The Community Beautification Grant of the City of Los Angeles, Board of Public Works, Office of Community Beautification has been awarding grants since 1998. The staff has a special knowledge of the people, organizations and neighborhoods of Los Angeles.

Grants for Urban Farming Gardens

Urban Farming has a well-known sponsor interested in paying the costs to develop five (5) 20' x 20' (400 square ft) produce-bearing gardens in Los Angeles that can be secured for at least two years, with a goal toward becoming sustainable through initial and ongoing community members and group involvement.

Find the general criteria at CBGrant.blogspot.com

Suggested Garden Locations: Community center grounds; Parks; City lots; University/College campus; Faith-based organization sites that accept other community member involvement and also those that are non-denominational. (this is for community sites, rather than elementary/middle/high school locations)

Please contact: Meg Glasser for further information.
meg.glasser@gmail.com; 646.726.1563; http://www.urbanfarming.org/

Farmscaping is the management of vegetation on and around the farm, to include plantings on roadways, field margins, waterways, natural areas and generally non-cropped areas. The term "farmscaping" can cover a wide range of practices, such as grassed waterways, buffers, filter strips and cover crops, as well as hedgerows and windbreaks.

Hedgerows are defined as lines or groups of trees, shrubs, perennial forbs, and grasses that are planted along roadways, fences, field edges or other non-cropped areas. The word "hedge," from the Old English word "hegg," referred to an enclosure or boundary formed by closely growing bushes or by dead plant material.

Windbreaks are barriers usually consisting of trees or shrubs that are used to reduce and redirect wind, resulting in microclimate changes in the sheltered zone.

Filter strips are planted areas that use vegetation to control soil erosion, slow water runoff, and capture and prevent sediments and nutrients from entering waterways.

Hedgerows can have multiple functions 

• They can serve as habitat for beneficial insects, pollinators and other wildlife;
• provide erosion protection and weed control;
• serve as windbreaks;
• stabilize waterways;
• reduce non-point source water pollution and groundwater pollution;
• increase surface water infiltration;
• buffer pesticide drift, noise, odors and dust;
• act as living fences and boundary lines;
• increase biodiversity;
• and provide an aesthetic resource.

Diversity in hedgerow species, especially when using natives, assures a range of attributes, such as multiple kinds of insects and wildlife attracted, positive effects to soil and water resources, and success of individual plants under site-specific climatic and other environmental conditions.

Find more info about farmsacping at the Community Alliance with Family Farmers

It's important to restore landscapes in an ecologically sound way.  And that's not as intuitive as you might think.  It's not "business as usual."  Here are some suggestions from the California Landscape Contractors Association that might help you understand the major landscaping transformation that takes place after a fire.

Recommendations to Help Protect Your Property After a Fire from the California Landscape Contractors Association

Fire destroys hundreds of homes each year in California and often burns thousands of acres of land.  If your property was damaged by fire, the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) is pleased to offer some recommendations to help your landscape recover and to help protect your property.

... In general, many plants and trees are exposed to fire in their native environment and many will recover in the spring and should be left alone.  Any pruning or cutting back of fire-damaged plants should not be done until the plants show signs of recovery. Removing bark, leaves or limbs can expose the plants to sun damage.  Heat from the sun can actually kill the tissue beneath the bark on some trees.  It is best to leave them alone until new growth appears.

... Some plants recover faster than others. Burned plants can still be green underneath and still have healthy roots. If similar plants appear to be recovering, wait a few more weeks before removing damaged parts.  Full damage to woody plants may not be apparent until the next spring or summer season.  Re-examine them at that time and then carefully remove damaged wood to make room for new growth. Ash on the plants will not cause damage and should be left alone.

... Damaged trees that have branches that are cracked or overhanging homes, driveways etc., that can be a future hazard, should be removed.  Trees that have shifted in the soil due to wind or burn damage and those with burned roots should be removed as well, because they are now considered unstable and could potentially fall.  If fire has completely burned off all the bark around the entire circumference of the tree and/or fire has burned deep into the trunk, the tree should also be removed.

... Fertilization is not recommended.  Immediately fertilizing can cause damage to the roots and cause additional harm to the plants. Waiting also gives the soil time to recover.  Wait until the spring and fertilize at half rates with a product containing nitrogen.  Do not fertilize with manures at that time, since they contain a high concentration of salts that can injure roots.  

... Plastic irrigation lines, parts and drains may be damaged.  Check your existing irrigation system for leaks and damage and document them for your insurance company.  Also shut off irrigation water immediately after a fire to help prevent erosion and further damage.

