Urban Growth

How Bikes Can Save Us - Infographic

2013-04-21T23:33:00.001-07:00

An awesome Infographic from fastcodesign.com on How Bikes Can Save Us! As countries are becoming ever more car orientated, their citizens are feeling the effects at their waist-lines, wallets and watches. The sedentary lifestyle that commonly comes with a heavy reliance on powered vehicles is costing individuals, companies and countries huge amounts of time and money. Everything for wasted hours in traffic jams to ever increasing medical expenses due obesity rates can be positively influenced by MORE PEOPLE RIDING THEIR BIKES!!

Some interesting facts (taken from the infographic)

20 bikes can be parked in the space of 1 car.
An MIT study in France found that bikes are up to 50% faster than cars during peak hours of traffic.
By adding 30 minutes of cycling to your day, one can save up to US$544 annually in medical expenses.

Check out the infographic below...

How Bikes Can Save Us infographic

So get out of the car and on to your bike! It will save you money and maybe even save your life!

Singapore's First Commercial Vertical Farm

2013-04-16T17:37:00.001-07:00

Singapore is a city-state of a mere 710 square kilometre (sqkm), home to 5.3 million people. That is 7,315 people per sqkm! To give you some perspective, Victoria (Austraila) has 237,629 sqkm to house a similar population. Consequently Singapore has never had the opportunity to gain any sort of agricultural independence, instead relying on nearby countries to meet their fresh produce demands.

To address their heavy dependence on foreign imports, Mr Jack Ng, founder of Sky Greens decided to develop a vertical hydroponic farm on Singapore's own soil. Think library-sized greenhouse with racks of cascading vegetables instead of books.

'World’s first low carbon hydraulic water-driven, tropical vegetable urban vertical farm.'

At present only about 7% of Singapore's fresh food is grown locally. This is an inevitable predicament for a city-sate with such a large population a limited land available. The importation of resources, in this case fresh food, has traditionally been the only option for Singaporeans.

Modern technology has brought a solution along - vertical farming. Utilising vertical space to grow crops of produce isn't a new concept, though a commercially viable set-up has not been an option until more recently.

By no means will this new technology enable complete self-reliance in Singapore for fresh food, however it does offer a sustainable approach to growing food in densely populated cities.

The Sky Greens vertical farm sits on 3.2 acres in the North West corner of the island. Currently 120 A-Go-Gro Vertical Hydroponic systems, 9 metres tall (3 storeys) are housed in large greenhouses. This protects them from the elements ensuring consist high yields of fresh leafy green all year around.

Mr Ng's new technology looks a little like a Ferris-wheel of planter troughs rotating around an aluminium A-frame. Each tower hold 26 troughs of 48 plants which are cultivated using hydroponic techniques. This process allows much higher yields than traditional farming, both in per unit area and in individual plants. Regulating water and nutrient levels ensures optimal growing conditions 24/7, resulting in a faction of the water and nutrient wastage usually experienced in commercial farming.

At the moment they are producing a variety of greens including:

Chinese cabbage
Spinach
Lettuce
A number of Asian leafy greens (inc. Xiao Bai Cai, Bayam, Kang Kong)

'As well as the economic benefits of continuous production and higher yields, Sky Greens say that the vertical farming system also offers many environmental benefits.

The A-Go-Gro systems use low carbon, hydraulic green technology and thus have reported very low energy costs. Similarly, Sky Greens say the vertical farming systems also offer low water costs as the vertical crops are irrigated through an “innovative flood method” that utilises recycled water.' [cite]

The farm is seeking investors to help them expand from 120 towers to 300 - increasing daily supply for the current 0.5 tonnes to 2 tonnes! With the price tag of the first stage being at a stolid US$21 million, they do have their work cut out for them. However, people are enthusiastic about the new venture and the opportunity to buy locally produced food.

More information on how the system works can be found in this video below

video sourced from CNNmoney.com

Information sourced from http://skygreens.appsfly.com/ , http://io9.com ,

Photos sourced from http://skygreens.appsfly.com/ , http://www.npr.org/

A limiting factor for vertical farming is the access to light. With such a large amount of plants growing in one place many critics believe that the efficiencies gained by hydroponics techniques are lost when simply not enough light can reach the individual plants. Interestingly, after watching the video above, the rotating system for each of the aluminium towers is demonstrated becomes more clear. Hopefully by rotating the troughs up to the top of the tower all the plants get enough sunlight.

