Greening Detroit

USDA and EPA Release New Report on Honey Bee Health

Sally — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:59 +0000

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released a comprehensive scientific report on honey bee health. The report states that there are multiple factors playing a role in honey bee colony declines, including parasites and disease, genetics, poor nutrition and pesticide exposure.

“There is an important link between the health of American agriculture and the health of our honeybees for our country’s long term agricultural productivity,” said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan. “The forces impacting honeybee health are complex and USDA, our research partners, and key stakeholders will be engaged in addressing this challenge.”

“The decline in honey bee health is a complex problem caused by a combination of stressors, and at EPA we are committed to continuing our work with USDA, researchers, beekeepers, growers and the public to address this challenge,” said Acting EPA Administrator Bob Perciasepe. “The report we’ve released today is the product of unprecedented collaboration, and our work in concert must continue. As the report makes clear, we’ve made significant progress, but there is still much work to be done to protect the honey bee population.”

In October 2012, a National Stakeholders Conference on Honey Bee Health, led by federal researchers and managers, along with Pennsylvania State University, was convened to synthesize the current state of knowledge regarding the primary factors that scientists believe have the greatest impact on managed bee health.

Key findings include:

Parasites and Disease Present Risks to Honey Bees:

The parasitic Varroa mite is recognized as the major factor underlying colony loss in the U.S. and other countries. There is widespread resistance to the chemicals beekeepers use to control mites within the hive. New virus species have been found in the U.S. and several of these have been associated with Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).

Increased Genetic Diversity is Needed:

U.S. honeybee colonies need increased genetic diversity. Genetic variation improves bees thermoregulation (the ability to keep body temperature steady even if the surrounding environment is different), disease resistance and worker productivity.
Honey bee breeding should emphasize traits such as hygienic behavior that confer improved resistance to Varroa mites and diseases (such as American foulbrood).

Poor Nutrition Among Honey Bee Colonies:

Nutrition has a major impact on individual bee and colony longevity. A nutrition-poor diet can make bees more susceptible to harm from disease and parasites. Bees need better forage and a variety of plants to support colony health.
Federal and state partners should consider actions affecting land management to maximize available nutritional forage to promote and enhance good bee health and to protect bees by keeping them away from pesticide-treated fields.

There is a Need for Improved Collaboration and Information Sharing:

Best Management Practices associated with bees and pesticide use, exist, but are not widely or systematically followed by members of the crop-producing industry. There is a need for informed and coordinated communication between growers and beekeepers and effective collaboration between stakeholders on practices to protect bees from pesticides.
Beekeepers emphasized the need for accurate and timely bee kill incident reporting, monitoring, and enforcement.

Additional Research is Needed to Determine Risks Presented by Pesticides:

The most pressing pesticide research questions relate to determining actual pesticide exposures and effects of pesticides to bees in the field and the potential for impacts on bee health and productivity of whole honey bee colonies.

Those involved in developing the report include USDA’s Office of Pest Management Policy (OPMP), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Agricultural Research Services (ARS), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), National Resource Conversation Service (NRCS) as well as the EPA and Pennsylvania State University. The report will provide important input to the Colony Collapse Disorder Steering Committee, led by the USDA, EPA and the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

An estimated one-third of all food and beverages are made possible by pollination, mainly by honey bees. In the United States, pollination contributes to crop production worth $20-30 billion in agricultural production annually. A decline in managed bee colonies puts great pressure on the sectors of agriculture reliant on commercial pollination services. This is evident from reports of shortages of bees available for the pollination of many crops.

The Colony Collapse Steering Committee was formed in response to a sudden and widespread disappearance of adult honey bees from beehives, which first occurred in 2006. The Committee will consider the report’s recommendations and update the CCD Action Plan which will outline major priorities to be addressed in the next 5-10 years and serve as a reference document for policy makers, legislators and the public and will help coordinate the federal strategy in response to honey bee losses.

To view the report, which represents the consensus of the scientific community studying honey bees, please visit:http://www.usda.gov/documents/ReportHoneyBeeHealth.pdf

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Source: USEPA

Remote Solar Power Delivered by Pack Animals in Venezuela

Sally — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:55 +0000

Patriot Solar Group (PSG) is expanding its operations into South America and the Caribbean, sending Off-Grid Solar systems to Venezuela. The ongoing install of 23 units will provide power to remote cell towers in the dense jungles of the country.

To accomplish this project, PSG was able to accommodate a very unique construction situation.

All elements of the Off-Grid systems were broken down so they could be transported by pack animals, as much of the terrain was nearly impassable. Each unit utilized PSG’s Post Driven Ground Mount, holding four panels each. The simplicity of PSG’s design enabled a “plug and play” function, allowing for an extremely fast and easy setup.

