Cliff Notes: Urban Agriculture Community Forum

On Thursday, January 26, RAP joined forces with Sustainable Springfield to co-present a Community Forum on Urban Agriculture.  Topics included possible locations for a community garden in the Riverside Avondale Historic District and proposed Hen Legislation for Duval County.  This article presents general information about urban agriculture, notes from the meeting, and some key points for residents. 

Copyright: Robert Nickelsberg for TIME Magazine. Photo
of a former asphalt-covered playground in Brooklyn, NY

What is urban agriculture? As a national movement, urban agriculture is growing rapidly across the US. According to the USDA, around 15 percent of the world's food is now grown in urban areas. City and suburban agriculture takes the form of backyard, roof-top and balcony gardening, community gardening in vacant lots and parks, roadside urban fringe agriculture and livestock grazing in open space."* Amid escalating concerns about the environment, pesticides, and food safety, urbanites are turning to community gardens to supply their fruits and vegetables.  Cities are also creating gardens to address "urban food deserts," or areas where access to fresh fruits and vegetables is limited. 

Animal husbandry, of which urban hen-keeping is the most popular version, forms a significant part of the urban agriculture movement.  Sarasota, Austin, Charlotte, San Francisco, Little Rock, Mobile, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Boise, and Albuquerque all allow a limited number of hens on private property.  Proposed legislation is for hens in Duval County and a regulatory process.  Organizations such as Urban Chickens help dispel myths pertaining to urban chicken-keeping.

Community Forum Cliff Notes
Community Gardens in Riverside Avondale Historic District
Sally Robson, RAP Board Member and Master Gardener
Sally spoke about RAP's Green space Committee and efforts to start a community garden in Riverside Avondale Historic District.  Potential locations include: Willowbranch Rose Garden Park, Peace Memorial Garden (next to Rose Garden), and Fishweir Park.  There is a possibility to have more than one community garden. Some options include either a large, shared garden or individual plots. 

Jump-starting a Community Garden: Ideas and Partnership with Sustainable Springfield
Amanda Searle, Sustainable Springfield
Sustainable Springfield will be helping RAP set up one or more community gardens in Riverside Avondale. Amanda spoke about how Sustainable Springfield runs their community garden. Some of the most important aspects are establishing by-laws and annual dues that help keep the garden looking great and preventing issues from lack of maintenance.  By-laws help establish rules such as whether the garden will allow pesticides, size of plots, and other responsibilities of members.  The most important aspect is buy-in from the community in establishing how the garden should be run.


Urban Hen-keeping and Proposed Hen Legislation for Duval County
Lauren Trad, Hens in Jax
Benefits of urban hens:

·         Health – better source of protein than Concentrated Animal Feed Operations (CAFO’s) that send eggs to our grocery stores, often from poorly run facilities and months old by the time they are consumed.

·         Economic - Cheaper source of protein and promotes the local food movement that keeps more dollars and jobs in our local economy.

·         Safer – CAFO’s are more prone to E coli and salmonella and often use antibiotics and hormones  - McDonald’s just dropped a multi-state egg supplier after “serious violations” were found.

·         Education and Knowledge – Kids learn firsthand knowledge of where their food comes from and since they are home raised, we know that they are antibiotic and hormone free.

·         Environmentally sensitive – eggs are brought in from the backyard instead of hundreds or thousands of miles away.

·         Natural pest control – chickens eat worms, roaches, slugs, fire ants and termites among other pests.

·         Domesticated pet – in current Jacksonville coding, the following are considered domesticated animals – dog, bird, cat, rodent, such as a gerbil, guinea pig, hamster, domesticated mouse, and domesticated rat, domesticated or European ferret, rabbit, fish, nonvenemous reptile and amphibian.  Poultry is not.

Some misconceptions about urban hen-keeping:

·         Noise - Roosters will not be permitted and are not needed to produce eggs.  Laying hens make some soft noise when laying an egg, but are basically silent at all other times.  From sundown to sunup, because chickens can’t see in the dark, they lay quietly in their coop.

