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Ian James Gordon's Discussions
Urban Farming anyone?
Started Sep 22
Chicken Whisperer!
Replied Sep 16
Looking for a roof
Started Sep 16
Ian James Gordon's Page
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Hi Duco,
Yes, I saw the Sky Vegetables project. It's pretty much the same thing but high capital and high tech. It's also simpler. Taylor and I are starting with ultra low-cost easy-DIY systems in the hope that it will be accessible to just about...
Related to this, when I was at Slow Money gathering in Santa Fe recently, I saw a presentation on Sky Vegetables. It seems there is a growing trend to grow vegetables on the roofs of city buildings...that's about as close to the market as you can ...
A friend and I are trying to get an urban farming group going here in Tokyo. We're full of ideas and have loads of enthusiasm. We're more than willing to take the lead, but being foreign to Japan there's a lot of things we need help with to get st...
The blog title was supposed to read the saga continues, but sage communicates the message with an added zing I think.
Anyway, after my meanderings I got off my posterior and did my research into roof gardens. In Japan the notion of a garden is ve...
Hi All,
My project partner and myself are looking for a rooftop in Tokyo. We're experimenting with roof gardening to try and create a low cost, high ecology, 'working' alternative to Tokyo's high cost, purely decorative rooftop gardens. We're not...
Hi Jane,
Sorry for the delay in replying. I'll keep you in mind for when it happens. It's a when rather than an if at this point.
Sincerely
Ian
Dear Ian,
I haven't much to offer but would learn a lot I'm sure. At least I'd be another bum on a seat.
Thank you,
Jane
Hi all,
I chatted with Brandon Pitcher, the CEO of Esolartech, tonight. He's involved in a variety of green projects in the USA. He's presently doing consultancy work on implementing the largest biodiesel production facility for a municipally own...
I expect since you are reading this you've probably heard the how many things a tree does spiel over and over. They're marvellous things trees in that they create habitat for everything from microbes to woodpeckers, they filter water, store water,...
Though yesterday was the first Green Monday I have attended in Tokyo I would have no hesitation in saying I was impressed by the calibre and commitment of the people I met and spoke with.
Anyway, things I'd like to see would be a presentation on ...
Comment Wall (3 comments)
- At 12:54pm on June 24, 2009,
Tanguy PRZYBYLSKI said…
- No problem,
I'm also busy but I try to go when the subject is particularly interesting or at least every 2 months (my schedule would prefer green Fridays :)
- At 8:48am on June 23, 2009,
Tanguy PRZYBYLSKI said…
- Take a look at this article
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/029072.html#more
I hope it will help you :)
- At 7:17am on June 23, 2009,
Tanguy PRZYBYLSKI said…
- HI Ian,
Good luck for your project.
See you next time
Profile Information
- Please describe your interest in Sustainability, CleanTech or Environmental issues
- I am a bit of a nomad and a devoted generalist. Ask me how I think cities can be made better places and I would say rooftop farming; especially in Tokyo. But right now I'd say no-one has the whole answer about how to make this work.
First off, agriculture is very cliquey, there are the zealot disciples of permaculture, biointensive method, do nothing farming, EM farming like the Korean natural farming method. The biointensive method says double dig the soil, permaculture says don't disturb the soil, the Korean natural farming method says use fermented enzymes to have microrganisms do your digging for you.
Then there are the connected technologies, Bokashi composting, traditional composting, actively aerated compost teas. Add in biochar, terra preta, companion planting, myco-guilds and you might appreciate this could get complicated quickly. So many options to choose from.
Then you read that NTT won an award for growing sweet potates on a roof using hydroponics. You have to wonder how sustainable that is. It's input intensive, high tech and high maintenance. I can't imagine it being anything more than a greenwashing stunt and yet it's winning awards. I rather imagine the Babylonians were doing better so I have to ask is this progress?
Would it not be better to design a garden that was low maintenance, do it once, come back for the occasional clip and harvesting. Would it not be better to have combinations of plants on the roof the sun lovers and the shade lovers two crops in the one pot. Would it not be possible to use self watering plant pots connected to a glorified toilet system that would cost a few thousand yen to create?
