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Los Olivos Park in Phoenix could be home to urban farm, market
“PHOENIX – Los Olivos Park in Phoenix could be home to a first-of-its-kind urban farm, market and education center.
“There’s nowhere that a child can go today, [who] lives in the core of Phoenix — in this neighborhood, to actually see a working example of agriculture,” said Aric Mei, a local restaurateur behind the project. Mei is working with Matthew Moore, a friend and fourth-generation Valley farmer. ”
Read the FULL STORY, at: “ABC15.com“
Money being raised to turn Indy home into place for people to learn urban gardening
“INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – An effort to create urban gardens on the northwest side of Indianapolis is moving ahead. The Kheprw Institute is raising $30,000 to renovate a home on Boulevard Place and turn it into an urban agriculture learning lab.
The community will be invited to learn how to create their own urban garden and borrow tools to help them get started.
The home will include a board of health-approved kitchen to teach families how to prepare the food they grow themselves. The goal is to address a food access crisis in the area.”
Read the FULL STORY at: “Fox59.com“
Take a Stroll Through Detroit’s Urban Agrihood
“While Detroit has many urban farms, the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative (MUFI) has recently amped up the discussion about development around these farms. Last winter, the non-profit announced their proposed urban agrihood around their two-acre farm in the North End. Curbed’s video team recently visited the farm to see the impact on real estate in the area.
An agrihood is an alternative neighborhood growth model, positioning agriculture as the centerpiece of a mixed-use development. There are some agrihoods around the country, but this is the first within a city.
MUFI is working on renovating a three-story blighted building into a community center near the farm. In the video, a recent home buyer in the area discusses the appeal of living near a farm like this in an urban environment, noting its proximity and easy access to attractions in the city—the Qline and the Fisher Building are just a few blocks away.”
Read the FULL STORY at: “Detroit.curbed.com“
Woman Sues City Of Tulsa For Cutting Down Her Edible Garden
“A Tulsa woman is suing the city’s code enforcement officers after she said they cut down her garden with no cause.
Denise Morrison said she has more than 100 plant varieties in her front and back yards and all of them are edible and have a purpose.
She knows which ones will treat arthritis, which will make your food spicy, which ones keep mosquitoes away and treat bug bites, but she said none of that matter to city inspectors.”
Watch the Video: NewsOn6.com – Tulsa, OK – News, Weather, Video and Sports – KOTV.com |
Read the FULL STORY at: “NewsOn6.com“
This Underground Urban Farm Also Heats The Building Above It
“Underneath a 26-floor office tower in Stockholm, an underground space once used as an archive for a newspaper will soon become a farm. And because of a unique business model, the urban farmers growing greens in the new farm won’t pay rent–their farm will pay for itself in heat.
Like some other indoor farms, the Plantagon CityFarm, set to begin production in early 2018, will grow greens in vertical towers under LED lights. But by capturing the heat from the lights–heat that would normally have to be vented out of the room and require air conditioning to keep the plants from overheating–the farm operators can send it into a heat storage system for the office building, and the heat can be used to help keep the offices warm through the winter.”
Read the FULL STORY at: “FastCompany.com“
This Urban Farm is Growing Over 40 Varieties of HOT Peppers!
“Not too far off Mopac in southwest Austin there’s an urban garden growing all sorts of peppers. Alejandra Rodriguez Bougton tells us more about La Flaca Urban Gardens.”
Story via: “Fox7Austin.com“
Organic board: aeroponics out, hydroponics, aquaponics in
“At long last, hydroponic organic produce suppliers can breathe easier.
By a vote of 8 to 7, the National Organic Standards Board on Nov. 1 rejected proposals to make hydroponic and aquaponic production methods prohibited under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program.
The prelude to the NOSB meeting generated intense lobbying efforts by the National Organic Coalition, the Cornucopia Institute and others promoting the necessity of soil-based organic production systems. However, their efforts to prohibit hydroponic systems for organic production were turned back by the NOSB, delivering a win to organic producers such as Wholesum Harvest and the greenhouse lobbying group, the Coalition for Sustainable Organics.”
Read the FULL STORY, at: “ThePacker.com“
Landowners spurn tax breaks to convert vacant lots to urban farms
Starting this month, Long Beach landowners who don’t convert their vacant parcels to small urban farms or community gardens will be billed a monthly fee to pay for city code enforcement officers to monitor the lots so they don’t turn into illegal dumping grounds or havens for crime.
The city will be charging owners a $53 dollar monthly fee to cover oversight of some 618 vacant lots, said Larry Rich, manager of Long Beach’s office of sustainability says.
“People will end up having to pay an additional fee to the city to have a vacant lot,” Rich said. They can avoid that fee if they do urban agriculture there instead.”
