“It has been recently called a referendum on the issue of Tempelhof park. The question will be whether the citizens prefer to keep this park in its current state or they agree with the urbanization of the area that the City Council is currently proposing. This plan consists in transforming the vast esplanade that, being previously an airport, nowadays is just a green area surrounded by two runways. The supporters of the ‘Tempelhof 100% field’ initiative claim that the 4.700 homes, the offices for 7.000 workers, the huge library and the sports facilities that the Mayor of the city -the Social Democrat Klaus Wowereit- is planning to build will ruin the spirit of the area and will end up being the death of a necessary lung for the city.”

(+info)

(vía EL PAÍS)

La entrada Tempelhof Airport will be submitted to referendum se publicó primero en More Than Green.

There are a lot of brilliant ways to take full advantage of small spaces in your garden: the key is to plant vertically and create vertical gardens. Here you can see some different low-cost examples of them.

“When it comes to assembling a vertical garden, you don’t have to go out and spend a crazy amount of money on the latest, coolest gadgets and gardening systems. Some of the most incredible green spaces are those that have been put together from found/up-cycled materials, and a trip around the neighborhood on recycling day may yield just the equipment that you need.

Pallets and pockets are ideal for growing various types of greens (lettuce, spinach, kale, etc.), herbs, and edible flowers. The key with these is to take advantage of sunny spots like the side of a building, the area alongside a fence, or the brightest part of your balcony/patio and maximize space and yield by cramming that entire space full of plants. Pallets are ideal for this, as they can be divided into separate compartments for different plant species, and they’re sturdy enough to protect your plants in case there are any summer storms or high winds.

You can actually grow a lot of food in gutters, whether you latch several of them to the side of a building, or hang sections of them one above the other on chains or durable rope. Just drill some holes into the bottom of each section for adequate drainage, add compost-rich potting soil, and tuck your plants into them. You do have to ensure that the plants you choose don’t require a lot of root space, so aim for assorted lettuces and mixed herbs rather than root vegetables.

You can also to hanging pop-bottle planters, you grow herbs in used water bottles, or punch drainage holes in aluminum cans and sling those around as well. As long as you leave enough space above and below your hanging containers so the other plants get adequate light, you can create an entire mosaic of food plants rising as high as you can reach.”

(+info)
(via Inhabitat)

La entrada DIY: designing vertical gardens for tiny spaces se publicó primero en More Than Green.

“A meditation on urban green spaces and the post-industrial cityscape, Up On The Farm explores a one-acre rooftop organic farm in New York City. Connecting the built and natural environments, this video documents an imaginative experiment in green urban redevelopment, and takes a look at an attempt to transform the roof of a century-old former factory into a sustainable, pastoral haven.”

(+info)
(via Metalocus)

La entrada Up On The Farm by Diane Nerwen se publicó primero en More Than Green.