Still, I think this is an excellent example of developing a solution a very common urban problem - space. I wish Mr Ng and his team all the best in expanding their farm in the future.

Solar Charging Station in Melbourne

2013-04-08T23:26:00.000-07:00

At a local community park I found this; it is solar charge station for electric vehicles! A government initiative and part of the Victorian Government Electric Vehicle Trial, this station is available to the general public providing them with a spot to charge their electric vehicles. The trial was established to better understand the process, timelines and barriers for making the transition to electric vehicle technology.

'Current electric vehicles will take around 5 hours to fully charge from flat and it will cost about $3 compared to around $15-17 for petrol to get equivalent distance of 100km. The ChargePoint is designed to deal with advances in vehicle and battery technology to enable faster charging in the future.' [cite]

A 2.82 kW photovoltaic solar system has been fitted on the station's roof, which is angled and orientated to maximise electricity generation. The array is the size needed to offset the electricity used by a standard electric car in one year. Any power drawn from the grid is renewable energy sourced and is therefore emission free.

The charge station also has the capacity charge electric bikes (E-bikes) which will also hopefully encourage the adoption of this technology as well!

This project was funded by a 'Green Precincts Grant' provided by the Federal Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Additional partners included, Delta Energy Systems Australia and Q –Cells Australia.

A pretty clever little station, which works well in Australia with all the sun we have. The station was completed in March 2012 and I couldn't find much information on how it has been going (effectiveness, community reception, costs etc). If you have some more information this initiative do not hesitate to contact me.

Information sourced from http://www.ceres.org.au/

How energy is used in the home - Infographic

2013-03-23T22:51:00.000-07:00

A quick and easy Infographic breaking down visually, the energy consumption of various items found throughout the home (given in avg monthly kilowatt hour, kwh). From the iron at 5 kwh to the swimming pool pump at 720 kwh it gives us a clear a concise overview of where the energy we pay for goes in our house.

Some people way not know but spatial heating it commonly the most energy hungry consumer within a household. This reinforces the necessity of quality and comprehensive insulation in the home. Not only can you save money on energy bills but keep your house warmer more easily!

How energy gets used and wasted in the home infographic

The Balcony Garden Re-location

2013-03-20T15:41:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I built a balcony garden out of an old fence [link]. It turned out really well for a first attempt and looked pretty good! However, recently it had to be moved to a new house. It survived the move and I was pleased to find most of it was able to fit on the new balcony! With a bedroom on either side, it has turned a dull, disused space into a nice green space distraction!

What the boring, grubby balcony looked like before the move. It really just looks like dead space as so many balconies tend to be. So I gave it a good scrub down, washing the floor and the windows.

............ then the transformation

It turned out like this!! The stepped troughs fit perfectly on either side of the doors.

Against the railing there are two of the four tomato plants. Looking a little sad after 10 days of 32+ C degree weather.

The bench is in the centre of the railing looking back at the troughs. It was not the intended but it seems to work well.
Then a couple of succulents are just sitting on either side of the bench.

Some comparisons to the last balcony location:

North facing - Much better sun, longer access, not so much harsh afternoon sun
Sheltered - Not as exposed as the last balcony, wind is not longer an issue
Perspex roof - Sheltered from rain as well, so everything needs to be watered by hand
We have a problem with caterpillars!

A short video giving you a tour of the place.

I'm interested to hear what you think? Try to stay constructive!

Please share

Will Allen - Basketballer/Businessman Turned Urban Farmer

2013-03-19T01:21:00.000-07:00

Will Allen. Urban Farmer. Now this guy is a man of action, putting money where his mouth is and making a difference in hundreds of communities throughout the US !

Now in his 60s Will has been working tirelessly for years ‘making healthy food [available and] affordable to everyone’. Now Will says he always had some farming blood in him but never did he think of embracing it; rather starting his adult life out as a professional basketball player. Graduating from the University of Miami in 1971 he then went on to play basketball professionally in Europe.

Funnily enough it was in Belgium helping a teammate’s parents out on their farm that rekindled Will ties to farming and the land.

"I touched the soil, and there I was. I helped them plant potatoes," he says. "Everybody should touch the soil. It really changes how you feel about everything in your life. It's therapeutic." [cite]

Despite reconnecting with the land in Europe the corporate life was for him, or so he thought. Managing several Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurants in the Melaukee area, then working for Procter & Gamble as a sales rep along with raising a family.

In 1993 all that changed. Seeing potential in a run-down greenhouse for sale on a property, in what Will called a ‘food desert’; an area where very little fresh food could be found and fast-food restaurants ran unchallenged Will quit his job and bought into this ‘potential’.

