The District of #CentralSaanich says #ButterfieldPark will soon grow to nearly double its current size once it finishes purchasing an 18-acre parcel of land.
On Friday, the municipality said it had negotiated an agreement to purchase 18 acres of land at 1124 Mount Newton Cross Rd., which borders Butterfield #Park, at a cost of $3.2 million.
In my experience the first week of May here on Skye means an explosion of green. We had 24 hours of rain, the river is high and the leaves seemed to grow in front of our eyes.
🧵 1/ #SharonAstyk wrote:
"A bit of good news today, even as "H5N1 is found in Ohio cows, & cats exposed have died - the strain transmitted to an agricultural worker seems only to have one of the mutations required for easy human to human spread. The BAD news is that this mutation was found ONLY in the human case, which means that it may have occurred IN the human case, which is very bad.
Let's put that in context - I doubt that even all the agricultural workers in contact with infected herds have been tested. Moreover, given the heavy reliance on undocumented workers in most agricultural businesses, I'd be shocked if someone showing symptoms of viral illness weren't either afraid to come in for testing or fired by the bosses who don't want the hassle. But that one sequence is cool.🤨
But let's assume that we get lucky, & it is a few years before the virus starts transmitting human to human. What I want to talk about today is the food supply in a larger context."
5/ "... With much housing in the Us held either by corporations, landlords or older homeowners who lack the physical capacity to garden, those who can garden are often excluded from land access. Which is why creating public #greenspaces, including community farms & gardens, is a necessary priority. If you are looking for good work to do in your community, starting a community garden or farm is that work.
I'm a big advocate of community FARMS rather than gardens for several reasons - I've run both, & my experience is that community gardens are superb for people who either have time to dedicate to seriously learning to garden or who already are experienced gardeners. While a small plot may not seem overwhelming to people already familiar with gardening, my observation is that new gardeners often let it get away from them. I've found that between 1/4 & 1/2 of community garden space is essentially wasted because it is being managed by people who lack the time, physical ability or skill set to manage it..."
'These new knowledge products reflect the Programme's dedication to promoting resilient and sustainable food systems in city regions, aiming to be a cornerstone resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners alike. The library consolidates a diverse array of knowledge products to support the development and management of sustainable food systems worldwide.'
'City dwellers who have more exposure to urban green spaces require fewer mental health services, according to a new study from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health.'
In my post, I mention two words that I feel have important definitions— #GreenSpaces and #SocialWeb.
I'm still learning what those terms mean as defined by @hrheingold and I kinda want to evangelize them? I don't know what that means yet, but the urge is there.
Anyway, I wrote about why it feels like all the cool websites have disappeared. The good news is, there's a whole other web outside #Threads and #Instagram. And it's really cool.
'The study’s findings showed that having just 10% more forest space in a person’s residential ZIP code was associated with reduced serious psychological distress... Similarly, a 10% increase in green space, tree cover, water bodies or trail length lowered the chance that older people reported their general health as poor or fair.'
Notoriously hot city rediscovers ancient technique to help its residents stay cool
Story by Rick Kazmer
November 13, 2023
“Thousand-year-old #Persian technology could help officials in #SevilleSpain, to tackle extreme #overheating, if only modern-day politics can stay out of the way.
“City leaders are bracing for temperatures that are expected to pass 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the coming years. In response, they are working on a project in the city’s Isla de la Cartuja that uses a '#bioclimatic'effort to cool down, according to #UrbanInnovativeActions.
“This is not an air-conditioning system like the one you may have in your home,'Juan Luis López, an engineer and the project’s supervisor, told Bloomberg Green. 'We use natural techniques and materials to reduce temperatures.”
“The project, called #CartujaQanat, could cost around $5 million or more, funded in part by the European Union. Some of the work is already complete, with the goal of cooling the air down for the busy city.
“A Bloomberg report describes architecture that fosters breezes, fresh #GreenSpaces, and underground #aqueducts that borrow from ancient civilizations. The water flow can cool the nearby environment using air, water, and #SolarPower.
“The latter tech is fascinating, yet simple. Water is brought into underground tanks at night, where it cools. During the day, solar-powered pumps send the water through pipes, which travel by fans, creating cooler air. 'Small openings in the floor and steps allow the refreshing current to seep into the square,'all per a Bloomberg description.
“And while progress has been made, Bloomberg reports that a change in Spanish political leadership has placed the work in 'limbo.'When Bloomberg visited the site in July, the news agency reported that it was not open to the public. There was overgrown vegetation 'and piles of dried leaves.'Delayed contract bids, inflation, and other roadblocks are slowing progress as well.
“However, #Seville’s new mayor, José Luis Sanz, told Bloomberg that he supports the project, noting '[that the] impacts of #ClimateChange are more than obvious.'
“As planet overheating continues to set records, clean ways to cool populated places without adding to #AirPollution are vital. This project in Seville, which borrows from the work of ancient Persians, could be a model for other cities.
'The goal is to test the technology, to learn from it, and fine-tune it so we can replicate what works elsewhere,'López told Bloomberg.”