“This past summer, my friends (Art and Heidi) and I tried to grow heirloom vegetables on our respective rooftops in Chicago using homemade Earthboxes. Heidi would come over every few weeks and take some photos of my plants, which she then sent me along with some shots from their roof garden.

“We’re trying to figure out how to automate the watering of all those tubs on my garage roof without spending a lot of money. Here’s what I’ve got so far: Out of a reservoir kept full with a Hudson valve, I’d run supply lines to each of the boxes. If I suck all the air out of these lines, the siphon/water level effect should keep all the tubs watered as long as the vacuum seal isn’t broken.”

See all their photos and more on Earthboxes here.

Massive urban development features “urban agriculture” on signage.

Presently in development in downtown Vancouver, the SEFC site comprises 32 hectares (80 acres). It will eventually be the home to 12,000 to 16,000 people. When fully developed, SEFC will have 6 million square feet of development. This will include: more than 5000 residential units; a full-size community centre and non-motorized boating facility; three to five licensed childcare facilities; two out-of-school care facilities; an elementary school; restoration of five heritage buildings; interfaith spiritual centre and 10 hectares of park.

SEFC will be a model of sustainable development. Unique features include: urban agriculture; a rainwater management system; green roofs; and a neighbourhood energy system.

The first phase of SEFC will be temporarily transformed into Vancouver’s Olympic Village during the Winter Games in February 2010.

[Read more →]