... It is generally not recommended to water plants immediately after a fire.  If your area is experiencing a drought and water is necessary, water gently by hand.  Severely burned soils do not absorb water well.  Make sure the flow of water is slow enough to be absorbed. Also examine and clean concrete drains and swales.  Many become filled with ash and mud during a fire.

... In areas where protective plants are removed or destroyed, soil becomes vulnerable to erosion.  Soil erosion can happen slowly or it can happen very quickly in a heavy rain.  The exact measures needed for your property are based on your soil type, slope grade, home location, weather, water availability etc.  Also areas exposed by fire can open the door for invasive species and weeds. In some areas erosion control materials or mechanical control measures may need to be applied.  Contact your local CalTrans office or local forest service for guidelines in your area.  

... Water flow is an important factor of any erosion plan.  Never underestimate the power of storm water and debris.  Evaluating the area and planning for storm events is a critical first step to protecting your property and improper or inadequate measures can aggravate potential problems.  If you need help with erosion control or fire prevention landscaping, be sure to hire a licensed professional who specializes in that area of expertise.  Ask for references, insurance certificates and request to see their license.  You'll want to protect your home and your neighbors' as well.

... It is also an important time to evaluate your property's landscape and damage.  Take a look at what worked and what did not and try to determine how to make your property safer in case of a future fire.  For future reference, it is also a good idea to keep records and photos of your landscape as part of your home inventory list for insurance purposes.

For helpful information about fire prevention landscaping please go to: www.clca.org/clca/education/fire-protection.php

Our wild and cultivated landscapes are all vital to prevent climate change -- and especially in the aftermath of disasters such as Western states' wildfires.


Barbara Landrith
Outreach Specialist

California Landscape Contractors Association
barbaralandrith@clca.org
1491 River Park Dr#100
Sacramento, Ca 95815
(916) 830-2780
www.clca.org

It can be done!  One home at a time!  Low impact family gardening makes a huge difference in our climate change strategy...and the health of our families:

Havana relies on 200 urban farms known as organoponicos

Cuba, on the brink of starvation when the Soviet Union collapsed 20 years
ago, now produces 90% of its fruits and vegetable needs, using organic,
low-tech inputs.  The Cuban diet is healthier and uses 1/3 the energy to
produce versus typical western food production.

Some of the plots are small - just a few rows of lettuces and radishes being grown in an old parking space.

Other plots are much larger - the size of several football pitches. Usually they have a stall next to them to sell the produce at relatively low prices to local people.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8213617.stm

Not so long ago, finding good quality compost was not that easy. But times have changed. Nowadays, and for the years to come, good and affordable compost can be found in a lot of places due to the establishment of new legislations all across North America. In fact, municipalities, institutions and businesses are already using the sorting-composting approach, or will have to, in a near future. So, following the principle of supply and demand, you can now get good compost at a good price.

Landscaping Business Opportunities with Compost
 
This is excellent news for landscapers and a promising future with great business opportunities. Since the recent legislations are limiting the use chemical products and putting in place water restrictions for irrigation in several states for lawn care and landscaping, the need for compost is increasing.

Today, good quality compost is not as expensive as it used to be and it is available at several places such as garden centers, landscape suppliers or compost producers for 15$ - 25$/yd3.

 
Top dressing with compost is the best way to maintain a beautiful and healthy lawn and landscape. In fact, this method is part of a professional and complete maintenance program and it will improve the entire landscape. Top dressing with compost is perfect for grass, trees and shrubs. It provides all the essential nutrients for an excellent soil and healthy plants.
 
1.         What are the benefits of compost spreading?
 
A.        Provides all the essential nutrients needed for a rich and a healthy soil;
B.        increases resistance to all kinds of parasites such as fungus and harmful insects;
C.        helps the soil structure in retaining water;
D.        stimulates microbiological activity;
E.        neutralizes the pH of the soil.
 
2.         How do we spread compost?
 
Top dressing with compost

By using the top dressing method in combination with other services such as re-seeding, core aeration, corn gluten or/and organic fertilizer application = 1 yd3/2000 sq.ft.
 
Turf renovation

To repair damages caused during winter or during a draught, and by insects, or to improve poor density turf: (1 yd3/1000 sq.ft)
a)        Core aeration
b)        Seeding
c)         Top dressing.
 
Seeding with compost
Seeding with compost is more efficient than hydro seeding and without the need for synthetic fertilizer. For the landscaper, seeding with compost generates more profit for his business. 