In that same year Will founded Growing Power a non-for-profit organisation with a mission to ‘provide safe, affordable and healthy foods to communities’. It also turned out to give local teens a chance to work and learn about the farming and fresh food. ‘What started as a simple partnership to change the landscape of the north side of Milwaukee has blossomed into a national and global commitment to sustainable food systems.’ [cite] This year (2013) they are celebrating their 20^th anniversary of growing food, educating minds, and rebuilding communities.

Growing Power’s vision: To inspire communities to build sustainable food systems that are equitable and ecologically sound; creating a just world, one food-secure community at a time.

Utilising vertical space and growing techniques such as Aquaponics, Growing Power has been providing fresh food to hundreds of families. It now has more than 100 employees and 200 acres of production across the US, showing everyone that fresh healthy food can be grown anywhere.

Will Allen’s urban farming ‘movement’ has continued to gain momentum and throughout the US.

The Growing Power story and work have been noticed and supported by numerous influential parties; from First Lady Michelle Obama, who invited Will to the White House in February 2010 to help launch her "Let's Move" campaign, to Time magazine ( Will was included in the Time’s 100 World's Most Influential People in May 2010).

Will Allen and Growing Power have also been recognised for their hard work with awards and grants ranging from the John D. and Katherine T. McArthur Foundation’s “genius grant” in 2008 to the Green Giant Green Award designated for Will Allen’s College Scholarship Fund for Growing Power Youth Corps.

Growing delicious fresh food, teaching others how to do the same, and supporting local communities, Will is doing all the right things! He is passionate about his projects and truly wants to equip everyone with the skills to provide for themselves. I commend Will in all that he is doing and encourage others to use him as a role model and inspiration for their own local works!

Will Allen: The Urban Farmer from Spark Project on Vimeo.

Photo sources Vimeo & growingpower.org
Data sources jsonline,.com & growingpower press kit

My Eco-city - Sharing the Eco Spots of Melbourne

2013-03-16T19:47:00.003-07:00

CrowdSpot in collaboration with the City of Melbourne released a month ago, My Eco-City. It is an simple interactive map of Melbourne where users can create pins, imparting their knowledge of all the amazing projects taking place that assist in reducing Melbourne's footprint. [LINK TO MY ECO-CITY]

“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”

- Jane Jacobs (The Death and Life of Great American Cities)

The pins or spots are broken into various colours and be placed all across the city!

I think is a brilliant idea coinciding perfectly with the mission of 'Urban Growth', communicating real physical initiatives, activities, businesses and groups that are being more environmentally responsible.

A simple and easy pin placement with no need register hopeful encourages people to share and interact with the map.

SO GET SHARING!

So everyone can know of all the cool eco-spots around Melbourne!

all screenshots and logo sourced from crowdspot.com.au

I take it other cities have similar initiatives, if you know of any please share them. How are they different? What makes them better or not so good?

So You Want to Save Water - Infographic

2013-03-13T21:55:00.003-07:00

An Infographic with a message but also some humor. 'So you want to save water' gives us a table of various day to day foods or activities and outlines how much water they require.

From the washing machine to a cup of tea it makes you think about how much water went into giving you that food or activity! Hopefully providing you with different reason to cut down on meat, shower times or even coffee!

sourced from lochnesswatergardens.com

Melbourne's Urban Coffee Farm

2013-03-05T20:01:00.000-08:00

The banks of the Yarra River have been beautified with the lush greens of a coffee plantation! For the next two weeks a section of South Bank in the heart of Melbourne will be the meeting place for coffee lovers and urban green thumbs a like. In fact this awesome installation by Hassell is the ideal spot for anyone wanting to escape the the concrete jungle for a half an hour.

On the red steps of Queensbridge Square 'The Urban Coffee Farm & Brew Bar' is the venue to get one of the best cups of coffee in Australia! Melbourne's top baristas and bartenders are taking turns in running the stepped coffee farm over a period of 17 days. All as part of Melbourne's Food and Wine Festival (MFWF) visitors can truly take part in Melbourne's obsession with coffee.

But it is not all pretty plants and exotic coffee. This terraced pop-up plantation is made from disused shipping containers from the local port, timber pallets and packing crates, all sourced from the coffee trade. Visitors are also encouraged to learn a little about the story of coffee - for first seedling to first sip.

Some fun facts for you all!