Patriot Solar Group prides itself on providing the very best Solar Mounting structures for any project. Whether it is a commercial or utility install, PSG is ready to bring quality Solar Energy products to the Caribbean and South America.

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Source: Patriot Solar Group

Detroit Wayne Joint Building Authority Receives Numerous Awards for Management of Coleman A. Young Municipal Center

Sally — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:41 +0000

The Detroit Wayne Joint Building Authority (DWJBA), owner, manager and operator of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, has been recognized by federal, state and local organizations for management best practices and operational standards.

The Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA) announced that the 2012 Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) award for government buildings went to the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center (CAYMC). The DWJBA has been the recipient of the TOBY award for two consecutive years as a member of the BOMA North Central Region consisting of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio. The award was received for “a superior managed government building in Michigan recognizing continuous improvements and reducing annual operating expenses.”

Founded in 1908, BOMA is a professional trade association whose members either own or manage commercial real estate, or provide goods and services to the industry. The TOBY Awards is recognized as the most prestigious and comprehensive program of its kind in commercial real estate for excellence in building management and operations in specific categories based on building size and/or type. All facets of a building’s operations are thoroughly evaluated, including tenant relations programs, community involvement, emergency preparedness, environmental stewardship, security standards, and continuing education for building personnel.

“TOBY winners represent the commercial real estate industry’s best of the best in the office management setting; they are the benchmark for industry excellence,” said Sharon of Carruthers, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank and TOBY Award Chair for BOMA of Metro Detroit.

“Having judged the Coleman A. Young building for BOMA, I can attest the transformation, though still ongoing, has been nothing short of remarkable,” states Kirk VanMeerbeeck, BOMA member and TOBY judge.

‘In 2012, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), awarded the DWJBA its seventh consecutive ENERGY STAR; the national symbol for superior leadership in energy efficiencies and environmental protection achievements.

The Detroit Audubon Society and Michigan Audubon recognized the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center in 2012 for its support of Safe Passage Great Lakes, stating that, “By agreeing to turn off unnecessary lighting in your building during bird migration seasons, you have shown a deep understanding of helping to provide safe passage through the Great Lakes for thousands of night-migrating birds. In addition, you have recognized the reduction in electricity usage-and therefore, air pollution that turning off unnecessary lights provides.”

“In our continuous efforts in best-practices in management and environmental principles, the Authority uses standards and benchmarks that measure effective and sustainable operational and cost efficiencies,” states DWJA Executive Director Gregory McDuffee. “Every initiative is focused on making CAYMC cost-effective for taxpayers and a fully accessible, safe and welcoming environment for building employees and visitors.”

DWJBA BACKGROUND: The Detroit Wayne Joint Building Authority was created in 1948 for the purpose developing and managing the 745,000 square foot Coleman A. Young Municipal Center (previously the City-County Building) with construction completed in 1955 at a cost of $26,000,000.

The Authority is governed by a three-member Board of Commissioners with the Commissioners appointed by the legislative branches of the City of Detroit and County of Wayne. The Chairperson is Patricia A. Cole, representing the City of Detroit; the Treasurer is Steven Ogden, representing the County of Wayne; and the Recording Secretary is Lugene Nelson, whose appointment is confirmed by both legislative branches.

Major tenants are the City of Detroit’s Executive and Legislative Branches, the city of Detroit and the Wayne County Clerk’s offices, and the Wayne County Probate and the 3rd Judicial Circuit Courts. For additional information, contact Sharon Banks at 313-929-3986.

Click here to be introduced to The Detroit Wayne Joint Building Authority (DWJBA)

It’s Workplace Charging!

Sally — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:06 +0000

Register today for Michigan’s inaugural Workplace Charging Workshop presented by NextEnergy and CALSTART on June 18, 2013.

By 2020, it is expected that there will be millions of electric vehicles on the road — and the top two places owners will charge their vehicles are at home and at work. This exciting event features prominent speakers who will provide valuable information on what it takes to implement workplace charging, and explain why you should flip the switch.

For full event details and registration visit:nextenergy.org/workplacecharging

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Source: NextEnergy

Environmental Assistance Bulletin

Sally — Sun, 19 May 2013 21:46:07 +0000

The Environmental Assistance Bulletin is a quarterly newsletter with topics of interest related to pollution prevention and the programs and services of the Office of Environmental Assistance.

