Singapore's 'supertrees' spark green thoughts 18 June 2012Last updated at 12:04 ET By Saira Syed Business reporter, BBC News, Singapore Kenneth Er, chief operating officer of Gardens by the Bay and a forest ecologist, explains what the project seeks to achieve They look like they belong on another planet with their wiry canopies and greenery where the bark should be, but the man-made "supertrees" that sit against the backdrop of Singapore's central business district mimic the qualities of trees here on earth. Seven of the 18 structures are fitted with solar panels that convert sunlight into energy. They are part of an energy-efficient green space called Gardens by the Bay that has cost 1bn Singaporean dollars ($784m; £504m). "It provides a green lung for the city rather than just having high rises everywhere," says Kenneth Er, chief operating officer on the project and a forest ecologist. He hopes that people leave the garden with a sense of "how to recreate nature's balance". Emissions debate 'Disadvantaged' 'Extremely vulnerable'
Will there be farms in New York City's skyscrapers?" By 2050, it's estimated that 80 percent of the world's people will live in urban areas (currently, 60 percent do). The population will have increased to about 9.2 billion, much of it in the developing world [Source: New York Magazine]. Many experts contend that unless drastic measures are pursued, the world could face dramatic shortage in both food and arable land. Enter vertical farming -- farming in skyscrapers several dozen stories high. The key to vertical farming is space. By converting from "horizontal farming" to vertical farming, humanity would never have to worry about running out of arable land. These farms would also be located in the urban areas where most of the Earth's population will be living. Because vertical farms would exist in the communities they serve, crop selection could be altered to fit the local community. Finally, there's what might be the most enticing benefit: land that has been used for horizontal farming could become forests again.
FOOD, LAND, POPULATION and the U.S. ECONOMY Why is the global economy constrained by the energy cost of energy? Executive Summary Released November 21, 1994 For copies of the full report contact: Carrying Capacity Network 2000 P Street, N.W., Suite 240 Washington, D.C. 20036 (202) 296-4548 The following two pages are highlights of the study, "Food, Land, Population, and the U.S. Economy" by Drs. David Pimentel of Cornell University and Mario Giampietro of the Istituto Nazionale della Nutrizione, Rome. At the present growth rate of 1.1% per year, the U.S. population will double to more than half a billion people within the next 60 years. Drs. Land: On-going soil erosion and expanding urbanization contribute to the continuous loss of cropland in the U.S. Water: The groundwater that provides 31% of the water used in agriculture is being depleted up to 160% faster than its recharge rate. Energy: The availability of non-renewable fossil energy explains in part the historically high productivity of U.S. agriculture. Introduction
MODERN HOMESTEADING A Plan for Food Self-Sufficiency Planning a garden in advance can help you enjoy local, homegrown food year-round! Estimate how much to grow or buy and learn how to achieve food security with these guidelines. Backyard Chicken Facts - 5 Things No One Told Us A few facts that might help you decide whether or not to get chickens for your backyard. Best Guard Dog for Your Homestead Read guard dog training tips and advice on guard dog breeds best suited for your needs. Build This Predator-Proof, Portable Chicken Coop Our newest low-cost portable chicken coop plan makes raising backyard chickens easier for just about anyone. Deep Litter Chicken Manure Management Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of the deep litter system and how you can manage a small flock’s manure easily and efficiently. Home Cheesemaking: From Hobby to Business Artisan cheesemakers who aspire to make their passion a profession will face many challenges on the way to establishing a successful business. Live on Less!
How much money does it cost to go Off-Grid and to live on the Land? 1. One of the most important items to find when preparing to go off grid is land with running water on it. Everything else can be brought in but water is essential, one must have a good water source. Ideally, it would be nice if you also had a well on the land. It doesn't matter if there is a house on the property because you can build your own house for as little as $1,000 or for as much as you want, but water...running water would be a nice luxury. Not only do you need water for drinking but you also must have it to irrigate plants, support animals and if you have a decent running stream of water you can have all the electricity you want for FREE! 2. 3. 4. 5.
The Top 10 Smart Cities On The Planet Last year, I spent considerable time researching best practices for climate resilient cities—an endeavor that culminated in what I believe was the first ever global ranking of resilient cities. Now, after extensive research on smart cities initiatives around the globe, I have developed what may be the first ever global rankings of smart cities. The term "smart cities" is a bit ambiguous. Some people choose a narrow definition—i.e. cities that use information and communication technologies to deliver services to their citizens. I prefer a broader definition: Smart cities use information and communication technologies (ICT) to be more intelligent and efficient in the use of resources, resulting in cost and energy savings, improved service delivery and quality of life, and reduced environmental footprint—all supporting innovation and the low-carbon economy. Here, then, are the top 10 smart cities: 1.) 2.) 3.) 4.) 5.) 6.) 7.) 8.) 9.) 10.)
Organic food grows on acre of New York City rooftop Updated 2010-08-27 2:39 PM No room to garden? In New York City, farmers are looking skyward to grow fruits and veggies, turning rooftops into gardens that help feed the Big Apple's residents. Brooklyn Grange, an organic farming business, is using a 40,000-square-foot rooftop (nearly an acre) in Queens to grow hundreds of thousands of plants. "The building was constructed in 1919 and is built like a rock. Brooklyn Grange sells its produce to local restaurants and directly to consumers at weekly farmstands. See photos of: New York City, Queens
On Growing All Your Own Food « Homeplace Earth March 6, 2012 by Cindy Conner I am often asked how much space it would take to grow all one’s food. That depends on a lot of factors. I can only address the issue from the sustainability of also growing all the compost crops to feed back the soil. With the world population now topping seven billion, using the least area for this project is high on the list of considerations. Limiting your diet to only what you could grow in the least area, sustainably, brings nutritional challenges, with the most limiting nutrients being calories, calcium, and protein. The USDA has interactive diet planning information at Most likely you would want to expand on this diet. Then, of course, there’s dairy. Our local newspaper just had an article about a family with 13 children, including four sets of twins, who were born between 1954 and 1974. Permaculture ethics call us to care for the earth, care for the people, and return the surplus. Like this: Like Loading...
How To Be An Ethical Carnivore What do you mean You People? Kidding, I agree with you. You people don't understand they difference between personification and reality. Right. What is your PETA position on animals that cant survive without human assistance. Wow. Way to focus on the first few paragraphs of the article and blow it completely out of proportion. Your second paragraph is ridiculous, you are aware the the modern cow as we know it today, has been selectively bred to be these oversized, innefective, freaks of nature? I'm always happy to give scientific, factual answers to the myths surrounding eating meat. Eating vege is not "unbalanced and unhealthy" when done correctly, how many omnivores do you know that you would consider to be eating an unhealthy/unbalanced diet? Man.