Organic Farming

Little girls love princess, but eco, feminist parents lament the adoration of helpless females who need rescued by princes.  Now, I have found a princess that is inspiring her subjects to grow organic vegetables.

Regenerative organic farming is the solution to global warming. This is proven by the Rodale Institute.

Toronto scientist Gordon Graff has constructed plans for a 58-floor concept building called the “Sky Farm”, (2.7 million square ft. of floor area and 8 million square ft. of growing area), which would grow crops in the heart of Toronto’s downtown theatre district. This could potentially provide enough food for 35,000 people every day. Though the design and construction would be very expensive, Graff believes that the farm could reap about $23,000,000 in annual revenue.

Green is in for just about every industry. It's particularly popular for the food industry, including Central Pennsylvania's Amish and other organic, all-natural food producing farmers.Demand is up, and rising costs in the traditional farming industry aren't making a difference, so prices are good, too, said Casey Spacht, manager of Lancaster Farm Fresh. The cooperative represents certified organic farmers whose agricultural commodities are trucked as far as New York.

You know that times are changing when farmers look to manure as a valuable commodity. Pretty soon, manure from a herd may be more profitable than the beef itself. Manufactured fertilizers has tripled in price in the last year, driving farmers to look for alternatives.

The Boston Globe published an article today about Nina M. Scott, a retired University of Massachusetts Amherst professor of Spanish Literature.  Instead of chocolate, Scott has chosen to give up carbon this Lent.  She is doing a few extra things to reduce her carbon footprint, such as hanging her clothes up instead of using a drier and carpooling to use less fuel.

21st Century Citizen looks at six influential books in organic growing. The list includes the classic Silent Spring, as well as, The One-Straw Revolution, Ancient Roots - New Shoots, An Agricultural Testament, Look to the Land, and Agriculture: An Introductory Reader. Excellent reads for anyone that eats!

Vertically constructed on a .72 acre site, the off-grid building is designed to be completely energy and water sufficient and will include 318 affordable apartments (studio - 2 bedroom). And on top of that, there will be greenhouses, rooftop gardens, a chicken farm, and fields for growing vegetables and grains.