Home & Yard Handbook

New food chain specializing in Urban Farming coming to the Rochester Public Market

by Brenna Hartmann

Home&Yard Media Group is proud to sponsor the largest Urban Farming Edible Wall in the world, right here in our hometown Rochester, NY.  Green Living™ Technologies, sponsor of the Urban Farming Food Chain, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to end hunger in our generation, will establish Green Living ‘edible’ walls in Rochester’s downtown Public Market. Cookie Waller, program manager for The Rochester Teen Court, who is funded by the Center for Youth Services is excited that the students will have the opportunity to build and maintain these edible walls. As part of the Urban Farming Food Chain this link will be part of a global food chain, connected to each other by intention and design, and providing a model that is replicated across the country and abroad as a means of growing food in urban neighborhoods. A portion of the food harvest will be donated to local food banks and neighbors in need.

The walls used to grow edible crops vertically are one of a variety of green products produced by Rochester based Green Living™ Technologies. Thanks to the efforts and expertise of Green Living Technologies, the student members of the Rochester Teen Court program will utilize the opportunity to learn about green roof and green wall technologies. Green Living Technologies CEO George Irwin, a certified teacher has developed an educational component, which includes a 10-week unit plan to be implemented in the non-growing season. During the gardening season the Rochester Teen Court participants will be working hands-on, tending to the vertical farm. In the off growing season, the students will be attending classes to learn about green technologies.

According to George Irwin, the program will offer the students a skill set and enough knowledge to be prepared for an interview with many companies now involved in vegetative green technologies.

The Urban Farming Edible Wall pilot program, which has been implemented in the heart of skid row in Los Angeles, California, has provided empowerment, community involvement and education for those residents. The food grown on these walls can include tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, peppers, herbs and more.

The Rochester Teen Court Urban Farming Food Chain wall installation at the Public Market will begin with a launch event on Saturday June 27th, 2009.  During the growing season the wall will offer immediate access to fresh healthy produce in a time of great need, while simultaneously creating opportunities for team building, skills training and community involvement.

Engineered by Green Living Technologies these innovative food-producing vertical gardens will beautify the downtown core and help to lower heat index in the fight against global warming while providing Rochester’s Teen Court Program an educational opportunity to learn about green roofs, green walls and vegetative technologies.

For more information on the Urban Farming Food Chain Project, visit urbanfarming.org/foodchain. �

Looking for a home improvement you can really sink your teeth into?  Consider an edible wall! 

by Brenna Hartmann

Imagine having fresh dill for a homemade veggie dip, some chives for your sour cream or even lettuce for a fresh picked spring salad…all year long, right at your fingertips!  Sound delicious?  Trust me, it is.  Fresh, fragrant, organically grown herbs and veggies ripe for the picking from your own kitchen garden.  That’s right, you can have a vertical herb garden right in the heart of your home growing on your wall!  A relatively new concept here on the East coast, it is fast taking hold as people seek greener and healthier lifestyles.

One of my home improvement themes this year is designing a “natural” kitchen.  I began my project by eliminating chemically toxic cleaning products and replacing them with my own home  brewed products consisting of eco-friendly ingredients like baking soda and vinegar.

I have regularly been replacing damaged and scratched non-stick cookware and plastics with more enviro-friendly and reusable products like glass storage containers and stainless steel cookware.

I have upgraded to energy efficient appliances and have installed dimmer switches.  I am using Energy Star-rated light fixtures and bulbs.  So what’s next?  Naturally…the food I am preparing and eating.  But, like many homeowners, I have limited  horizontal space for growing fresh herbs and vegetables and my short outdoor growing season is further limited by the climate here in upstate New York.  Now, thanks to Green Living Technologies, I am  growing fresh herbs and lettuce right on my kitchen wall!  I have installed an edible, vertical garden.  Complete with automatic lighting and irrigation system, this simple modular panel construction allows me to grow my own organic produce year round!

My edible wall is by far my favorite home improvement project to date.  The aroma of the fresh cut herbs is indescribable and for a fraction of the amount of money I would spend growing annually or purchasing costly store bought herbs, I have a beautiful, sustainable and eco-friendly garden wall, right in the heart of my home.

As an added benefit, the plants in my edible wall also serve as air purifiers.  You may be aware that formaldehyde is emitted from many products in our homes such as carpet, plywood, particle board, adhesives and even draperies.  The leaves and the stems of the plants in my edible wall absorb the volatiles during the day and the root zone continues the work at night.  Now that’s a great green bonus!

I am delighted and proud to have a natural kitchen.  Now I just have to learn how to cook!

You can view a video of the installation on my website www.homeandyardradio.com.  Click on the link “Living Greener”. 

Brenna Hartmann is the co-founder of Fixin’Chix Inc., a do-it-yourself enterprise that includes a comprehensive home improvement website; how-to workshops, seminars and publications; and a product line. Brenna is dedicated to empowering women “do-it herselfers” (DIHers) who have the passion and desire to improve their homes. Brenna writes the popular Fixie Chick home improvement column found in Home & Yard Handbook, and is the co-host of “Home & Yard Radio with the Fixie Chick” on 950 ESPN. Brenna lives in Webster with her husband and two children.

Respect the ‘Staycation’ and discover the art of taking time off at home!

If you are among the many who are opting out of a pricey out of town vacation this year, you may be looking for ideas on what to do during your “spring break”.  You may not have got that hefty bonus this year but hopefully you still get that paid time off. 

“Staycations” describe a growing movement among folks who are spending their downtime right at home.  The problem is, it’s hard to get away at home.  The laundry piles up, the grass keeps growing and your neighbor still runs his leaf blower at 7 pm.  All can put a damper on your downtime.  Don’t get discouraged yet.  There are a variety of ways to get the most out of your at-home get away!

• Schedule your staycation just as you would an away vacation.  Run your errands, catch up on your home and yard chores and let your co-workers, friends and neighbors know that you are taking a staycation before the time comes.  
• Hold your mail for the duration of your staycation and pre-arrange any deliveries and contracted lawn maintenance.
• Decide on a budget.  If you don’t own a hot tub, consider renting a soft tub for the week.  If you have kids, check out a party rental store for fun ideas.  Bounce houses can be fun for grown-ups too.
• Make a staycation itinerary. You may prefer to be spontaneous, but some people find that being at home can guilt them into chores or projects.  If you make a schedule you’ll be more likely to do stimulating activities, instead of thinking about what needs to be done around the house.
• Make a list of attractions in your area.  Engage your family in planning places to visit.  Include activities for weather fair and foul.
• Unless it’s one of your favorite things to do, don’t cook.  Make dinner reservations-you’ll be more likely to stick to them.  Be adventurous, exotic or romantic.  Anything but homestyle.
• Consider asking a relative to sit your pets.  It’ll be nice to be able to come and go on your own schedule without concern for their care.

Follow these tips and your staycation can feel like a real vacation with significantly less expense and stress.   Relax and enjoy… and don’t forget to sleep in a little! 

Brenna Hartmann is the co-founder of Fixin’Chix Inc., a do-it-yourself enterprise that includes a comprehensive home improvement website; how-to workshops, seminars and publications; and a product line. Brenna is dedicated to empowering women “do-it herselfers” (DIHers) who have the passion and desire to improve and green their homes. She is the co-host of “Home & Yard Radio with the Fixie Chick” on ESPN-AM (950). Brenna lives in Webster with her husband and two children. Email Brenna at fixiechick@homeandyardhandbook.com.