"urban farming"

urban farming / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

Landscaping

Urban farming turns beautiful gardens into a grocery store!

...Urban farming: Any food we produce at our homes is food that isn't part of the agricultural industry, which is a huge consumer of natural resources. If you have a bit of space, urban farming is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and your food costs. Not only that, it's often healthier and even tastes better. A...

Food production

Growing food in urban cores with the Urban Farm Unit

...Urban Farm Unit Urban Farming using the UFU Aquaponics, Hydroponics, Pisciculture and Urban Farming combined - the UFU Now you know about urban farming. Find more pages about sustainable construction below and in the Ecohome Green Building Guide pages. Which vegetables grow well in th...

Choosing where to live

Green living in the city

...urban farming to installing renewable energy sources. 3. Eat local and get started in urban farming. Buying from food co-ops and shopping at farmers' markets promotes local food production, tastes better, and is better for you. The agricultural industry is a huge consumer of fossil fuels, not just transportation but th...

Recycled and Reclaimed Materials

The rise of urban logging

...Urban logging © Colleen Mahoney Where an old garage stood was soon to be the location of a studio / workshop, so rather than dispose of the wood from this tree and go buy more, Brian Blak and Colleen Mahoney had a portable mill come and turn the tree into usable materials for their future building project. Despite bei...

Greenhouses and Sunrooms / Solariums

How to build a greenhouse in a cold climate

...farming and the distribution of saffron and paprika. Greenhouse construction: In order to expand the family business, Teasdale and Bachand bought an old metal greenhouse structure from a retired farmer in the area. The greenhouse they purchased was longer than required, and therefore was split into two independent stru...

Greenhouses and Sunrooms / Solariums

Solariums in cold climates won't heat your home

Can you build a solarium in a cold climate? Solariums have been gaining in popularity over the last 20 years, as many homeowners have found them to be a very enticing solution to brightening up a long winter. They are made even more appealing by the many manufacturers who offer solariums at very attractive prices - esp...

Roof coverings

Living green roofs: the secrets to success

Commercial green roof case study AB Canada Nestled in the Oldman River valley in Lethbridge Alberta, the green roof on the Helen Schuler Nature Centre (HSNC) has been attracting local and international attention from visitors and living roof enthusiasts since its completion in 2013. On the roof of the building, a 200m2...

Landscaping

A guide to growing edible perennials.

When beginning to think about permanent edible landscape design and forest gardening, taking in the general concepts of Permaculture can help tremendously. Edible forests feature a number of natural layers Fruit and nut bearing trees can create a canopy, dwarf trees shrubs and vines can create a natural under layer an...

Greenhouses and Sunrooms / Solariums

7 key principles for an abundant greenhouse

Grow food in a greenhouse - the basics on how to get started As a native Californian transplanted into a much cooler climate (Western Quebec), I find myself mourning the loss of fresh local seasonal fruits and veggies all year long, which I understand is a first world problem on a few different levels. All that to say,...

Lifestyle, location and commuting

Creating a farm and building a resilient lifestyle

As founder of the Resilient Design Institute, Alex Wilson is an internationally renowned authority on resilience in home design. Beyond just homes, 'resilience' can in a way describe a lifestyle, or perhaps a life philosophy. Sure, 'green' homes can help save the planet, but some of them may also save the individual. ...

Food production

Growing vegetables in the shade

If you're like me and you love to grow your own food but have limited access to all day sun, do not fret - a bountiful harvest is still well within your reach. Just like the gardeners that grow them, many vegetables will actually appreciate a little respite from the sun during the hottest months of the growing season. ...