India's great green wall

-In downstate and upstate New York there are a few new opportunities for interns and PhDs alike in food systems and stormwater management.

-A new living wall product has hit the web. Good luck to these folks, they have exceeded their own expectations 5 fold!

-Exactly a year ago we read about plans for a great Green Wall across the Sahara to stop desertification. It appears to have hit some snags, but India seems to want to give it a go.

The lexicon of living architecture : The Vertical Street

-A company in Australia has proposed a vertical city. First time that I've heard that term, let's see where it pops up next. Hey, this could be a game. I'll call it "follow the meme". Or perhaps "follow the fad". "Track the trend"? Okay...I'll seriously stop.

-Haven't seen too many master's thesis on green roofs, so we should consider ourselves lucky to learn so much about the Plateau Mont Royal green roof in Montreal. A 91% decrease in air condition requirements? Wow.

-Did anyone else catch the "bad" and the "good" living wall discussions at Treehugger?

-Is there a land grab going on in Africa? I only know a little about PR, but claiming that your company pays "40% higher than the minimum wage in Mozambique", still might mean that you're getting away with highway robbery. What's more minimum wage in Mozambique apparently varies...greatly.

-Finally, Beirut is getting it's first green roof.

A green roof, one year later

Well, actually it's about 13 months later, but boy, did this one take off!



We should've suggested a few herbs considering how much sun this roof gets and how much the owner likes to be up on the roof. Live and learn!

Quantity, then subsidize urban gardens?!?

Summer is officially here (well, not officially, but it sure feels like it). Lots of stuff going on, one day I promise to share it all.
For now, let's see what's new and interesting in the world.

-What if we subsidized gardens the way we subsidize so many other products/services in North America? Interesting question.

-I think we can all applaud the efforts of these citizen scientists to
quantify the benefit of urban gardens. I love the fact that skilled professionals are using their down time to help out their community and tackle an issue not many "professional" scientists have.

-There's a new urban food class in a Vancouver high school. Looks like the efforts of one teacher can really pay off.

Tis all!!!

Ride the Green Roof Wave in the Phils

-Green Mountain College announced earlier in the week that it will offer a distance-learning master's degree in Sustainable Food Systems (MSFS). The first of its kind??? I dunno, someone needs to verify that! Also it looks like a mayoral candidate in Denver would take it to the next level, if elected. Could he take a page out of Edmonton's book?

-It looks like we are witnessing the beginning of a green wall and green roof movement in the Philippines. If you're there, get in now!!! (That little push is for our massive Philippines audience!)

-The Wall Street makes a good point, you don't hear much about "peak oil" in mainstream oil publications. Heavy oil is the euphemismmost often used.

-Agriculture + Development = Opportunity

-Oh yes, and I keep forgetting. Great instructions on how to build a hoop house.