·         Odors – Much like a cat litter box, the laying hen’s coop does need cleaning from time to time.  Unlike cat’s, a hens waste is a great source of fertilizer for lawns and garden beds.   The slaughtering of chickens is expressly prohibited unless at a USDA approved facility.

·         Disease – Chickens carry far fewer diseases than cats or dogs.  As to “bird flu”, there has never been human infection in the US and the spread in Asia, Africa and Europe is largely due to the unsanitary and tight quarters seen more often in CAFOs. 

·         Attraction of predators – Raccoons are the most common predators to chickens and they exist in Jacksonville currently, usually feeding off the plates of outdoor cats and dogs, as well as the trash created and left out by humans.  Laying hens, when secured in proper coop at night, are safe from these nocturnal creatures.

Key elements from Proposed Draft Hen Legislation

·         As an accessory use to a permitted single family dwelling.

·       A maximum of 6 hens – no roosters.

·        Enclosing structure required, screened from street view, and consistent with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Services Publication.

·        Chickens are not raised for consumption.  Sale of eggs is already regulated and enforced by the State Department of Agriculture.

Restaurant Trends: Why Fresh Ingredients Matter
Brian Siebenschuh, Chef, Orsay Restaurant
Brian spoke about the trend of urban argiculture and the importance of providing fresh ingredients.  The Black Sheep Restaurant Group not only purchases meats  from local farms, but also has their own farm and grows their own ingredients.  Rather than a passing fad, fresh, sustainable food production is here to stay.  There is a marked difference in quality of food, in the opinion of many chefs.  7 of the top 10 Restaurant things Restaurant owners and chefs find to be important for 2012 pertain to locally-produced foods and sustainability.

Top 10 Trends for 2011- survey of over 1,500 chefs:
1) Locally-sourced meats and seafood
2) locally-grown produce
3) Sustainability
4) Nutritionally-balanced children's dishes
5) "hyper local" restaurants having their own gardens and chefs butchering their own meats.
6) Children's nutrition
7) Sustainable seafood
8) Gluten-free products and allergy-conscious dishes
9) Simplicity - "back to basics"
10) Farm/estate-branded ingredients


SOURCES & MORE INFO
* USDA, "Urban Agriculture: Farms and Community: Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.  http://afsic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=2&tax_level=2&tax_subject=301&topic_id=2719

Sustainability: Historic Green – Passive Strategies for Heating and Cooling

Written by: Corie Baker, AIA, LEED AP, Pond and Company

The continued use and reuse of historic buildings is, at its core, a sustainable building practice – it reduces demolition waste, it reduces the use of new materials and resources, and it limits new infrastructure needs. In addition, historic buildings often utilized passive heating and cooling strategies, which are still relevant today and can help reduce the loads on modern mechanical equipment.  

SUSTAINABILITY: SUCH A FAN!

Fans can make a big temperature difference right away and can add to an interior / exterior space. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that if you raise your thermostat by only two degrees and use your ceiling fan, you can lower cooling costs by up to 14 percent. According to TheDailyGreen.com, “Fans use 90% less energy than central air, and make rooms feel seven to ten degrees cooler because of the process of evaporation.” In the winter, most fans can be run in reverse, pushing warm air down.

Formerly the eyesore of any interior decoration project, newer models offer many “historic” looks to compliment any decor. There are many companies online that offer more specialized options than your big box retailer. It’s worth a search on the internet—there are even some that function replicating an old “pulley system.”

This Old House has a great guide to purchasing and installing a ceiling fan: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,453858,00.html

Here are some basics about ceiling fans:
1)Select the right fan for the size of the space. Energy Star has a great guide (http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=ceiling_fans.pr_ceiling_fans_basics)
2)Select the right fan for your needs. Fans that have been UL listed with a “damp” rating are good for bathrooms and spaces. If the fan comes in direct contact with water, like on a patio or front porch, look for a UL “wet” rating. These fans include features such as sealed/moisture resistant motors, rust resistant housing, stainless steel hardware, and all weather blades.