This service is highly in demand (1.5 yd3/1000 sq.ft.)
 
 3.         How much does it cost?
 
The best way to determine the cost you will charge your clients is counting by the cubic yard. You need to measure the dimensions of the area to be top dressed.
 
For top dressing, we suggest the application of 1 yd3 for 2000 sq.ft.
For turf renovation it should be 1 yd3 for 1000 sq.ft.
For seeding with compost, you will need to calculate 1.5 yd for 1000sq ft.
 
Then you multiply the cost of the compost, including delivery, by 3, 4 or 5:
 
$ X 3 times for municipalities (parks/ sports fields);
$ X 4 times for commercial;
$ X 5 times for residential (or less than 10 000 sq ft.)
 
It is as simple as that!
 
Any questions please, e-mail Ecolawn at:  info  (AT) ecolawnapplicator.com.

Daniel Cote
Ecolawn
62 Railroad Ave
Norton, Vermont
www.ecolawnapplicator.com

I've followed the honey bee crisis known as "colony collapse disorder" because of their close connection with our food supply, with nature, and because bees are one of the few "domesticated" insects in our economy.

Science is finally making headway on what is causing the die off of complete hives of bees.

Penn State researchers worked with the National Science Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Agricultural Marketing Service that already tests commodities such as milk and fruits and vegetables.

Honey has not regularly been analyzed, and bee pollen was not a commodity and so was not analyzed at all. The researchers decided to use types of screening the lab uses for milk and apples, which looks at over 170 pesticides. What they found is quite astounding to me... because of what it says about our agricultural practices.

All of the bees tested showed at least 1 pesticide and pollen averaged 6 pesticides with as many as 31 in a sample.

Honeycomb may contain pesticides applied years ago.

Scientists do not know that these chemicals have anything to do with colony collapse disorder, but scientists have concluded that these pesticides are definitely stressors. Penn State's Dr. Maryann Frazier say, "Pesticides alone have not shown they are the cause of CCD. We believe that it is a combination of a variety of factors, possibly including mites, viruses and pesticides."

While beekeepers will have a difficult time controlling pesticide exposure outside the hive, the Penn State researchers tested a method using gamma radiation for reducing the chemical load in beeswax and they found that irradiation broke down about 50% of the acaricides, pesticides that kill mites.

Read all the details at the Environment News Service.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formally recognized the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency (NN EPA) in 2009 for their efforts to protect and preserve the environment over the past 30 years.

"For over 30 years we have partnered with the Navajo Nation to protect public health and precious natural resources," said Laura Yoshii, acting regional administrator for the EPA's Pacific Southwest region.  "The EPA applauds the Navajo Nation EPA not only for their achievements on their land, but for their leadership role in the development of tribal environmental programs nationally.  The Navajo Nation continues to build and implement its programs, has enacted seven of its own environmental laws, and set a national precedent for tribal sovereignty and environmental protection." Navajo Nation leaders met with federal officials to discuss environmental priorities for the Navajo Nation which administers several of the country's largest and most sophisticated tribal environmental programs.

"Former Navajo Nation elected leaders and managers have provided the foundation for the partnership with U.S. EPA," said Steve Etsitty, Executive Director of the Navajo Nation EPA.  "Under President Shirley's guidance the Navajo Nation EPA has truly emerged as a key implementer of environmental regulatory programs, and it will continue to protect the Navajo Nation and the south west United States from unhealthy pollution."

Abandoned Uranium Mine Cleanup

Navajo Nation EPA, four federal agencies and EPA are working together to implement a 5-year plan to address the legacy of over 500 abandoned uranium mines on the Navajo Nation.  Currently, NN EPA and EPA are working to

• identify and cleanup mines,
• assess potentially contaminated structures, and
• conduct massive outreach efforts to warn residents of potential hazards from unregulated, contaminated wells.

Together, the agencies have assessed 113 structures and are in the process of demolishing and excavating 27 radiation-contaminated structures and 10 residential yards.



This year, the NN EPA, the Navajo Department of Water Resources, EPA, and the Indian Health Service are working together to provide

• safe drinking water to 3,000 people and
• wastewater infrastructure to 2,500 homes.

 Over the past 25 years, Navajo homes with access to safe drinking water rose by nearly 20 percent.

Federal Drinking Water Program

The Navajo Nation remains the first and only tribal government that has EPA's authority to implement the federal drinking water program which ensures that the 162 public water systems serving approximately 150,000 people meet federal drinking water requirements.  These groundwater supplies are also protected through NN EPA's underground injection control program.