Read the FULL STORY at: “SCPR.org“
Extra Strength Seed Trays from Bootstrap Farmer!
WHAT WE DO
At Bootstrap Farmer, we want to help you get your small farm, garden or business off the ground. Whether that’s through our equipment line, fertility management services or our blog resources, we are here to help make your project a success.
HOW IT STARTED…
Bootstrap Farmer sprung out of my Farm-to-Table Food Truck Model, Veg2Bowl, in Eastern North Carolina. I was growing vegetables & herbs in high tunnel greenhouses which would go right onto the mobile kitchen. Since it’s a certified commercial kitchen, I am able to harvest, prepare and serve it in meals to customers all on the same day with little to no waste.
Some of the foods that I most frequently grow are lettuce, kale, chard, microgreens, tomatoes, peppers, and onions. And of course, a few chickens for pasture raised eggs. I was doing a local & fresh version of Blue Apron, except everything was already prepared ready to eat or ready to be heated, along with private events & festivals.
AN IDEA…
For better or worse, while I was building the farm for Veg2Bowl, I was noticing tons of things on my little farm that I wish were better or more efficient. After months of research, I had figured out the most efficient way to build a high tunnel greenhouse, because knowing I had to build it myself with savings from living with mom & dad, I was not going to waste a dime. Then while running the farm, I had the tiny idea of making seed trays so durable, I’d stop breaking them myself.
Maybe it was because I had already quit my previous job and left everything behind, I was feeling adventurous? I still don’t know, but, what I did know is that I could provide value to people. From there, there was no turning back. The idea to create an ultra durable seed tray & a better high-tunnel greenhouse kit was the germination of Bootstrap Farmer, which has now grown into something I could have never imagined.
THE EVOLUTION…
However… that came at a cost. I was struggling trying to run 2 completely new businesses. I was running a food truck, greenhouses and building an e-commerce business – all from scratch & all by myself (did I mention I also had no previous experience in any of it?) Somehow, by some miracle, both businesses were off to a great start, but it was becoming clear, in order to build either one of them into a long-term business, something had to change.
Check out the rest of their products, HERE!
Jellyfish Barge: The 750 sq ft Floating Agricultural Greenhouse!
“Thinking about having your own greenhouse but not sure about how to be practical, efficient and environmentally friendly? If you want to check the previous 3 points and at the same time use simple materials and low-cost technology in an innovative approach to growing plants, than this following project will be perfect!
The 750 square feet octagonal shape barge is probably the most creative greenhouse in recent times. Jellyfish Barge, as it is known, floats on the water due to recycled plastic barrels but it is also a solar powered greenhouse. Besides the solar and wind sources, which by the way provide with enough energy to power-up the pumps or any fans included in the greenhouse, you even have the water waves giving energy! How cool is that? Grow your garden on this unique system.
Check out the project in further detail to learn all about how it works and to get a better look at the planter ladder system inside. If you were pondering about choosing a greenhouse design before, you surely made up your mind thanks to this genius floating greenhouse!”
See more at: “GoodsHomeDesign.com“
Meet Malawi: Indoor Gardening Just Got Real [INDIEGOGO Campaign]
Just Grow has taken the mess and stress out of bringing nature indoors to nourish your mind, body, and life. Our innovative indoor garden, Malawi is an ecosystem that helps you grow food and connect with nature.
Americans spend 93% of their time indoors and only 7% outdoors. This creates a negative impact on our minds, bodies, and the planet. The problem is, our living spaces weren’t designed to coexist with nature which has been found to reduce stress and anxiety. Just Grow designs cutting-edge indoor gardens that use a small-scale ecosystem to combine sustainable living with modern design.
BACK this project on INDIEGOGO
Learn more about Elegant & Sustainable Indoor Gardening, HERE!
Community Gardens are Spreading Across the USA
“Community gardens are spreading across the USA! The community garden movement started in the early 1900’s. Today there are over 18,000 community gardens in the USA and Canada! From urban cities to small towns, they are helping the grow-your-own-food movement to flourish. Community gardens offer a place to grow food for people who don’t have the space, a place to learn from each other and help each other, a refuge for people and wildlife, and simply a place to grow fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables. Do you have a community garden in your community? Join one or start one today with your friends!
Rob Greenfield is an adventurer, activist, and humanitarian for a sustainable and just world. He donates 100% of his media income to grassroots nonprofits. His YouTube channel is a source for all things sustainable living, off the grid, simple living, zero waste, tiny house, grow your own food, cycling, and green.”
Vertical Gardening – 11 ways to get your vegetables to grow up
TIP 1– Soft, pouch-type containers are best for shallow roots like herbs, onions and succulents. Plants such as strawberries, lettuces and bushy veggies such as peppers like a larger, more rigid container. Tomatoes do best in large pots with some kind of support, like a cage.