Inside the Environmental Assistance Bulletin:

Mercury Collection Program
Drug Collections are a Focus for the DEQ
Applications Being Accepted for the 2013 NEP Awards
Green Chemistry2013 Michigan Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference – Call for Presentation and Posters
MEHA Presents Awards to DEQ Dana DeBruyn and Carolyn Hobbs Krieger
Grants and Loans for Municipal Water Treatment Needs
Hazardous Waste Management Propose Rule Changes
Economy, Energy, Environment
RETAP Helps Petoskey News Review Reduce Energy Usage by Ten Percent
Great Lakes Restoration Reaches Milestone
RRD Tallies 130 Lust Closures in First Half of Fiscal Year 2013From Hazardous Waste Site to Modern Medical Facility
Recycling Sees Support
Compliance Assistance Corner: Smoke School … It’s Not What You Think
DEQ Hosts Water and Wastewater Asset Management Seminar Series
Free ITRC Internet Training Courses
Events

Click here to be introduced to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

Source: MDEQ

Memorial Day is Next Weekend!

Sally — Sun, 19 May 2013 20:58:20 +0000

Are you ready for the opening of summer BBQ season? We have everything you need for a Good Food backyard celebration: ground beef, buns, bevs, salad fixin’s, melons, and more.

We can also help you wow the cookout crowd by tossing the unexpected on the grill, like fruit, avocados, greens, and bread. Find more grilling inspiration at the Kitchen then make it happen at the Shop.

Click here to be introduced to Door to Door Organics

Source: Door to Door Organics

How to Cash in on an Edible Landscape

Sally — Sun, 19 May 2013 20:46:01 +0000

Is your lawn eating you alive with maintenance expenses? Lawns, after all, are costly. They account for 50 percent of all residential water bills nationally, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Then there’s the price of fertilizers, fungicides, algaecides, pesticides and other lawn care products and equipment.

You can reverse the cash flow by eating your lawn instead of having it eat you. Seriously.

There is a nationwide trend of turning lawns into multi-dimensional edible landscapes, said Lindsey Mann, owner of Sustenance Design in Decatur, Ga. “While there were no edible landscaping companies in the Atlanta area prior to us starting in 2006, now there are several,” she said. “The same is true in other cities all over the nation.”

The benefit of turning a lawn into an edible landscape is that a family of four can save $1,000 a year by devoting just 100 square feet of the yard to planting edibles, contends Mann. And, it doesn’t even have to be contiguous space, she adds.

To emphasize her point about cost-saving, she says to think about grocery store prices of strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. Think, too, she suggests, about the price of small plastic containers of herbs or the sticker shock you may get from the cost of melons shipped from a farm somewhere in Central America.

Is an edible landscape a concept you haven’t considered or is it one you have thought about and discarded because you were afraid your field of dreams might be your neighbor’s worst nightmare?

If the answer to either of those questions is “yes,” here’s a guide to how growing edible plants can put money back into your pocket and make the look of your property the envy of those on your street.

What is an edible landscape?
First, it’s worth noting what it’s not. It’s neither a vegetable garden nor a cornfield outside the front door. An edible landscape is an attractive way of planting a yard with valuable resources that feed and nourish the family with wholesome, fresh produce, including fruits, vegetables and herbs.

What does multi-dimensional mean?

Think of vertical layers, from ground covers to bushes to trees.

What are examples of edible plants?

Strawberries: They can be substituted for ground covers such as ivy or pachysandra.
Creeping thyme: An ideal herb for placing between stepping stones.
Blueberry bushes: They are a popular choice to replace accent plants such as azaleas.
Blackberries: Tasty thorn-less varieties can ramble along a fence.
Fruit trees: Peach, pear or apple trees bear fruit, unlike the commonly used non-fruit-bearing Bradford pear.
Paw paw or pineapple guava trees: Edible landscapes are anything but boring, especially when they include varieties not often seen in groceries. Pineapple guava is hardy to USDA Zone 8 (hardy 10 degrees F) and the flowers are stunning.
Vegetables, including cool-season and winter vegetables, can be tucked among the edible plants in different areas or sited singularly to capture optimum sunlight.

For a more extensive selection of edible plants, see the list at the bottom of this article.

Make it pretty!
Regional native plants, including wildflowers, can be strategically located among the edibles to add color and contrasting textures. They also will attract pollinators that will visit the vegetables. Native plants tend to adapt better than hybrids to the harsh conditions of summer heat or winter freezes.

Are edible landscapes really a good value?

While there are many ways to measure value, monetary value usually seems to be the No. 1 consideration.