Underground Injection Control Program of Disposal Wells

The underground injection control program regulates the construction, operation, permitting and closure of storage and/or disposal wells.  In 2008, NN EPA took over the program to protect the tribe's groundwater resources.  Together with their prior authorization to oversee public water systems, the Navajo Nation is the first tribe in the nation to implement the two main regulatory programs under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.  In addition to the underground injection control program, the Navajo Nation also administers protects groundwater resources through their underground storage tank program.

Underground Storage Tank Lead Prevention Program

 The NN EPA runs the most capable tribal, underground storage tank leak prevention program in the country with two federally credentialed inspectors and a field citation pilot program. Recently, federally credentialed tank inspectors began inspecting the Nation's 125 underground storage tank facilities on behalf of the EPA.  

The pilot project allows the two inspectors to write EPA field citations for federal violations and is expected to increase field presence and improve compliance.  A hole the size of a pinhead can release 400 gallons of fuel in a year's time, enough to foul millions of gallons of fresh water.  To address leaking tanks, both agencies have cleaned up over 100 leaking underground storage tanks since 2004, using a combination of both federal and tribal leaking underground storage tank funds.

Title V Air Permitting

The Navajo Nation EPA has been successfully implementing their Title V air permitting program for 5 years, and collecting the permitting fees for 13 major sources. The NN EPA was the first tribe in the nation to achieve authority to implement this program.

Pesticide Inspections to Restore Land and Soil

Other programs protect and restore Navajo Nation's land and soil.  Last year, Navajo Nation Pesticide Program's federally credentialed inspectors conducted 120 federal pesticides inspections and 25 tribal inspections.  To address open dumps throughout the Navajo Nation, the EPA has invested $2 million dollars since 1990.  To date, 41 open dumps have been closed using federal and Navajo Nation funds.

First Tribal Superfund Law

In February 2008, the Navajo Nation Council passed the Navajo Nation Comprehensive Environmental Response, and Liability Act (Navajo CERCLA) or Superfund modeled after the EPA's program.  This is the first tribal Superfund law in the country, and is a huge success for the Navajo Nation, as it gives the Tribe the authority to address hazardous contamination across the Nation.

 For more information, please visit: http://www.navajonationepa.org/

Nutrient Delivery to the Gulf of Mexico Among Highest Measured in 30 years!


Too many nutrients, which are essential for plant growth, are not necessarily a good thing. Excessive nutrients can be harmful by decreasing the amount of oxygen in the water, also known as hypoxia.

This can result in an area experiencing stress or death of near or bottom dwelling organisms called a hypoxic zone, or "dead zone."

Hypoxia, along with overfishing, habitat loss and toxic contamination, can significantly impact the Gulf of Mexico coastal region, an important resource for the Nation providing about 1.2 billion pounds of fresh seafood every year.

The amount of nutrients transported from the Mississippi River Basin to the Gulf during the spring is a major factor controlling the size of the hypoxic zone. The northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone is the second largest in the world, and threatens the economic and ecological health of one of the nation's largest and most productive fisheries.

Nutrients can come from many sources, such as fertilizers applied to agricultural fields, golf courses, and suburban lawns; atmospheric contributions; erosion of soils containing nutrients; and sewage treatment plant discharges.

USGS releases estimates of nutrients from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers to the Gulf of Mexico in early June each year. The estimates are used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, and other researchers to predict the areal extent of the hypoxic zone. 

The amount of nutrients delivered to the Gulf each spring depends, in large part, on precipitation and the resulting amounts of nutrient runoff and streamflow in the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin. Streamflows in spring 2009 were about 17 percent above average over the last 30 years. Last year's elevated levels were most likely due to the flooding during the spring.

States and Federal partners serving on the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Taskforce are trying to reduce nutrients transported to the Gulf to reduce the size of hypoxic zone to less than 5,000 square kilometers by 2015. Tracking nutrient levels every year is important to determine if partners are on target with that goal.

Predictions of the size of the 2009 hypoxic zone reflects USGS estimates of about 295,000 metric tons of nitrogen (in the form of nitrate) delivered in April and May 2009 to the northern Gulf. In 2008, the hypoxic zone exceeded 20,000 square kilometers, an area similar in size to the state of New Jersey. Spring delivery of nitrogen in 2009 was about 23% lower than what was measured in 2008, but still about 11% above the average from 1979 to 2009.

