Raccoons and green roofs, not so perfect together

(What do you mean we're not supposed to be up here???)

Up on a green roof last week and I wasn't so happy to see evidence of raccoons. How does one know when they've been hanging around? When you can see this:

(they have bedded down for a night...or two...or thirty. Where there once were plants, now there is just medium.)

or this

(do I need to explain that one?)

Not sure what to do to dissuade them from visiting and something must be done as they can present problems.

The picture above is actually from my place, yes they are everywhere. Oh...and if the title of this post made you remember this classic jingle and smile, then my work is done for today.

Should Buffalo invest in vertical farms?

We haven’t had a video in a while, how about peeking in on the University of Detroit Mercy’s School of Law’s Urban Agriculture Symposium? They have been kind enough to put a great deal of the proceedings online and have been at the forefront of discussing urban ag and law for at least 5 years.

-I guess there’s a first time for everything. I’ve never really seen a green infrastructure company campaign for a certain city to buy their product by talking about said product on tv. Maybe they are looking for government funding to make the Plantagon feasible for somewhere in the US? What the spokesperson says is true “we are living in a world where the pollution is increasing and acreage is decreasing.” But the opposite is true of Buffalo, with a decrease in population comes the need to shrink the city. Residential land can become agricultural once again. 

-Remember that Occupy the Farm movement in California? Of course you do! Well, it looks like a lawsuit against the occupiers has been dropped. 

-A model for all of North America, Chicago’s award winning Vanguard Weiss Memorial Hospital is highly accommodating to it’s neighbors, including embracing various payment methods, letting disadvantaged community members garden and growing more “ethnic” crops. 

Book review - Gardening Vertically by Noemie Vialard

Gardening Vertically, by Noemie Vialard was originally published in France in 2010, but has just recently been translated and is now available for the English speaking North American audience.

This book belongs on your shelf. The author, admittedly Patrick Blanc's close friend and frequent collaborator, begins the book with 40 pages devoted to the French green wall innovator. Detailing his style, methods and background, it reads a bit like an extended Blanc biography/promotional piece. Which is fine, we also get insight and an in depth look into his work and inspiration, complete with tons of pictures and full equipment, hardware and support lists to build your own Blanc style wall. With step-by-step instructions the last 100 pages are filled with other techniques (a few time honoured and others fairly recent) for your own DIY projects, included detailed plant lists for achieving the wall of your dreams.

The possible projects are exhaustively described, including the lifespan of the plants in the wall, maintenance requirements, prep time, planting time, the best locations and harvest times as well.
It's very handy as an all-in-one resource for anyone interested in the green walls, especially the mechanically inclined DIYer.

The greatest green roof website ever!!!

Behold! And tell me, this green roof tool isn't the coolest, most practical thing you have ever used!!! (Provided that you're in the USA and/or love green roofs.)

I would be remiss if I didn't remind Austinities to check out their 5th annual bug festival on Saturday. See how many of these insects you can sample!

The Times is busy with bees

-The New York Times has had a bunch of articles in the last two months about bees. From exploring the proliferation of bees and bee lovers, to reports on bees creating various forms of trouble.  Someone at the Times is definitely smitten. 

-I neglected to update everyone on the completion of the green roof debate in Toronto City Hall last month. On May 8-9, 2012 all three motions recommended for adoption by the Planning and Growth Management Committee were adopted. The big one is the establishment of a discretionary reserve fund called the 'Eco-Roof Financial Assistance Reserve Fund' to subsidize green roof installation for all industrial, commercial and institutional buildings.

-I love the fact that the Salvation Army has launched this program in Montana to help kids learn to farm, eat and sell their vegetables. If an organization like the Salvation Army can do it there, they could easily replicate the program wherever they have branches...which is practically everywhere!