USB Greenhouse

Here's another gadget for the masses. This is the description from Urban Outfitters:

Grow your own, man. The perfect way to get a little green into your workspace, the USB Greenhouse is an all-in-one plant-growing powerhouse. Just plug the molded plastic case into any USB port using the generous 4-foot cable and get growing. Adjustable growth light; computer interface monitors growth status and set watering reminders; software includes calendar. Grow your own herbs, flowers or house plants! Imported. Wipe clean. 

* Includes: USB Greenhouse, Artificial Soil, Marigold Seed pack, Instructions, Installation CD, Online Support Link

* Requires: PC with Intel Pentium 4 or compatible processor that operates at 2.4GHz or faster; 128MB or more RAM; 100MB of available hard drive space; any Windows compatible soundcard using WDM, ASIO or DirectSound drivers; CD-ROM Drive; One available USB 1.1 port on your computer to plug to the stress button; Display adapter capable of 800*600 in 16 bit color; Microsoft Windows XP with Internet connection.

* Not MAC compatible  

* 6.75"w, 9"h, 6.75"d 

* Plastic, electronics

By the way, this makes a great holiday gift. I say this in all seriousness.

Green Roof Economics

Interesting article:

"

- Provide amenity space for building users and can replace a yard or patio
- Reduce the urban heat island effect
- Increase the roof life span
- Filter pollutants and CO2 out of the air
- Filter pollutants and heavy metals out of rainwater
- Increase wildlife habitat in build-up areas
- Retain rainwater, moderate the temperature of the water, and act as a natural filter for any of the water that happens to run off

To initiate a green roof installation, you will need to know the slope and structural building capacity, and nature of any drainage systems, electrical, and water supply. In terms of cost, for an installed, extensive green roof with root repellant/waterproof members, it will cost you anywhere from $10 to $24. However, this also depends on the type of roof you want and factors such as the depth of growing medium, selective plans, size

"

Underneath Sidewalk Grates

In an urban area, the attention in making room for gardens tend to be focused upwards as seen with the trend towards rooftop gardens. However, most often neglect to look underneath ourselves. Surely we must have noticed that plants grow practically anywhere, even in sidewalk cracks. To maximize green space, we could and should start looking towards utilizing any space we can find, even if it means the dingy black holes beneath those sidewalk grates. It's a lovely and feasible concept, I think.

Read more about this finding here. (note comment #14)

Hydroponics Movement

Hydroponics agriculture is one of the research projects being conducted in California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Pros:

"Supporters point to the environmental cost of trucking produce from farms to cities, the loss of wilderness for farmland to feed a growing world population, and the risk of bacteria along extensive, insecure food chains as reasons for establishing urban hydroponic farms."

Cons:

"However, the expense of setting up the high-tech farms on pricey city land and providing enough year-round heat and light could present some insurmountable obstacles."

Read the full article at City Farmer News

Urban Flooding

Urban Flooding is a hazard to many parts of the country causing harm to both the environment and humans. As more and more parts of our plant is being urbanized, these urban areas are paved in concrete in place of plantlife. Instead of lush natural landscapes that soak and thrive in soft rainwater with organic minerals, the excess run off becomes a detriment unable to get past the compacted manmade soils of asphalt and cement that have encrusted the earth. The run off becomes repelled from our earth instead of absorbed in a natural ecosystem, causing dangerous floods. In addition, the layer of urban runoff carries air and ground pollutants on a path of least resistance into natural areas. On an extremely rainy day, groundwater sewage lines become clogged by the trash that the run off carries into the pipes. With more urban green space, this problem can be greatly alleviated Just by simply incorporation green space into preexisting areas like sidewalks, pathways, and parking lots.

For more, see this article: http://www.garden.org/urbangardening/index.php?page=october_flooding

Reduce Clean Water Consumption

Another way to be more sustainable in the garden is to set up a rainwater collection system.

How it helps you:

-Reduces your water bill

-Your garden thrives better on natural water

-Plants like water that is free of chemicals

How it helps the environment:

-Less demand for clean, reprocessed water

-Less energy used at the water and sewage treatment plant

Tips on how to build your own rain barrel:

Video

Photo guide

Refuse, Reuse, Repurpose

Old headboards can be used as treillises for vines and other creeping plants. Worn tires can be used to hold soil and dirt. Everyday waste items perform perfectly effective as gardening tools, elongating the lifespan of these materials.

These 3 Rs are less known, but are important principles to live by nonetheless. Whether in the home or garden, this ideology it will save time & money. Bonnie Alter of Treehugger writes,

"Recycling was born of necessity. With the changing world that we live in, it looks like it is going to become a necessity again."