TIP 2– Some kits have self-watering systems, but Forster just uses a “cute little watering can” to keep her patio garden hydrated. Don’t let your plants sit too long in standing water — that can suffocate the roots — but do find a way to contain the runoff from your plants so you don’t make a mess or drip on the balcony downstairs. Giving plants a little elevation, by perching it up on bricks or rocks inside a tray, would do the trick.
TIP 3– Use a good quality potting soil so roots can stretch and breath and make the most of their container. “‘Fluffy’ soils are best,” she said, “with stuff like peat moss, perlite and compost.”
Read MORE ways you can GROW VERTICALLY, HERE: “LATimes.com“
Butterfly gardening relieves stress, provides homes for declining species
“Butterfly gardening can be a relaxing and rewarding experience for people across all ages and backgrounds. For students, it may seem like a hassle and unwanted expense to find the right materials and proper equipment for gardening. However, with enough information and many resources to consult on campus, students can still tend to a small garden.
Butterflies are majestic and intricate creatures, especially when provided the chance to look at them up close without worrying about one flying off immediately. They are also pollinators, which are vital to keeping ecosystems running.
One of the most important aspects to keep in mind when butterfly gardening is knowing the environment, as well as the types of plants that will thrive and attract butterflies. Many guides exist on the internet, but do not necessarily pertain to the Davis and Sacramento areas and weather patterns. If space is a problem in a dorm or apartment, getting a window box on a balcony with enough sunlight and the correct plant can still provide a great habitat for butterflies.”
Read the FULL STORY at: “TheAggie.org“
He gave up a career in software to start urban gardening company My Sunny Balcony
After 10 years as a software professional, Sriram Aravamudan found his calling in beautifying Bengaluru’s balconies with My Sunny Balcony. Read his inspiring #PassionToPaycheck story below.
My Sunny Balcony – the name conjures up images of warm sunshine on cold winter mornings, steaming cups of tea, and gently swaying palms and bright bougainvillea flowers in equally bright planters.
I could go on with the imagery, more so as it is so far from what it really is – it’s rainy in Bengaluru, my balcony is flooded, the swing is wet and my plants have hung their heads in defeat!
Read the full story at: “YourStory.com“
Hydroponic Veggies Are Taking Over Organic, And A Move To Ban Them Fails
“Dave Chapman and dozens of other longtime organic farmers packed a meeting of the National Organic Standards Board in Jacksonville, Fla., this week. It was their last-ditch effort to strip the organic label from a tide of fluid-fed, “hydroponic” greenhouse-grown vegetables that they think represent a betrayal of true organic principles.
“It really goes to the foundation of what organic farming means,” says Chapman, who grows vegetables on his farm in East Thetford, Vt. Abby Youngblood, executive director of the National Organic Coalition, said that “we’re seeing, here in Jacksonville, a lot of support for the founding principles of organic, which are really about soil health, regenerating the soil,” rather than simply feeding plants the nutrients that they need.
Their protests, however, failed to convince a majority of the board, which voted, 8-7, against a ban on hydroponic methods in organic farming.”
Read the REST OF THE STORY, at: “NPR.org“
7 tips to ensure a flourishing indoor herb garden
“If you live in an apartment block or, have a tiny garden and would love to start your own herb garden, we have good news for you: don’t allow either of these factors to deter you.
You really can create your own herb garden indoors – all you need is a sunny balcony or, an unused space on your naturally-lit kitchen counter. Creating your very own herb garden really is that simple, not to mention incredibly rewarding.
The benefits are innumerable, from enjoying more flavourful food, to lower grocery costs as well as it being a wonderful way to teach your children about nature and caring for a garden.”
Read the rest of the article HERE!
Why you shouldn’t clean up the garden this fall
Question: I’ve heard conflicting information about fall-winter garden clean up. Some advice says clean up and cut back perennials. Other sources say to leave seed heads and leaves, etc., for wildlife habitat. Which advice is better?
Answer: If you love nature, then I say leave the garden with her leaves, berries, pods and seeds for the birds, bees, bugs, snakes and salamanders.
READ the REASONS WHY you shouldn’t clean up your garden this fall, here: “StatesmanJournal.com“
Turns Out Bees Can Be Right- or Left-Handed, Just Like Humans
“Researchers have discovered that bees can have a preference for left or right – influencing their decisions while they navigate obstacles in flight.
Unlike humans, though, bees don’t seem to favour one or the other across the wider population. But any individual bee could either be strongly left- or right-biased in equal proportion, and some have no preference at all.”
Read more about this at: “ScienceAlert.com“