Here are yields for just a few of the many popular and easy-to-grow home vegetables fruit and their dollar value. The value is based on prices at a grocery store in Atlanta that is part of a chain of Southeastern groceries. The yield assumes a 10-foot row, properly amended soil, at least six hours of sun, an adequate amount of rain and that homeowners harvest the crops before the rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, raccoons or birds! The yield for blueberries is for a mature, 6-year-old plant. Yield amounts were supplied by the DeKalb County Georgia Extension Service and Mann of Sustenance Design.

Vegetable	Yields/lbs. per year	Store price per pound	Total annual value
Asparagus	3-4	$2.99	$8.97 – $11.96
Beans (snap)	3-5	$1.99	$5.97 – $9.95
Cucumber	8-10	$1.49	$11.92 – $14.90
Squash	20-80	$1.69	$33.80 – $135.20
Potatoes	6-15	$3.29	$19.47 – $49.35
Tomatoes	15-45	$1.69	$25.35 – $76.05
Other	Yield	Store price per unit	Total value
Blueberries (gallons)	2	$4.98 per half pint	$159.68

The exact dollar value of an edible landscape is difficult, if not impossible, to measure. There are, of course, negative costs of installation, some of which are one-time expenses, and those of annual maintenance, especially in years of drought. And a CPA might want to factor in positive cost benefits of fuel savings for grocery trips or attach a negative value to the time spent in the garden.

But for many home gardeners, having the grocery produce “aisle” outside the front or back door and knowing that the food being served to family or guests is organically grown is a labor of love for which the intrinsic value far outweighs any monetary costs. Then, of course, there is the immeasurable value of how much better home-grown food tastes than that which may have been picked before its prime and shipped thousands of miles.

What will the neighbors say?

If you share, or invite them to pick some for themselves, probably not much.

What about zoning

It’s always a good idea when doing anything out of the ordinary with your property to make sure you are in compliance with neighborhood covenants or local zoning codes. The desire for sustainability is causing changes in covenants and zoning across the country, Mann said.

Bottom line

An edible landscape can begin reversing the cash flow of a grass lawn not only within the first year, but within the first few months, according to Mann. The rate of return will increase through the years once the start-up costs have been paid and the fruit trees mature and start producing. Freezing or canning surplus summer harvests can extend the savings into cold weather months. Of course, winter vegetables can be grown when the summer ones are pulled up, making the edible landscape a year-round producer. And don’t forget another intrinsic value, Mann adds. Edible landscapes can become an educational haven for children and help to teach them lifelong healthy eating habits.

Plant list

Here is a small sampling of plants to consider for an edible landscape.

Groundcovers/ perennials

Alpine strawberry – (Fragaria vesca) Doesn’t run but stays mounded. Produces small fruits with great flavor.
Horseradish – (Armoracia rusticana) Needs some shade
Creeping raspberry – (Rubus calycinoides)
Creeping thyme – (Thymus serpyllum or Thymus praecox ’Elfin’)
Lyreleaf sage – (Salvia lyrata) A good Ajuga substitute with an edible leaf.
Wineberry bramble – (Rubus phoenicolasius) Similar to raspberry, performs in shade.

Shrubs

Crandall black currant/ clove currant – (Ribes odoratum) Cool grower. Doesn’t do well in warm climates.
Japanese rose – (Rosa rugosa) For hips
Pineapple guava – (Feijoa sellowiana) Good flavor, fragrance, bloom, evergreen.
Rabbiteye blueberry – (Vaccinium ashei)
Tea camellia – (Camellia sinensis) White, green and black tea plant

Trees

Apple – Varieties such as “Anna” or “Arkansas Black” are excellent.
Apricot – (Prunus armeniaca)
Mulberry – (Morus alba)
Paw paw – (Asimina tribola) Also known as the Indian banana. This is a delicious and uncommon fruit. Try the “Davis” or “Mango” variety. Two varieties are needed for pollination.
Persimmon – (Diospyros kaki) “Saijo” or “Eureka” are popular varieties. Self-fertile varieties exist.
Pomegranate – (Punica granatm) “Russian 8″ or “Wonderful” are often used in landscapes. Self-fertile.

Vines

Hardy kiwi – (Actinidia arguta) Needs female and male plants to set fruit; tolerates shade.
Maypop (Passion vine) – (Passiflora incarnata or coerulea) Needs female and male plants; loves hot sun.
Muscadine grape – (Vitis rotundifolia)

Herbs

Basil
Cilantro
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Marjoram

Vegetables

Broccoli
Cardoons
Eggplant
Garlic
Onions
Peppers
Tomatoes

By Tom Oder / Source: Lindsey Mann, Sustenance Design

Breaking New Ground

Sally — Sun, 19 May 2013 20:30:48 +0000

Our work this past month has centered on the development of a business plan for RecoveryPark Farms. It is an exciting process, involving many partners, all passionate about our work.