1000 types of Coffee varieties have been discovered in Ethiopia alone
Higher elevations (1000m+) are considered a prerequisite for great coffee beans
The coffee bean is not a bean at all, but the processed seed of a cherry plucked from a coffee tree

I went down to the coffee farm yesterday. It looked really good! The staff were friendly and the coffee was as promised.... bloody amazing! However, in my opinion it still could have done with some more shade (was 34 degrees Celsius outside) and a few more seats.

I struck up a random conversation with a guy next to me. It turned out to be Javier Cabrery Roperti, a coffee producer from Guatemala there to give a talk about his coffee plantation. Invited by 5 Seeds he had only arrived in Melbourne the day before! We had an excellent chat about his farm, clients and the awesome coffee culture in Melbourne.

He is recycling close 100% of his coffee bean husks through vermiculture, cutting down waste processing and fertiliser costs at the same time!

The coffee line

The Urban Coffee Farm

While not strictly relating to urban sustainability I think the team from Hassell have thought up an engaging installation that is more than just a coffee shop. It is a really cool green space in the a sea of grey, made from semi-recycled materials and teaching people a thing or two about great coffee. I would like to see them also boast a zero-waste ideology like 'Silo'.

I know it's just a bin, but it's a Special Solar Bin!

2013-03-04T23:21:00.003-08:00

Well this I hadn't heard of before! I stumbled upon this bin when in Camberwell, Melbourne. It is a solar power, self compacting bin and it is a new intelligent infrastructure that is reducing the collection frequency of rubbish bins in dense urban settings. I don't know about these ones specifically but they look to be very similar to BigBelly Bins from the UK.

BigBelly Bins UK

An internal compactor increases the litter capacity by 6 - 8 times that of a normal street bin
It sends an email & text when the bin is 85% full
Management & operatives can view, on desktops and smartphones, the real time fill levels of all bins, eliminating “milk round” type collection rounds
Eliminates overflowing bins
Eliminates weekend collections
Eliminates birds/vermin scattering rubbish across streets, parks & beaches
Reduces street cleaning & litter picking requirements due to enclosed nature of bin
Comprehensively and successfully tested by Councils for vandalism and for health & safety regulations since 2005
Each Big Belly can transmit a Wifi Platform providing local Council information and local retailer offers. This are no costs to the Council associated with this service

Data & photo sourced from bigbellysolar.co.uk

It definitely makes sense to try and reduce the frequency of collection, the effects of which can be realised not only in a reduction in carbon emissions (from rubbish trucks etc) but also in the ease of traffic congestion on rubbish days. Being 100% complete solar powered they are self-sufficient and the BigBelly Bins are even boasting Wi-Fi hot-spots and interactive data sharing so councils known exactly when the bin needs to be collected. I think they should replace all bins in the CBD of Melbourne and be paired with 'recycled materials' model as well.

A case study conducted by the City of Philadelphia titled 'Cost Savings from Solar Powered Compactors for Trash and Recycling' [Link] can give you some more info.

Deconstructing Construction Waste - Infographic

2013-02-25T16:15:00.001-08:00

Deconstructing Construction Waste and Saving Big with Modular infographic

A Visual Guide to the Scale of Carbon Emissions

2013-02-13T17:24:00.000-08:00

The relate sizes of carbon dioxide emissions are often difficult for the average person to appreciate. A visual animation firm Carbon Visuals [link] were commissioned by Environmental Defense Fund [link] to create a number of short animations representing various statistics involved in the climate change debate. They are 'designed to engage the 'person on the street''

This first video is fly-through of New York with her carbon emissions represented as blue balloons. One year of carbon emissions? that is a lot of blue balloons, and hopefully it can help people realise how much 54 million metric tons of CO2 actually is!!

New York City's greenhouse gas emissions as one-ton spheres of carbon dioxide gas

Another short visualisation produced by Carbon Visuals summarises the carbon dioxide savings from a number of energy efficiency projects (mostly lighting retrofits). I like how the CO2 savings are represented as the building structures themselves. I think it is easy to see the relative usages of before and after the retrofits, it is conveyed more quickly and stays with me longer than the statistics on the right hand side.

Building Confidence Case Studies

sourced from youtube.com

Overall I think Carbon Visuals are right on the money with these short animations. Most people relate to visual information far better than written data. With so many people not truly comprehending the gravity of the situation (climate change etc) at hand initiatives like these ones are essential!

The edit could be better maybe, and a little backing music? What do you think?

