Nov 16

Urban Agriculture … a Petro-Independent industry.

Ecological Economics, Garden, Sustainability, Urban Agriculture 3 Comments »

Imagine, Urban Agriculture as a new industry in which people work locally.

Imagine, the work processes designed around the use of simple hand-tools, primarily, which the workers can conveniently carry themselves in a backpack to accomplish many/most of the tasks – shoveling, raking, pruning, staking, weeding, etc … etc.

Imagine cycling as the primary mode of transportation for the distributed workers. This is symbolic of a new era.

With only a small, lightweight complement of hand-tools … the ‘fieldworkers’ can actually utilize a bicycle as a primary vehicle within their ‘fieldwork catchment area’ in the vicinity of their home.

Since employees primarily work within the immediate vicinity of their homes, and require only a small complement of lightweight hand tools … then, bicycles are the appropriate practical vehicle for employee mobilization.

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Nov 02

Small Plot INtensive (SPIN) Farming … and Somerton Tanks Farms research.

Garden, Optimization, Property Design, Sustainability, Urban Agriculture No Comments »

SPIN Farming is method of Urban Agriculture.

Small Plot, INtensive Farming, ‘SPIN’, is a food production method devised by an experienced farmer for application to ‘sub-acre‘ plots of land, closer to market … thus becoming one form (of several*) of Urban Agriculture.

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Disclaimer: My positive writing on the SPIN farming – and the methods of the ‘Institute for Innovations in Local Farming’ – is purely out of respect of the founders, and partners, and their accomplishments in developing an appropriate food production method for our modern urban society. I am not compensated in any way. I am very thankful for their efforts, and sharing with me the ‘Feasibility Report’ (2007) that details the positive financial details.

Here is the link to the report:  This is the ‘Media’ page of the SPIN Farming website … scroll down to ‘Research Papers’ – second in the category … Institute for Innovations in Local Farming – Farming in Philidelphia: Feasibility Analysis (Complete Study)

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The ‘Institute for Innovations in Local Farming’ has carried out local agriculture research at the Somerton Tanks Demonstration Farm (STF) – the research is based on the SPIN methods, with the SPIN founder, Wally Satzewich as advisor.

The results of the four year research projects of STF operations are very impressive and encouraging … showing the great potential of Urban Agriculture, in general, and specifically local, land-based farming/gardening.

The Demonstration farm projects showcases the economic viability of a small-scale farm business: the economics of localized food production are positive.

Moreover, growing healthy food produce is a far superior use of otherwise empty grass lawns. This is an excellent example of optimization, and a means of developing the resilient and sustainable society … toward a true thriving society.

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Oct 27

Urban Agriculture: a New Industry

Garden, Property Design, Urban Agriculture, Urban Transformation 2 Comments »

With respect to the ‘business case’ of Urban Agriculture, there are two main ‘issues’ of concern … requiring explanation.

- the food production issue

- the urban property maintenance issue

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Food Production:

As a new agriculture, the urban production of food takes place close to the paying customers, this ‘very-local’ neighbourhood production will be the most fresh produce, earning the highest price.

The locality of production – and familiarity with resident customers -minimizes the cost to transport and ‘market’ the produce.

And with Urban Agriculture, the food grown is high-value market produce with an increase in heritage and specialty foods, commanding a premium price.

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Oct 26

Our Eco-_Social Disconnect.

Ecological Economics, Garden, Principles, Sustainability, Urban Agriculture 2 Comments »

Consider: Our society (our ’so-called’ advanced, developed western nations) are comprised of at least five (5) distinct generations of people who, after fifteen years of the formal educational system (jr. K – Gr. 12) have learned very little … if anything at all … of nature, ecology, ‘the environment’. And, through no fault of their own.

Is it any wonder that we have problems?

And with post-secondary, only those who pursue bio/eco studies have a real basis of understanding. But, then, in the typically ‘reductionist’ mode that doesn’t provide the basis for understanding the many aspects of emergent properties of dynamical systems – nature; Life; economics; society; climate; weather; and so much else are dynamical systems with emergent properties that cannot necessarily be understood from an a knowledge of their individual component parts.

This does not bode well.

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This lack of knowledge/understanding is so important since it is the decisions that people make (big and small) everyday that comprise ‘the economy’ and a civilized society.

