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Biomimicry – How Doing It Nature’s Way Will Change The Way We Live

The disappearance of a major natural unit of vegetation from the face of the earth is an event worthy of causing pause and consideration by any nation. Yet so gradually has the prairie been conquered by the breaking plow, the tractor, and the overcrowded herds of man…that scant attention has been given to the significance of this endless grassland or the course of its destruction.  Civilized man is destroying a masterpiece of nature without recording for posterity that which he has destroyed.  John Ernest Weaver, North American Prairie (1954)

How many of you grew up watching ‘Little House on the Prairie’ or reading Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series of books? The North American prairie is as American as apple pie and is an important part of our heritage.

Biomimicry - How Doing It Nature's Way Will Change The Way We Live

Photo courtesy of Saxon Holt/Photobotanic

Description of Photo – Fragrant Blue giant hyssop or Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) and Gray-headed Coneflower, Pinnate Prairie Coneflower, (Ratibida pinnata) native perennials flowering in Crow-Hassan Park, prairie reserve.

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42 Top Seeds for 2013 ~From Some Favorite Gardeners and Seed Sources

I’m a seed-aholic. No matter how hard I try to control myself, each winter I can’t resist experimenting with new introductions. Oh yes, and I must have another variety of amaranths, nicotianas…or whatever. I convince myself that it’s inexpensive ~ after all, another $2.75 spent on what will surely be dozens of beautiful flowers …and as a steward of my piece of land, it’s important for me to do.

What started as a post on my selection of 15 top seeds for 2013 has grown into a list of the Top 42 Seeds for 2013 from some of my favorite gardeners and seed companies .

MY PICKS

Red Giant Mustard -Dan Benarcik at Chanticleer turned me on to what has become one of my all time favorites.

Red Mustard Leaves at Chanticleer Photo Courtesy of Fran Sorin

Red Giant Mustard at Chanticleer
Photo Courtesy of Fran Sorin

Red giant Mustard at Teapot Garden ~ Chanticleer Photo Courtesy of Fran Sorin

Red Giant Mustard at Teapot Garden ~ Chanticleer
Photo Courtesy of Fran Sorin

Red Mustard Leaves Taken at Chanticleer Photo ~ Fran Sorin

Red Giant Mustard
at Chanticleer
Photo Courtesy of Fran Sorin

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How Chicago Ignited The Explosion of Green Roofs in America

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Albert Einstein

It should come as no surprise that Chicago, commonly known as ‘Garden In The City’, has been a trailblazer in the green roof movement in America. **

It has 359 green roofs, totaling  5.5 million square feet, more than any other city in North America. Last year, it added 600,000 square feet more. The momentum to make Chicago a city of green roofs continues at a rapid pace. Within the next one to two years, green roofs in the city will top 7 million square feet.

Chicago City Hall Green Roof

Photo Credit – City of Chicago

The birth of green roofs in Chicago didn’t happen in a bubble. It was after the terrible heat wave in July 1995, when there were more than 700 heat related deaths, that it was decided to find ways of making the city cooler in spite of rising temperatures.

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Why My Journey To Ecuador’s Rainforest Left An Imprint On Me .. and a BIG Holiday Giveaway..

In my last post, I showed photos of the time I spent in the Andes Mountains with an indigenous community. When we got on the bus and waved goodbye, after being recipients of their hospitality and warmth for 2 days, I didn’t want to leave. I felt that spending another week on the land and with this community would be nourishment for my body and soul.

The next leg of the journey – and the reason why all of us had trekked so far – was to spend time in the rainforest and with the indigenous tribe, the Achuar.

Kapawi Lodge – Achuar Operated – In The Rainforest

In order to get to where they live, we needed to take a 9 seat plane and then a motorized canoe trip. There is no other access.

I jumped at the chance to sit next to the pilot. I had a full frontal view as we entered the rainforest. Gazing at the massive canopy of green  abutting the river, I felt like I had touched a piece of heaven.

Ecuador Rainforest

Why was it so important that we spend time with the Achuar? This indigenous tribe of 6000, live on their ancestral land – nearly 2 million acres. They’ve been able to preserve their way of life without a lot of influence or colonization from the outside world where they reside- straddling the borders of Ecuador and Peru.

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How My Journey To An Indigenous Community in Ecuador Gave Me A Deeper Appreciation of Nature

Andes Mountain

I returned this Thursday from a 2 week journey in Ecuador. Since I’m still grappling with how to use words to write about this powerful journey, in this post I’m using photos to tell a story.

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