The Little Veggie Patch Co and their 'Pop Up Patch'

2013-02-06T16:31:00.002-08:00

'The Little Veggie Patch Co is a Melbourne based business that specialises in the design, installation and maintenance of chemical-free vegetable gardens. As much as it is our business, it is our passion to see more people living a greener lifestyle - growing their own vegetables.' [cite]

Matthew Pember and Fabian Capomolla are the men behind one of Melbourne's newest and most 'productive' landscaping companies!

The Little Veggie Patch Company was founded by Matthew in 2008. Fabian who specializes in the design, installation and maintenance of edible gardens joined Mattthew on his mission in 2009.

Together they have been 'greening up' Melbourne one 'Apple Crate' at a time! Sharing the love for fresh food and the knowledge of where it comes from.

Apple crates, as the name suggests are crates that are used transport apples. The Little Veggie Patch Co procure old crates and transform them into instant Little Veggie Patches for the budget conscious.

'There is no major construction required. Upon arrival of your ‘Little Veggie Crate’ all you have to do is fill the crate by first laying it with straw, then topping it up with a good quality organic compost and presto!….you have an Instant No Dig Garden. Each crate comes lined with tough plastic to stop your ingredients seeping out.' [cite]

Being so portable they are great for Schools, Kindergartens and Child Care Centers looking to start up a Kitchen Garden.

The boys also design and installation custom raised bed gardens throughout Melbourne.
More information can be found on their website.

Pop Up Patch

Think community garden, but in the very centre of the city!! In fact you almost can't get more central than Federation Square. On the top level of a car park behind Melbourne's Federation Square, 'Pop up Patch' has been giving members an opportunity to get their hands dirty, their thumbs green and grow some veggies!!

'The Fed Square Pop up Patch is a subscriber based edible gardening club allowing and encouraging you to farm your very own produce smack bang in the city. Subscribers will have their very own little veggie crate prepared by the Little Veggie Patch Co, filled using their special no-dig garden recipe; the perfect infrastructure for growing great produce.' [cite]

Interested parties (individuals, families, friends) can subscribe for a period and have access to their very own crate or crates! To grow whatever they feel like!

'For the price of a coffee a day, you can come and go from as you please, growing herbs, lettuces, giant zucchinis, jack’s bean stalk, in fact whatever it is that gets your tummy grumbling.' [cite]

One interesting and rather unfortunate issue that has presented itself in recent months is theft and vandalism!! Long nurtured crops have been found slain or missing! As a result security during opening hours are present and everything is locked up after hours with CCTV cameras keeping an eye on your much loved produce!

Their promotion video for 'The Fed Square Pop Up Patch'

Sourced from youtube.com

All photos sourced from littleveggiepatchco.com.au/

& www.popuppatch.com/

Matthew and Fabian are doing an awesome job at promoting healthy eating and educating people on where their food comes from and more importantly how to grow it themselves!!

They have also just released a book 'The Little Veggie Patch Co: How to grow food in small places'

'A complete A–Z of Edible Plants gives you vital information on more than 40 vegetables (and fruit trees), including detailed planting information, ongoing maintenance advice, tips on best companions and when to harvest. And the Weekend Activities scattered throughout the book will get the kids involved too, whether they’re Making a Scarecrow, Building a Spud Tower or Growing Beans in a Bean Can.' [cite]

It can be purchased at http://shop.littleveggiepatchco.com.au/collections/all-products

My First Garden Balcony Installation

2013-02-02T15:39:00.001-08:00

This is my first Balcony Garden Installation! Built at a friends apartment in Melbourne, Australia. Made completely from recycled materials! It turned a grey, boring balcony into a beautiful, living balcony.

UPDATE - The relocation [link]

This is one of the reasons why I started 'Urban Growth', to turn underutilised places in the city into beautiful areas you actually want to be in. My balcony has be steadily growing [1st post ; 2nd post ] but I wanted to make a set installation, creating something from start through to finish. As I started experimenting in my workshop [The Re-workshop] I played around with a number of planter box and trough designs. Through trial and error I developed the designs used in this installation.

There are four tomatoes in planter boxes, placed against the railing with the intent to have them trellis up creating a green wall for those sitting on the bench.
At each end of the balcony is a step of two troughs with a variety of herbs and vegetables growing for use in the kitchen.

Including:

Oregano
Sage
Thyme
Parsley
Chilli
Chives
Basil
Lettuce
Strawberries

Then a small window sill trough brings a few flowers to the space

The balcony before the installation. Grey and boring, like so many it wasn't really being used for anything.