Use your historic whole-house attic fans
Historic buildings were located and built to take advantage of breezes and, through their design, established patterns of cross ventilation. Many also relied on whole-house attic fans, mounted on the attic floor, to assist in pulling air from outside windows and circulate it throughout the home. Air circulation helps cleanse the home and promotes healthy air. If you have a whole-house attic fan, use it.

Sustainability - When the Bulb Breaks

We all know the benefits of Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs). It is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to save natural resources and save some money on energy costs. But what happens when they burn out? What happens when they break? While not the sexiest of topics, it’s certainly worth five minutes of your time to learn the answers.

When the bulb breaks
Don’t panic! Each bulb contains a very small percentage of mercury. In fact, the thermometers we all remember as kids posed a far bigger threat---CFLs contain less than 1/100th of the amount in a mercury thermometer.

EPA RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING PROTOCOL IF A CFL SHOULD BREAK:
Before cleanup:
- Have people and pets leave the room.
- Air out the room for 5-10 minutes by opening a window or door to the outdoor environment.
- Shut off the central forced air heating/air-conditioning system, if you have one.
- Collect materials needed to clean up broken bulb: stiff paper or cardboard; sticky tape; damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes (for hard surfaces); and a glass jar with a metal lid or a sealable plastic bag.

During cleanup
- Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder.
- Place cleanup materials in a sealable container.

After cleanup
- Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of properly. Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors.
- If practical, continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the heating/air conditioning system shut off for several hours.
For more detailed info, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup-detailed.html


Don’t trash that CFL!
According to the EPA, recycling CFLs is important, for the following reasons:
- Recycling prevents the release of mercury into the environment. CFLs and other fluorescent bulbs often break when thrown into a dumpster, trash can or compactor, or when they end up in a landfill or incinerator. Learn more about CFLs and mercury.

- Other materials in the bulbs get reused. Recycling CFLs and other fluorescent bulbs allows the reuse of the glass, metals and other materials that make up fluorescent lights. Virtually all components of a fluorescent bulb can be recycled.


Where to go to throw (gently place in bin)

**Your local Home Depot has a bin for CFL disposal.

**The City of Jacksonville has a Hazardous Waste Facility at 2675 Commonwealth Avenue (open Tues – Sat 8am-5pm).

Types of waste which may be brought to one of the mobile events or to the HHW Facility include:
- Fluorescent bulbs and tubes, including CFL light bulbs
- Paint, varnish or shellac
- Paint thinners and paint strippers
- Rechargeable, automobile or lead acid batteries
- Thermometers and thermostats
- Drain cleaners
- Pool, automobile, cleaning, lawn, garden and photographic chemicals
- Aerosol cans
- Antifreeze
- Fertilizer and pesticides
- Acids
- Gun powder, ammunition and fireworks
- 20-pound propane cylinders
- Oil and oil filters
- Gasoline, diesel and kerosene
- Fire extinguishers
- Flares

From PreservationNation Blog: Q&A with NPS on New Sustainability Guidelines

The National Trust's Sustainability Director, Patrice Frey, and Program Assistant Rachel Bowdon recently asked the National Park Service to share some assessments about the new Illustrated Guidelines on Sustainability for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings --including the most common misconceptions about greening historic buildings and the appropriate use of renewables on historic buildings and sites.

The guidelines help clear misconceptions that historic buildings are not inherently green, and tackle others such as the long-standing debate over new versus original windows. They also provide helpful "how-to" advice for the integration of energy saving measures while still meeting the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation.

Read Q&A blog article>>>

NOTES FROM FLORIDA TRUST CONFERENCE

Keynote Speaker Robert McNulty Challenges our Notions of Sustainable Communities

Last week at the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation Conference in Orlando, the keynote speaker, Mr. Robert McNulty of Partners for Livable Communities, challenged our notions of sustainable development. He boldly asked the audience to think of our heritage as the infrastructure for the future. Outlining the country's greatest challenges--the economy, immigration, our aging population, and the growing concerns surrounding health and obesity--he asked us to think of our heritage as a sustaining resource.

