With over 12 million on-line views, The Story of Stuff is one of the most widely viewed environmental-themed short films of all time. Since its release in December 2007, The Story of Stuff has been shown in thousands of schools, houses of worship, community events and businesses around the world.
Here are just a few of the AWESOME post-industrial landscape architectural reclamation projects, both here in the USA and abroad:
Gasworks Park, Seattle, WA... one of the first industrial factories transformed and "greened" into a park
A stop motion video made using a Lomography Diana+ with a 35mm film back:
The Fresh Kills Landfill, Staten Island, New York On giant piles of trash left by a generation of New Yorkers, landscape architect James Corner is building a park that has the power to change the way we see the past and the future of the city.
The High Line, New York City, NY The elevated 1930s railroad track in New York City has been transformed into an innovative and contemporary public park. TIME's Richard Lacayo takes a tour with one of the designing architects, Ricardo Scofido and landscape architects, James Corner.
Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park The Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park combines the industrial cultural heritage, Nature and a fascinating light-show.
What stands behind this hefty term, Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park? What the visitor finds here is a massive industrial wasteland, measuring 200 hectares, which has been transformed over a period of more than ten years into a multifunctional park.
At the centre of the park there is a decommissioned metalworks, the old industrial facilities of which are today being put to a variety of different uses. The former factory buildings have been converted to accommodate cultural and corporate functions; an old gasholder has become the biggest artificial diving centre in Europe; alpine climbing gardens have been created in the former ore storage bunkers, and an extinct blast furnace has been developed into a panoramic tower.
..Re-watch "The City" to see how far and/or not far enough we have come since 1939. The film was created for the NYC World's Fair, themed "Dawn of a New Day."
A few glimpses of the future of FOOD in our more sustainably-aware world...
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
POLYFACE FARM near Staunton, VA: Meet Joel and Daniel Salatin, the father-son team at Polyface farm. Known for their unconventional farming ways, the Salatins have become leaders in community-supported, local, environmentally friendly agriculture. See why. Video by Denny Gainer
New York's "Sun Work"'s Science Barge Our planet is a fragile ecosystem. To maintain balance, well have to find ways to bring sustainable agriculture to our growing cities. The Science Barge, a floating farm in New York City, is proof that we can. The barge grows produce hydroponically, using only sustainable energy, and teaches local students how to do the same on their rooftops.
Fresh The Movie: FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.
Among several main characters, FRESH features urban farmer and activist, Will Allen, the recipient of MacArthurs 2008 Genius Award; sustainable farmer and entrepreneur, Joel Salatin, made famous by Michael Pollans book, the Omnivore Dilemna; and supermarket owner, David Ball, challenging our Wal-Mart dominated economy.
Here is the history of FOOD in the 20th century industrialized world...
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! :)
The Meatrix: The movie that started it all! The Meatrix (www.themeatrix.com) spoofs The Matrix films and highlights the problems with factory farming. Instead of Keanu Reeves, The Meatrix stars a young pig, Leo, who lives on a pleasant family farm... he thinks. Leo is approached by a trenchcoat-clad cow, Moopheus, and joins him on a journey to learn more about what goes on behind closed barn doors at factory farms. The Meatrix was created and produced by Sustainable Table (www.sustainabletable.org) and Free Range Studios (www.freerangestudios.com).
Food, Inc.: In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults. Watch the Trailer:
From the Urban Conversion: The Urban Conversion chats with Sundari Kraft about the history of urban farming, victory gardens and the industrialization of our food supply. We take a closer look at the movement back to whole foods from processed foods.
Permaculture is a design system based on ethics and principles which can be used to establish, design, manage and improve all efforts made by individuals, households and communities towards a sustainable future.
This site explores the 'essence of permaculture' in a simple and clear way, expanding on the work of co-originator of the permaculture concept, David Holmgren.
The 12 permaculture design principles are thinking tools, that when used together, allow us to creatively re-design our environment and our behaviour in a world of less energy and resources.
These principles are seen as universal, although the methods used to express them will vary greatly according to the place and situation. They are applicable to our personal, economic, social and political reorganisation as illustrated in the permaculture flower.
The ethical foundationof permaculture (centre) guides the use of these design tools, ensuring that they are used in appropriate ways.
Each principle can be thought of as a door that opens into whole systems thinking, providing a different perspective that can be understood at varying levels of depth and application.
For more information on permaculture, click on the image of the "permaculture flower."
The first middle school constructed to meet strict environmental standards for the Platinum(!) LEED green building certification. Sidwell Friends School, the school of choice for the Obama girls, is located in northwest Washington, D.C.
Passive solar design – 60% energy reduction + solar panels for electricity generation
Green roof and natural ventilation – for health, energy, stormwater, and ecological benefits
And best of all, a constructed wetland that treats 100% of the school’s wastewater before returning it to the school for toilet flushing (see diagram above.)
Greensaw Design & Build is an eco-conscious construction firm that uses architectural salvage and reclaimed materials in an effort to make remodeling and construction greener. They don't rely on new "green" materials, but view green building as a combination of reusing tried and true materials, deconstructing instead of demolishing, and focusing on quality so that what they build lasts for a long time. Using salvaged materials not only cuts down on waste and benefits the environment, but it adds character to a space and preserves and respects the history and workmanship of past generations.
Click on the image below to watch a short video on Greensaw Design and Build's philosphy, highlighting methods and techniques of architectural salvage.
New to LEED? Start here! This video explains the basics of LEED certification and LEED accreditation. If you are serious about learning more about LEED and getting into a green career then this is the place for you to start - if you still have questions about anything related to LEED certification then check out our website at http://www.GreenEdu.com or cal 1-800-355-1751.
http://www.WatchMojo.com looks at The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationally accepted standard that ensures the sustainability of building practices. In this video, learn more about this rating system.
Click to Learn More: http://www.everblueenergy.com - Quick overview of LEED, the LEED certification process, and the LEED exams. Great explanation if you're not already a LEED expert. Learn more at EverblueEnergy.com
Casey Trees offers a set of maps and tools to help you visualize the urban forest of our nation's capitol; calculate the carbon, stormwater, and other ecological benefits of its trees; and take action by offsetting your carbon emissions through tree planting.
The all new Casey Trees Map of Washington, DC uses GIS data to map each and every tree inventoried and planted since 2003. With this map, you can do the following:
Locate EVERY tree planted by Casey Trees since 2003.
Learn the scientific and common names, where the trees came from, and when each was planted.
Search by tree species, event planting name, street address or place..
Determine the tree canopy and opportunities for planting for any property in the District.
Click on this map linkto begin mapping DC's trees!