As mentioned above the boxes and troughs were constructed completely from recycled timber. Namely an old fence and old wood wallets, treated with a 50:50 mix of linseed oil and mineral turpentine.
They were then lined with a black plastic to ensure no chemical contamination occurs between the soil and the boxes. Cut and upturned ends of plastic pots made for effective drainage solutions and holes were drilled in bases of each box/trough.

The tomatoes looking a little sad from a heat wave that hit Melbourne the other day. However, they had been producing numerous tomatoes prior to the heat wave!

A step trough arrangement at one end.
The lettuce is yet to come through at the top left.
Some succulents at the base, always enduring in the Australian heat.

A very productive strawberry on the top level.
Parsley, sage and thyme on the bottom

I think it looks one thousand times better than what it was before! It really adds some green to such a grey dead space.

However some hurdles have presented themselves over the last few weeks of trial. As this was my first time creating anything like this I take these hurdles as excellent opportunities to reflect on the design (plant selection, housing structures etc) and the practicality of such a garden set-up.

Aspects to consider:

The hot Australian sun has burnt the tomatoes into shadows of their former selves. Either a shade cloth needs to been installed or this isn't the place for them.
The apartment is on the first floor (G, 1st, 2nd etc) , facing west. It gets pretty damn windy up there sometimes, mostly from a general southerly direction. Either everything needs to be staked firmly or barriers at either end need to be constructed.
The balcony does not have a tap to easily fill a water bucket from or attach a hose to, making it quite awkward to water everything, often daily. I am thinking of a trick system of sorts or maybe 'ollas' to help spread out water times.
Construction of the planter boxes/troughs has been good with only a minor upgrade required. Of course an issue longevity is present, but I thought with a double treatment of the linseed mix and the plastic lining, they should last for a while.


Much Better!!

Below is a very short video of me showing you around the balcony.

If you like my first attempt, please share and comment!

Going Green at the Office - Infographic

2013-01-29T22:11:00.002-08:00

Going Green at the Office infographic

The Tale of Two Rooftops

2013-01-26T20:52:00.001-08:00

A Tale of Two Rooftops is an episode brought to you by 'The Perennial Plate' the adventurers of sustainable eating!

'The Perennial Plate is an online weekly documentary series dedicated to socially responsible and adventurous eating. The episodes follow the culinary, agricultural and hunting explorations of chef and activist, Daniel Klein.' [cite]

In episode 110 we find them in Hong Kong meeting a couple of enthusiastic urban farmers using their rooftops to grow fresh produce, as well as provide a space for other budding green thumbs to grow plants.

The visuals and music in the episode are very engaging, well done 'The Perennial Plate' for producing a cool little video providing insight into the life of a HK urban farmer ! :)

Sourced from theperennialplate.com/

The Great Crate - a 10x10x10 herb garden

2013-01-26T19:34:00.001-08:00

A giant cube popped into existence last year at Green Square Train Station, Sydney. It was a huge cube structure made out of milk crates and filled with plants in an installation aimed to 'Greenify' Green Square.

The project was developed as part of 'art&about sydney' 2012. With overwhelming support from the community, who delivered hundreds of plants to contribute to the greening of 'Green square'; 'the great crate' became an awesome 10x10x10m herb garden for all to take and use.

'Take home free herbs, lovingly grown over the past weeks as part of Art and About Sydney. You can choose from parsley, sage, thyme, pineapple sage, strawberries, chervil, pakchoi, tatsoi, basil, purple basil, oregano, coral lettuce, applemint, spearmint, lemon balm, pea bounty, yellow beans, vietnamese mint, kale, red cabbage, cabbage and watercress.' [cite]

'Developed by Plus One, The Great Crate has been a collaboration of creative studios and individuals, including design studio Telly Theodore & Associates, architect Andy Macdonald and curator Danella Bennet.' [cite] 'The Great Crate', a giant green, growing cube was installed at Green Square Station from 21 September - 21 October 2012.

Using not only recycled materials but light and strong too; this 'great crate' was an excellent idea for a public space installation. I wonder if you could do something similar on a rooftop??

Sourced from Jimmy Too

Photos sourced from http://www.facebook.com/TheGreatCrate/info

Tristram Stuart - The global food waste scandal

2013-01-21T22:41:00.002-08:00

Living sustainably is not just about consuming more wisely but actively reducing the amount waste you discard! According to Tristram Stuart, environmentalist and author of 'Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal', 'western countries waste up to half of their food'!

Tristram Stuart is a Brit with more than just a few things to say and dare I say they are important things!

