During certain times of the year there are lulls in living architecture news. Traditionally, mid to late December is oh so quiet.
However, there are a few interesting tidbits today and later in the month I will have a couple of top 5 and top 10 lists.
But first...
-Hamburg, Germany, is committing $1 billion to High Linesque parks covering one of their busiest highways.
-I should also add, even though it's the dead of winter, it's not too early to start thinking about permaculture courses and the spring. Alaska will be beautiful in late April!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Urban agriculture best practices across the USA
A couple of quick urban agriculture hits!
Earlier this week the Turner Environmental Law Clinic released a report detailing best practices across the United States.
A few things jump out at me from the executive summary, I'll have more comments on the whole thing later:
1. If you'd like to detail the best urban agriculture practices "in these parts", it would make sense to include Canada's biggest cities as well (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal). There's much to be learned and on the grassroots level, I have seen a fair amount of idea cross-pollination.
2. I know precious little about urban agriculture in the southwestern US (and there's nothing about it in this report). Note to self (and everyone out there reading) for future blog post, find out what's happening down in the desert, because we rarely hear about it.
-For those across Canada, you have until January 31 to apply for the Green Grants Program and possible get $10,000 for your urban agriculture, community development or environmental stewardship project.
Earlier this week the Turner Environmental Law Clinic released a report detailing best practices across the United States.
A few things jump out at me from the executive summary, I'll have more comments on the whole thing later:
1. If you'd like to detail the best urban agriculture practices "in these parts", it would make sense to include Canada's biggest cities as well (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal). There's much to be learned and on the grassroots level, I have seen a fair amount of idea cross-pollination.
2. I know precious little about urban agriculture in the southwestern US (and there's nothing about it in this report). Note to self (and everyone out there reading) for future blog post, find out what's happening down in the desert, because we rarely hear about it.
-For those across Canada, you have until January 31 to apply for the Green Grants Program and possible get $10,000 for your urban agriculture, community development or environmental stewardship project.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
December tunes + Aquaponics arms race begins
Consider it "game on" in the aquaponics world.
-Getting a head start on marketing, a group in Berlin, Germany hope to have an urban agriculture factory up and running in 2013. Not a small one, either, about 80,000 square feet. Total cost? $6.7 million dollars. Not to be outdone, earlier this week a group which will be based in England will have the world's largest biomass to energy facility on 300 acres of land and the world's largest aquaponics facility. I guess that we'll see about that.
-Speaking of the UK and firsts, an English school will have the first institutional aquaponic facility.
-On to what soon may be considered "old style" urban agriculture, hearings will be heard in Montreal concerning urban agriculture starting in the spring. In total, volunteers need 15,000 and got almost twice that. Will they be allowed to raise fowl legally? How about beekeeping? Stay tuned.
And no, I didn't forget. It's just a bit late, so here ya go!
Weezer December
Edie Brickell Air Of December
Willie Nelson December Day
Tower of Power Only So Much Oil In The Ground Okay, this has nothing to do with December...but, the peak oilers should appreciate it!
-Getting a head start on marketing, a group in Berlin, Germany hope to have an urban agriculture factory up and running in 2013. Not a small one, either, about 80,000 square feet. Total cost? $6.7 million dollars. Not to be outdone, earlier this week a group which will be based in England will have the world's largest biomass to energy facility on 300 acres of land and the world's largest aquaponics facility. I guess that we'll see about that.
-Speaking of the UK and firsts, an English school will have the first institutional aquaponic facility.
-On to what soon may be considered "old style" urban agriculture, hearings will be heard in Montreal concerning urban agriculture starting in the spring. In total, volunteers need 15,000 and got almost twice that. Will they be allowed to raise fowl legally? How about beekeeping? Stay tuned.
And no, I didn't forget. It's just a bit late, so here ya go!
Weezer December
Edie Brickell Air Of December
Willie Nelson December Day
Tower of Power Only So Much Oil In The Ground Okay, this has nothing to do with December...but, the peak oilers should appreciate it!
Monday, December 5, 2011
Peak oil deal o' the day: Food Storage Kit - 1 year - 40 people - only $30,000
This may be a hardcore peak oilers dream and I have soooooo many questions for someone at Sam's Club.
1) Who is the marketing genius behind this? And does he/she have Peter Thiel on speed dial?
2) How many have they sold so far?
3) How did they do their market research? "Excuse me, ma'am, I'm calling from Sam's Club. Let me ask you a question. How much would you pay for 43,800 meals? $30 Grand? Okay, done deal."
4) So if you live in Hawaii, Alaska or a commonwealth like Puerto Rico, it's no soup for you... but, if you live in the Northern Mariana Islands, you are golden?
Buen prubechu!
1) Who is the marketing genius behind this? And does he/she have Peter Thiel on speed dial?
2) How many have they sold so far?
3) How did they do their market research? "Excuse me, ma'am, I'm calling from Sam's Club. Let me ask you a question. How much would you pay for 43,800 meals? $30 Grand? Okay, done deal."
4) So if you live in Hawaii, Alaska or a commonwealth like Puerto Rico, it's no soup for you... but, if you live in the Northern Mariana Islands, you are golden?
Buen prubechu!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
How to green an economy? Lessons from Germany's road, roofs and railways
-Earlier this week I reviewed a debate from October's Ontario provincial election. The members had ideas about how to green the economy, but really, who knows what needs to be done to make it actually work? Ah ha! The Solutions Journal, says follow Germany's lead!
-Will large scale urban farming finally take flight in Detroit? And why, after almost 3 years if the law doesn't need to be changed, why can't a big farm start making some bucks? Another question is, once the farm is operational, what kind of urban farming jobs will be available? Meanwhile Toronto will decide in the spring whether to allow backyard fowl.
-In a battle royale between Small Planet Institute's Anna Lappe and Freakonomics Steve Sexton guess who reigns supreme?
-The urban agriculture word of the week is "food swapping." You heard it here, folks. Let's see if this practice picks up steam!
-Will large scale urban farming finally take flight in Detroit? And why, after almost 3 years if the law doesn't need to be changed, why can't a big farm start making some bucks? Another question is, once the farm is operational, what kind of urban farming jobs will be available? Meanwhile Toronto will decide in the spring whether to allow backyard fowl.
-In a battle royale between Small Planet Institute's Anna Lappe and Freakonomics Steve Sexton guess who reigns supreme?
-The urban agriculture word of the week is "food swapping." You heard it here, folks. Let's see if this practice picks up steam!
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