Horticultural therapy and green roofs

Depending on who you talk to, green roofs have over a dozen benefits. One of the lesser known and investigated ones is for horticultural therapy. I haven't seen that many studies on how green roofs, in particular, affect one's health. Theodore Osmundson, who passed away in 2009, was one of the first people to consider this benefit (among others for green roofs) with a 1999 paper entitled "Roof gardens: history, design, and construction". More recently it has received a couple of mentions in Green Roofs for Healthy Cities newsletter in 2003 and 2011. I hope others pursue further research investigating the effect green infrastructure, in particular green roofs and green walls have on human beings, considering the proliferation in North America and around the world.

Seneca College community garden - Year 2

Two weeks ago I was invited to speak at Seneca College. The students were great and asked a number of  razor sharp questions afterwards, a couple even had ideas for projects already on the go. I wanted to also point out their school garden is still flourishing, here are some pictures from the end of the second growing season.
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Election day songs

It's a big day in the USA. Instead of the ordinary November songs, thought  I would do a special edition!

My Dear Country - Norah Jones
Election Day - Blaze Foley
Election Day - Duran Duran

Mayor Bloomberg loves green roofs so much, he’s helping Pittsburgh!!!

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been a terrific proponent of green infrastructure for New York City. But he can't make other cities put green roofs up. So his foundation is taking the next step by giving the city of Pittsburgh $100,000 for cool or green roofs.

-How can someone get a job in the permaculture field? Whenever someone asks me that question, I can now direct them to this handy guide from the Austin Permaculture Guild.  One suggestion from the permaculture job guide is to join an existing project as an intern. Wouldn’t you know it, there’s an opportunity in New Hampshire right now.

-Two new GILA projects have hit the web, notable for their locations. One is a small vertical farm in Arizona, the other...errm...underground. Where? Anywhere!

-Co.Exist is rapidly becoming one of my favorite websites. Where else can you read about turning firehydrants into bioswales?

-Lastly I must, absolutely must, direct you to see this person's Halloween costume...she's dressed as a green roof!

Permaculture documentary: Green Gold

It can be hard to find "the good stuff" on youtube. You know what I mean, videos that are long, informative and engaging. Sit back and enjoy this one which profiles transformative projects from around the world.