USGS has monitored streamflow and water quality in the Mississippi River Basin for decades, to access more information visit the USGS nutrient flux webpage.

For more than 125 years, the USGS has served as the Nation's water monitoring agency, including flow and (or) quality in selected streams and rivers across the U.S. Access data from more than 7,400 streamgages, many of which provide real-time data in 15 minute increments at the USGS WaterWatch site.

For an even larger variety of USGS data, such as for ground water and water quality, access the National Water Information System Web Interface, which contains over 1.5 million sites, and averages over 25 million hits per month. 

On Lincoln's 200th birthday, Feb. 12, 2009, the new Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack "broke pavement" on The People's Garden during a ceremony on the grounds of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) commemorating Lincoln's birthday.

Green for Watershed Protection

Secretary Vilsack declared the stretch of pavement permanently closed and returned back to green, and encouraged other Administration officials and the general public to join in to protect the Chesapeake watershed.

"It is essential for the federal government to lead the way in enhancing and conserving our land and water resources," said Vilsack. "President Obama has expressed his commitment to responsible stewardship of our land, water and other natural resources, and one way of restoring the land to its natural condition is what we are doing here today - "breaking pavement" for The People's Garden."

The dedication comes on the 200th anniversary of the birth of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln founded the Department of Agriculture in 1862 and referred to it as "The People's Department" in his last annual message to Congress.

Green for Beneficial Gardening Promotion

Secretary Vilsack announced a goal of creating a community garden at each USDA facility worldwide. The USDA community garden project will include a wide variety of garden activities including Embassy window boxes, tree planting, and field office plots.

The gardens will be designed to promote "going green" concepts, including landscaping and building design to retain water and reduce runoff; roof gardens for energy efficiency; utilizing native plantings and using sound conservation practices.

Green Space for Runoff Reduction

The USDA People's Garden will eliminate 1,250 square feet of unnecessary paved surface at the USDA headquarters and return the landscape to grass. The changes signal a removal of impervious surfaces and improvement in water management that is needed throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Demonstration Habitat for Backyard and Green Space Applications

The new garden will add 612 square feet of planted space to showcase conservation practices that all Americans can implement in their own backyards and green spaces.

As a component of the garden, pollinator-friendly plantings will not only provide important habitat for bees and butterflies, but can serve as an educational opportunity to help people understand the vital role pollinators play in our food, forage and all agriculture. The garden plot is adjacent to the site of the USDA Farmer's Market.

Watershed Protection of the Chesapeake Watershed

About 100,000 streams and rivers thread through the Chesapeake's 64,000-square-mile watershed, which is home to almost 17 million people in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, New York and the District of Columbia. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in North America, with a length of 200 miles and 11,684 miles of tidal shoreline, more than the entire U.S. West Coast.

The Chesapeake Bay supports more than 3,600 species of plants, fish and animals.

Reduce Pollution on Wildlife Habitat, Forests and Water Resources...and Improve Community Natural Resources

USDA leads efforts on public and private lands to help reduce the impact of nutrient and sediment pollution on wildlife habitat, forest lands and water quality, as well as supporting community involvement in managing natural resources, urban green space and land stewardship. For more information about USDA, the People's Garden, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and other conservation and agriculture related programs available in local communities, visit a USDA Service Center or go to the USDA Web page at www.usda.gov.

Complementary education materials such as the distance-learning project MonarchLIVE and partnerships with schools and the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign which will extend the impact and reach of the USDA garden initiative are available at na.fs.fed.us. Backyard conservation and other materials also can be obtained by dialing 1-888-LANDCARE.

Riparian buffers can be a very effective means of reducing nonpoint source pollution (see Glossary) to receiving waters in developed watersheds, similar to that of the Long Island Sound.

The Long Island Sound Riparian Toolbox allows users to view, read, copy, or download documents, including: public education brochures, model regulations, scientific articles regarding riparian buffers, a glossary of terms, GIS data, etc.

The intended users of this site are managers, planners, engineers, students, researchers and general public who have interest in any of the following areas:

• Glossary of terms related to riparian buffer science
  
  
• GIS Data sources from governmental and public organizations
  
  
• Science research on riparian buffers and their benefits
  
  
• Education resources, including materials and links to sites specifically for public outreach, public participation, and public education efforts
  
  
• Regulations and legal issues for riparian buffers that have been implemented in NY, CT, or NJ
  
  
• Restoration map of project locations, and list of "Do's and Don'ts"
  
  
• Funding sources, including profiles of organizations that can provide support - technical or financial - to riparian buffer projects