The economy, in general, is the result of our social interactions. What people ‘busy’ themselves with – all day, everyday … their busy-ness, is, indeed, their ‘business’; and, ’the economy’ is the combination of everyones’ business. All of which is composed of decisions.

And virtually all of those decisions are based on a lack of knowledge/understanding … of the very ecological ‘asset base’ on which everything is absolutely dependent, and, from which everything derives.

Rectifying this situation … this eco–_social disconnect is a priority.

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Oct 25

Mulch the leaves

Garden No Comments »

It’s autumn. Leaves are falling.

The fallen leaves can be mulched with any regular power lawn mower – even electric. It may not be as effective, but it’s good enough to accelerate decomposition and reduce the volume for yard ‘waste’ collection.

Rake the leaves into piles … linear piles, and use the edge of the mower to ‘bite’ into the pile, discharging to the side: tilt the mower up at it’s front end by pushing on the handlebar, and working into the pile slowly. It’ll work quite well. And a repeat mulching will reduce the volume further.

The mulching of leaves (all yard waste) is perhaps the single best use of a motorized power tool. It is for this reason that a regular lawn mower performs a valuable function – for all it’s noise, particulate and CO2 emissions. A mulching attachment achieves excellent results.

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Oct 12

Crop Diversity. Cary Fowler: One Seed at a Time (Video)

Garden, Sustainability, Urban Agriculture No Comments »

In a recent post of the ‘Range of Benefits of Urban Agriculture’, I mentioned the vitally important benefit of increasing urban biodiversity, Specifically, the capability of collecting and saving seeds – in particular heirloom and heritage food seeds.

Here’s a video of Cary Fowler, Executive Director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust,  (GCDT), speaking at TED Conference about the importance of saving the biodiversity of our global food sources. The GCDT is partner in managing the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.


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Oct 07

Range of Benefits from Urban Agriculture

Garden, Sustainability, Urban Agriculture No Comments »

Besides the obvious health benefits of Maximum nutrient content and flavour from fresh locally grown foods, there many other less obvious benefits of Urban Agriculture.

First of all, the physical labour work of Urban Agriculture will contribute to an improved fitness, health.

As well, the overall psychological well-being: the peaceful ‘productive’ work, intimately involved ‘in nature’ … experiencing the weather, animals and all the sensory beauty is vital to the soul.

Likewise, the social interaction within local neighbourhoods, communities … entire city … between cities. This builds/improves social cohesion; sense of belonging … sense of place … gives people something to care about.

Moreover, the sense of accomplishment and contribution – especially with something so fundamental as fresh, nutritious tasty food, is of incalculable value for a healthy society.

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Oct 04

Permaculture … Greening the desert (video)

Garden, Optimization, Permaculture, Property Design, Sustainability, Urban Agriculture No Comments »

Permaculture was first discussed by Franklin Hiram King in 1911 to capture the essence of Permanent Agriculture … agricultural practices which can proceed indefinitely.

Permaculture is Optimization in the design of food garden systems.

Over the decades, the ideas were refined as a result of careful observation of natural processes and functions of ecosystems. The modern, ’standard’ concept of Permaculture can be attributed to Bill Mollison, considered the ‘father’ of the movement and David Holmgren.

I’ll describe Permaculture in increasing detail in subsequent blog posts.

For now, this video is an excellent primer, and provides a basis of knowledge to understand the ‘wholistic’ thinking from a Whole Systems mindset.

Here are some links:
http://permaculture.org.au/ The main permaculture organization; Australia.
http://www.permaculture.org/nm/index.php/site/index/ ‘Sister’ organization; USA.

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Sep 27

It’s Autumn. Leave the leaves … (as many as possible).

Biomimicry, Garden, Management, Optimization, Sustainability No Comments »

It’s Autumn. The ‘Fall’ season.

The plants of the temperate regions have evolved, naturally, to drop their leaves. Doing so, the fallen leaves return the nutrients and fibrous ‘bio-mass’ to the top layer of soil.

And what do we do?

We rake up … worse, nowadays, we blow or vacuum!! … the leaves to be discarded as ‘yard waste’.

It is this mindset … and our actions … this is the true ‘waste’.

Unfortunately, we don’t have any choice. We must have some leaf collection. What we can do, though, is mulch as much/best as possible on our own properties … leaving as many of the leaves in place, as is possible.