He is the author of 'The Bloodless Revolution' (2006), ‘a genuinely revelatory contribution to the history of human ideas’ [cite] and more recently 'Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal' (2009).

He has become a renowned campaigner, with a less-talked-about yet extremely important message.

“We, the people, do have the power to stop [the] tragic waste of resources if we regard it as socially unacceptable to waste food.” [cite]

Winner of the international environmental award, The Sophie Prize 2011. Tristram has also founded 'Feeding the 5000' with its flagship event of a global food waste campaign is feeding 5000 members of the public using only ingredients that otherwise would have been wasted. Tristram and his team have been busy launching replica events and campaigns internationally; recently commissioned to work globally in partnership with the European Commission and the United Nation Environment Program.

All this hard work is to tackle the global food waste scandal.

Some alarming statistics for everyone.

The irrigation water used globally to grow food that is wasted would be enough for the domestic needs (at 200 litres per person per day) of 9 billion people - the number expected on the planet by 2050.
10% of rich countries' greenhouse gas emissions come from growing food that is never eaten.
UK Households waste 25% of all the food they buy.
2.3 million tonnes of fish discarded in the North Atlantic and the North Sea each year; 40 to 60% of all fish caught in Europe are discarded – either because they are the wrong size, species, or because of the ill-governed European quota system.
An estimated 20 to 40% of UK fruit and vegetables rejected even before they reach the shops – mostly because they do not match the supermarkets' excessively strict cosmetic standards.
24 to 35% of school lunches end up in the bin.

Sourced from feed5k.org

Tristram gave a talk at TEDSalon in London, September 2012 . Discussing the findings in his book.

Sourced from ted.com

Herbs, when are they in season? - Infographic

2013-01-19T19:41:00.003-08:00

The first in a series of visual interesting infographics depicting the growing seasons of different plants. This one is for herbs. I think it looks pretty cool, though not the easiest graphic to draw information from; a bit crowded maybe. NOTE: this is not the growing season for the Melbourne area, if any was to know please share.

My Garden Balcony (An update - 16/01/13)

2013-01-16T14:53:00.000-08:00

I posted an article about my balcony garden very early on in this blog [link]. I mentioned that I would be upgrading in due course. As always time slips by more quickly than one would like. However, I have a 'half-way there' update.

I still have the vertical pallet wall going strong; recently I re-potted all the herbs into larger pots and added some more colour to the mix with a variety of flowering.....things. These pots are all arranged on tiered milk crates facing the house and the living room. I think the green of milk crates complements the natural green quite well.

Balcony in the sun

I transplanted our four tomato plants to a trough I made out of an old fence, lined with builders tarpaulin then spotted with drainage holes. The two in the centre are going well, the two on the outside are struggling a little. I'm not sure why, any suggestions?

I have also been trialing drip feeders made from wine bottles. I cut the bottom off the bottle and punch holes in the lid. Spearing them into the soil, the water drips down more gradually than just a surface water. However, they are have terribly inconsistent flow rates and are definitely still trails!

Tomato plants

Australia's first 'carbon negative' commercial office building

2013-01-14T14:15:00.000-08:00

Positive Energy Places

Right in the heart of inner city Melbourne is an Australian first.

- A 'carbon negative' commercial office building. -

A feat that evidently few have managed to achieve and an initiative that should definitely be celebrated!

Formerly known as 'The Green Spaces' the now new and improved 'Positive Energy Places' (490 Spencer St, Melbourne, VIC) is leading the charge in Australia for going above and beyond with environmentally responsible and sustainable business practices.

Despite being built in the 1980s, this two story tilt-slab office building now packs a punch when it comes to energy efficiency.

The retrofit of this building began in 2009 and was officially opened a year later in September of 2010. Hundreds of additions and changes were made to the building structure and fit-out.

Key Refurbishment features:

'Virtual double glazing'
PV solar supplying 20% to 100% of building power (depending on amount of sunlight and energy use)
Energy efficient lighting
100% Green energy
Water efficient appliances
Reuse and recycling of building materials
Web-enabled Building Management System (BMS)

As a result of their efforts the building turned its energy consumption on on its head! 'Before the retrofit, the building consumed 40,000kWh of electricity per year. The building now generates 45,00kWh per year. The surplus of energy is equivalent to a greenhouse gas saving of 50 tonnes CO2 -e per year'

Positive Energy Places has been recognised by community leaders and has received public art and environmental awards. Further detailed can be found at positiveenergyplaces.com.au
This massive turn around for net energy consumption to net energy gain can be attributed to the implementation of various smart technologies and design. These include:

Heating, Cooling and Ventilation

Energy losses from the building have been minimised by insulation the upstairs ceiling with high R-value insulation. Sealing gap and replacement of exhaust fans microprocessor controlled heat recovery and air quality ventilators improved air quality and reduced energy consumption.