Mr McNulty's notion of sustainability, or "livability" as he calls it, encompasses more than just green building. He defines livability as, "the sum of the factors that add up to a community's quality of life--including the built environment, economic prosperity, social stability and equality, educational opportunity, and cultural entertainment and recreational possibilities."

He provided several examples of creative ways various nonprofits have worked to highlight the connection between a community's heritage and its future opportunities, and, as I listened to this presentation, I could not help but think, "RAP is already doing this work!"

Our members have long understood the critical relationship between a community's past and its future and, although RAP's efforts connecting the two have not always made a straight line, where we've done it well we have been able to add real depth to the community experience.

With Riverside Arts Market, RAP created not only an attractive venue for the arts and a source of locally grown fruits and vegetables, but also an event that brings together people of all ages. Our popular Spring Tour of Homes pays homage to the community's unique historical architecture and proffers examples as to how homes can be successfully rehabilitated while maintaining their architectural integrity. Our award-winning podcast gets people moving by encouraging them to rediscover the neighborhood and its stories via alternative methods of transportation, such as bicycles and by walking.

As a newcomer to the organization, I'm proud that RAP's efforts have positioned it ahead of the curve, and I am excited to get to work on new programs that continue the mission of enhancing and sustaining this community. The road ahead looks very promising, indeed.

NPS releases new Guidelines on Sustainability and Rehabilitation for Historic Buildings

This past Earth Day (April 22, 2011) Technical Preservation Services (TPS) released, “The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation & Illustrated Guidelines on Sustainability for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings.” They are the latest in a series of guidelines on historic features such as masonry and roofs, which are available at Guidelines for Rehabilitation, offering guidance on “recommended” and “not recommended” treatments, with illustrations, intended to assist owners plan rehabilitation projects that meet the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation. These new Guidelines on Sustainability replace the previous sections which dealt with energy conservation. The two work together: the Standards offer philosophical guidance, while the Guidelines offer practical advice on how to conduct the work.

National Parks Service (NPS) states, “The guidelines stress the inherent sustainability of historic buildings.” The approach of the guidelines always has been to first attempt the least invasive and gentlest alterations possible, before considering drastic approaches that may have a greater impact on historic fabric. The new sustainability guidelines offer advice on sustainability planning; energy efficiency for windows; HVAC systems; weatherization and insulation; as well as new approaches such as the addition of solar panels to roofs; wind power systems; and cool roofs and green roofs. As always, the guidelines stress the importance of maintenance.

TPS, Cultural Services, Washington DC is a division of the National Parks Service (NPS) that authored the Preservation Briefs , Preservation Tech Notes, and Technical Reports; which guide much of the Rehabilitation work in this country. As sustainable building practices develop, it is important to stay current. TPS is also in the process of re-writing Preservation Brief 3: Conserving Energy in Historic Buildings.

The Sustainability Guidelines are an important addition to an ongoing conversation about green building and historic preservation --an effort that has really picked up steam in the last five years. The National Trust, as one of the agencies at the forefront of the conversation, is working with the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and has set up a Preservation Green Lab in Seattle Washington as part of its Sustainability Program. The Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG), a program of the National Institute of Building Sciences, has set up a Historic Preservation subcommittee addressing sustainable building practices.

For our part, RAP will disseminate information to better assist our members in making decisions about sustainable upgrades to their historic structures. We will bring the conversation to a local level, discussing issues and problems pertinent to our district and climate.

GET THE GUIDELINES
The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation & Illustrated Guidelines on Sustainability for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings. (PDF – 53.49 MB!)

ADD TO THE CONVERSATION
Keep the conversation going >>>Add information to this story, or add a story of your own related to sustainability and preservation.