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Sep 26

Urban Farming in Detroit: Transformation in Action!

Garden, Management, Sustainability, Urban Agriculture, Urban Transformation No Comments »

This (Sept 26, ‘09) Toronto Star article about Urban Farming is Detroit is very informative and encouraging.

And this earlier article (April 3/’09) from CleanTech.com details the same Urban Farming project and principals.

Large tracts of the inner city of Detroit are vacant and the remaining residents have been taking action to make use of the available space to grow food – a vital endeavour, literally, as there are no grocery chain stores anywhere within the city limits!

Now, a larger scale urban farming enterprise is being promoted by private corporate interests to operate on 2023 hectares (in 120 hectare ‘plots’ or ‘pods’).  Continue reading »

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Sep 13

Stop ‘tampering’ in the garden … and in business, economics, etc.

Dynamical Systems, Ecological Economics, Garden, Management, Optimization No Comments »

Are you new to gardening?

Far too many people actually do too much, in terms of making ‘adjustments’ – ‘fixing’ problems, etc. without really understanding the situation.

Whether with food gardens, or purely aesthetic flower/landscape gardens, I have seen people ‘doing things’ mostly for the sake of ‘doing’ … ‘puttering in the garden’, to make themselves feel as though they’ve accomplished something.

Watering, for instance: I’ve watched people water the garden with the hose – just enough to wet the dry surface to become a rich brown colour, as though they’re painting the ground. And, of course, the earthy aroma is satisfying. But, actually, such ‘light waterings’ are counter-productive Continue reading »

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Sep 09

Garden design for all seasons.

Garden, Property Design No Comments »

Here in Toronto, with four distinct seasons, it is important to design a garden/property to provide enjoyment and interest in all seasons.

Especially in cold climates, good design allows visual enjoyment from within the house when temperatures and precipitation keep you inside.

In winter, the white backdrop of snow provides the bright clean contrast to appreciate the beauty of branch structures, for instance; the ‘roughness’ to counter-balance the smoothness and softness of snow. Also, the white ‘canvass’ shows the bright colours of winter hardy berries (important as a food source for birds).

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Sep 05

Garden design for Audible Aesthetics.

Garden, Property Design No Comments »

It is important to design gardens/properties to provide beauty in various forms to all senses. We are sensory creatures, after all.

We generally choose plants or other ‘features’ primarily for their visual appeal. In the case of fragrant flowers, we select for their aroma.

How about choosing plants for their audible effect?

Yes. The leaves of ‘Trembling aspens’, for instance, have evolved to catch the slightest breeze in such a way that they oscillate and produce a soft sound. Or, how about a plant in which the loose seeds in the pods produce a soft rattle of a pleasant percussion.

Have fun with gardening.

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Sep 03

Urban Agriculture: Lessons from Russia.

Ecological Economics, Garden, Urban Agriculture, Urban Transformation No Comments »

Russia, specifically St. Petersburg, provides excellent lessons and statistical research data regarding the importance and benefits of Urban Agriculture.

In particular, the Urban Gardening Club of St. Petersburg, and their Roof Top Gardening project. This club is impressive in their scientific rigor and their projects are heartening … involving gardening for rehabilitating prisoners; horticultural therapy for physically impaired; and more.

A document published (April 2000) by the World Health Organization: Food and Nutrition Policy Unit (Regional Office for Europe), presents a wealth of knowledge gained through the research in Urban Agriculture conducted by the Urban Gardening Club of St. Petersburg from 1992 – 1999.

An example of their research test results is described below (section 3, of the document) follows …

Continue reading »

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Aug 30

Long ’short-cut’

Garden, Property Design 2 Comments »

Have a corner property? Have an annoying situation of people (teens) taking a short-cut across your property?

Instead of a installing a barrier or fence, consider taking a different approach (literally, and figuratively).

Think about this … develop a welcoming landscaped feature with a restricted walking path that meanders around, up and down – even forcing tricky steps in traversing obstacles; a ’short-cut’ foot path that is longer and slower than the public walkway. Make it enticing. Even invite people to walk the trail.

What do you think will happen?

Most people will likely stay on the public walkway since it’ll be easier/faster!

For those that do take your trail, good for them. They’ve slowed themselves, briefly, and likely enjoyed the journey.

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New mindsets … new thinking. Challenge the assumptions.

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