Lighting

Awesome natural light has been with large windows and skylights. Energy-efficient T5 fluorescent lighting is used throughout the office spaces, with presence and light sensors and lighting timer buttons ensuring lighting is only on when necessary.

Energy

A 23.6kW photovoltaic array on the roof powers the office building. It's energy consumption is monitored via two independent building management systems (BMS), which record real-time power consumption in the nine building zones

Transport

Racks for 14 bicycles have been installed on the footpath at the front of the building by City of Melbourne. Several bicycles and one electric bike are available for tenant use. Tram stops, two train trains and a large park are all within walking distance of the office.

Plants

Throughout the building and in the lane-way outside plants are situated to filter light through windows, create natural ambiance and enhance air quality. Espalier lemon trees have been planted on the rooftop deck to provide fruit all summer.

Water

All toilets in the building are 5-star rated and save 2.6 litres of water per flush compared to a conventional toilet. Water-efficient shower heads minimise water wastage.

Waste

Great care was taken throughout the building retrofit to reuse and recycle materials. Second-hand furniture, workstations and carpet was sourced where possible. All paper used in the office is 80 per cent Australian recycled paper. Separate recycling bins (organics, paper, plastics, general) are used in the kitchenette to ensure correct processing of waste.

PositiveEnergyPlaces at 420 Spencer Street, Melbourne

PV solar panels and a small rooftop deck make use of even the roof space

Intelligent Monitoring Systems provide real-time feed back on building energy statistics

all photos sourced from positiveenergyplaces.com.au

More information about 1200 Buildings - video : website

Honeybees and Food Security - Infographic

2013-01-12T16:20:00.000-08:00

A comment on the importance of Bees in ecosystems and evidence for having Bees in the Big Smoke.

Honeybees and Food Security infographic by flapjackmedia.

5 Hydroponic Fun Facts and Figures - Infographic

2013-01-10T20:52:00.002-08:00

5 Hydroponic Fun Facts and Figures infographic

I have decided to begin a Infographic segment. This one is outlining the advantages of hydroponics as a cultivation technique. A summary of infographics will feature as a separate page on the left.

Vines at Victor's on Drummond Street, Carlton

2013-01-08T16:45:00.001-08:00

The other day I was riding through Carlton, Melbourne and spotted these.

A series of planter troughs made from recycled timber and weather steel, greening up the sidewalk on Drummond Street in Carlton. Inside these retro looking troughs were beautiful grape vines and herbs. The recycled timber look coupled with the weather metal works really well and I think the vine theme is an excellent choice with the side-walks of Carlton, Melbourne.

These cool looking pedestrian path ornaments are outside Victor's Lounge Bar, 03 Drummond Street, Calton. 'Part 20s cabaret salon, part reject-sets from a Fellini film, part props from a Las Vegas casino' [cite] Victor's sounds like a really fun bar to check out. Now with beautiful greening adorning the perimeter, all the more reason!!

A Review of Victor's Lounge bar [link]

HK Farm - An Urban Farming Initiative

2013-01-05T13:58:00.002-08:00

HK Farm

An awesome new project all the way in concrete jungle that is Hong Kong. HK Farm only began in March of this year (2012) and is already gaining popularity in metropolitan Hong Kong.
Founded and run by energetic and aspiring farmers it aims to communicate the value of rooftop farming and the numerous benefits of locally produced food.

Featuring above is their first rooftop farm, a 4,000 square foot rooftop in Ngauc Tau Kok, Kwun Tong. To aid them in the quest greater food awareness and green living the team at HK Farms host educational tours and workshops, they even have a Urban Bee Keeping initiative.
The tours also provide a great opportunity to escape the office and interactive with nature; while workshops run on weekends begin to equip the average city dweller with the skills to create their own urban farm.

HK Farm is hoping to continue to collaborate with organisations in HK, to grow local food and design products and services relating to urban agriculture.

Educational Tours

Working hard to grow fresh produce in the heart of the city

DIY Workshops so everyone can be a Urban Gardener

The HK Honey Team

All photos sourced from HKFarm.org

CoSPACE CoCREATE | HK Farm: Community from Thomas Lee on Vimeo.