use a local policy to fund their projects. If you follow his lead, you have up to $10,000,000 at your disposal for either green roofs or green walls!

-More great ideas for how everyone can enjoy local, organic foods. A few months ago I featured a forward thinking community gardener who accepted any form of payment, including SNAP benefits (food stamps). Another organization has taken it a step further. With the Double Value Coupon Program you can use SNAP benefits at over 400 different markets across the USA.

-A couple of weeks ago I wrote a bit about the new and the first true vertical farm in Sinagpore. Here's a more in depth article about how it came to be and what their designs are for the future.

Happy Friday!!!