So the things I'm interested in include..
Organic Agriculture, Farmer's Markets, Rooftop Gardens, Urban Green Tech and Business, community linkages, and community development, natural capitalism, mycoremediation, plant guilds, plant fungi guilds, renewable energy power tech, biochar, soil building, terraforming, Korean natural farming, Fukuoka's Do Nothing Agriculture, ZERI, Biorefineries using steam explosion, DIY Herbal Contraceptives, Perennial agriculture, Biomimicry, Organic Farming, The Natural Edge Project, City to Soil, Asian Network of Organic Recyclers, the Asia Productivity Organization, Eco Product International Fair, permaculture, water purification and filtration, rammed earth construction, trompes for power production, Gorlov Turbines
- What is your Company and occupation?
- I am an English teacher. I work for several companies.
- Does your company have a sustainability or environmental programme?
- Not that I know of. I am trying to develop a paperless records system.
- Do you work in Sustainability or CleanTech, or are you planning to do so?
- I am planning to do so.
- Which individuals, companies or organisations in Japan you would particularly like to hear speak on these issues?
- Kazuyoshi Kojima, Shibuya Ward Office rooftop garden creator.
Gunther Pauli, ZERI.
- Please tell us who introduced you to GreenMondays or how you heard about us.
- via my wife, APO Officer and Setsuko Miyakawa, Green Productivity Officer at the APO.
Ian James Gordon's Blog
Rooftop Gardening - the Sage continues
The blog title was supposed to read the saga continues, but sage communicates the message with an added zing I think.
Anyway, after my meanderings I got off my posterior and did my research into roof gardens. In Japan the notion of a roof garden is very narrow; there's usually some raked sand and pebbles somewhere and it should be so pretty that it could find a niche on the roof of the Hilton Hotel. The price tag for this is everything you would expect; a Japanese company (Toho-Leo) will put a… Continue
Anyway, after my meanderings I got off my posterior and did my research into roof gardens. In Japan the notion of a roof garden is very narrow; there's usually some raked sand and pebbles somewhere and it should be so pretty that it could find a niche on the roof of the Hilton Hotel. The price tag for this is everything you would expect; a Japanese company (Toho-Leo) will put a… Continue
Posted on September 16, 2009 at 12:00pm — 2 Comments
Some meandering thoughts about rooftop gardens..
I expect since you are reading this you've probably heard the how many things a tree does spiel over and over. They're marvellous things trees in that they create habitat for everything from microbes to woodpeckers, they filter water, store water, breathe water, seed rainclouds, clean air, inhale carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen, store carbon, modify climates, hold soil, build soil etc etc etc
Doubtless you've also heard this or that architect say how they would like to design buildings that en… Continue
Doubtless you've also heard this or that architect say how they would like to design buildings that en… Continue
Posted on June 24, 2009 at 1:30pm —
About
Latest Activity
I really wanted to attend this workshop but I could not cancel my appointment. I appreciate if you can put some feedbacks here. Thank you.
Green Business Workshops at Cross Coop Aoyama, Gaienmae Station (2 min.)
November 14, 2009 from 10am to 1pm
As many of you know, we have been holding a series of Green Business Workshops every Saturday this month. The topics have varied considerably and some of the projects discussed included the EM Factory environmental business plan contest hosted by ...
It's a bit old (2007), but maybe some of you haven't seen it. I only just discovered it.
This is the right film at just the right time; well it is not too early, that's for sure.
check out the website:
http://www.notstupid.org/
check out the film:
The Age of Stupid
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08haxwYPTGs&feature=related
2. http...
Green Business Workshops at Cross Coop Aoyama, Gaienmae Station (2 min.)
November 14, 2009 from 10am to 1pm
As many of you know, we have been holding a series of Green Business Workshops every Saturday this month. The topics have varied considerably and some of the projects discussed included the EM Factory environmental business plan contest hosted by ...
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