Roland Beinert

Portland’s green streets are the examples that come to mind. Here’s a link to their website: http://www.portlandonline.com/BES/index.cfm?c=44407
The website has details and pdfs you can download. I’m not sure how steep the slopes are on the Portland’s green street’s, since I haven’t been to Portland all that often. As you may already know, you’ll…[Read more]

That’s true. It seems like no one is willing to take responsibility for their actions. A lot of the regulations seem to be there so no one gets sued when someone does something without thinking. It’s apparently okay to bend the rules and speed along at 80 mph in a 30 mph zone, and anyone who says differently is apparently a communist. But no…[Read more]

Here’s what I was thinking of: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Homes/1980-05-01/Update-Mothers-Compost-Heat-Experiments.aspx
I doubt it would be practical for everyone to heat their homes with compost, but it’s still kind of interesting. I take some comfort in the fact that there are so many ways to produce heat and energy. Who knows what…[Read more]

I think I read somewhere that you can use a compost pile as a source of heating. Anyone else heard of something similar?

It kind of creeps me out, too. I imagine it does digest the whole thing.
It’s funny how many weird, obscure ways there are to produce energy.

I just read this article about carnivorous gadgets: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/carnivorous-gadgets-eat-bugs-and-mice-for-charging-up-video.php
Kind of weird.

What do all of you think about the role of reputation? At the first firm I worked for my boss had a reputation for using native plants. Usually no one objected. He was also able to get civil engineers to work with him on stormwater issues sometimes. The firm was not large, so I wouldn’t call them heavy hitters. Then again, there weren’t too many…[Read more]

Nice website. Here’s a video I posted in another discussion that is probably more relevent here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sohI6vnWZmk&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpermaculture%2Eorg%2Eau%2F

Ben,
If all you are saying is that this idea should be given a chance to prove itself, I find it hard to argue with that. I certainly wouldn’t stand in the way of someone who wanted to do it, and I don’t think that trucks being able haul large amounts of food justifies bringing all our food into cities from far flung corners of the earth. I just…[Read more]

I shouldn’t say this, since I have freinds in Reno who are trying to start a hydroponics business, but it is mainly the hydroponics part of this system I’m not too fond of. The thing is, it requires the same artificial fertilizers that the huge factory farms do. I just think you get a better product when you farm organically in the soil on the…[Read more]

I suppose the video I just posted is pretty off topic, though. I don’t know of any videos about the profession of landscape architecture, only ones about specific la’s. I think I remember finding a video series on Jens Jensen a the library in Madison, WI once. Louisiana Public TV had an biography-type show about a landscape architect associated with LSU.

This is a permaculture video, but I still find it inspiring: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sohI6vnWZmk&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpermaculture%2Eorg%2Eau%2F

Maybe I’ll just go ahead and download illustrator for the time being. I can’t get the installation program for inkscape to work, anyway.
I guess I could see if I could work on a computer at Boise State, but I wouldn’t really know who to ask. Kinkos sometimes has illustrator, but then I’d have to pay to use their computers.
Thanks everyone.

I’ve thought about doing that, but part of the reason I want illustrator type software is so that I can redo my portfolio to include pictures of built projects along with the plans. I was hoping to get reaquainted with the software as I did that. There’d probably be things I’d want to change after the thirty days. Then again, I guess I could…[Read more]

This system is hydroponic so there would be no soil to haul up. But Andrew is probably right. There would be no advantage to growing food on the roof to be sold in a store. Growing food on roofs and balconies is probably better for individuals who want to grow their own veggies. I’m all for growing food in the city, but this is probably not the…[Read more]

As I said in reply to the first reply you gave, I had problems with installing inkscape. Could my virus software be interfering? Is gimp a similar program?

I don’t think the movement to revitalise urban areas and introduce mixed-uses to suburbs is based entirely on the idea that the car is going to disappear. As other people in this discussion have said, the car won’t disappear. The problem is that city neighborhoods need to be built in a certian way in order to be vital. This is the whole point of…[Read more]

Thanks for the reccommendation.
I keep getting an error message when I try to run the installation program. It says “Installer integrity check has failed. Common causes include incomplete download and damaged media.” I tried re-downloading it, but got the same message. Any ideas? Could my virus software be interfering?

Andrew,
What is it you like about where you live? Is it your neighborhood or your house and yard? If you actually do like your neighborhood, is it the aesthetics or do you actually find it a convenient place to live? Would you immediately want to move away if someone built a decent looking business building across the street from you? What if the…[Read more]

I’ve already posted this link in a similar discussion, but this discussion seems more active: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/us-smart-growth-sustainable-agenda.php
It just talks about the government’s plan to support smart growth.