There is, of course, a lot of work still to be done, but with your support, we can break ground this fall.

PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TODAY

RecoveryPark is moving quickly into the implementation phase of our work to create jobs for people with barriers to employment. Our success will be directly tied to our ability to develop philanthropic support.

Have you donated yet? If not, please join us in making a contribution to the RecoveryPark Annual Fund. Your gift will help us change lives.Our success will be directly tied to our ability to develop philanthropic support.

To Donate: http://recoverypark.org/donations/

Click here to be introduced to RecoveryPark

Source: RecoveryPark

Panelists Peddle Properties to Audience at Crew Luncheaon

Sally — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:21:24 +0000

Over 50 supporters of the local Commercial Real Estate for Women (CREW) organization attended an interesting lunch and panel session entitled: “Where’s the Property” at St. Johns in Plymouth on Tuesday, May 14th.

The event was part of a continuing series of panel discussions to inform both members and guests on all of the development opportunities both within the City of Detroit and throughout the metropolitan Detroit area.

Jumana Judeh, President of the local CREW chapter as well as a sponsor of the organization, provided insight about the good work of the local organization and a list of the exciting programs and events scheduled throughout the balance of the year. Following was a spirited panel discussion moderated by Lisa Berden of the Miller Canfield Law Firm. Panelists included: Marja Winters from the City of Detroit Planning & Development Department, Jill Bryant from the City of Detroit General Services Department, Aundra Williams of the Detroit Land Bank Authority, Tammy Dean, responsible for real estate for the Detroit Public Schools, Mike Moran, in charge of disposing of excess properties for the Archdiocese of Detroit and Kimberly Williams Anderson from the Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority.

All of the panel members were provided an opportunity to introduce their agencies, describe the types of properties available for sale, briefly describe the process of how such excess properties are being offered to the open market and the means and manner in which such properties are to be purchased. Due to the current economic situation in the City of Detroit, along with the population loss, each agency and the Archdiocese have a tremendous amount of real estate available for purchase, adaptive reuse and neighborhood rebuilding for those interested in such endeavors.

As had been mentioned by several panelists, there is a master plan to rebuild Detroit provided by the Detroit Works Project which most community stakeholders support. While the Detroit Works Project has not been voted on by any city legislative bodies or the public, it appears to have a general consensus and for now is the blueprint the city will use in making its decisions regarding development in the city. All of the panelists acknowledged their willingness to work with builders, developers and investors in turning these vacant buildings and parcels into productive anchors in the neighborhoods in which the properties are located.

Overall, the audience learned about site specific details and an overview on purchasing real estate from the city, state and Archdiocese while learning more about navigating the Detroit development process. As attendees found out, there are innumerable development opportunities from the areas largest property owners and learning more about the process to acquire land use permits, approvals and the properties themselves will only facilitate and expedite the revitalization of the city and regions’ aging building stock.

ROBERT E. MATTLER, Associate Broker, Attorney and LEED AP BD+C, is Director of GREEN Brokerage at Armada Real Estate Services in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Bob speaks, writes and advocates about emerging sustainable real estate issues in Michigan and elsewhere. Bob is a Senior Correspondent for www.greeningdetroit.com . For more information, contact Bob at Armada Real Estate (248) 855-1221; or by e-mail: bmattler@armadarealestate.com

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Author: Robert E. Mattler, Green Agent Man, Representing GreeningDetroit.com

Public invited to CREW Detroit’s ‘Where’s the Property?’

Sally — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:10:08 +0000

CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Detroit is inviting the public to its May program, “Where’s the Property?,” at St. John’s in Plymouth May 14. The program is the second of a two-part series on finding and acquiring real estate opportunities in southeast Michigan.

CREW’s April program, “Where’s the Money?,” was the first part in the series. It focused on traditional lending, alternative lending sources and private equity. This month’s program will focus on where development opportunities exist and how to go about acquiring property from the region’s largest property owners, particularly in the City of Detroit.

Investors, developers and builders can expect to learn site-specific details on available real estate opportunities, as well as gain an overview on how to purchase real estate from major land owners. The program will also provide insight on the City of Detroit’s development review processes.

“Where’s the Property?” will show investors and potential investors how to acquire land-use permits and approvals for properties owned by Detroit Public Schools, the State of Michigan, The Detroit Land Bank, Archdiocese of Detroit and the City of Detroit. The city’s new School Building Adaptive Re-use Zoning Ordinance Amendment will also be discussed.

A panel of six speakers will be on hand to provide practical information, technical details and inspiration to developers. The panel includes Tammy Deane of Detroit Public Schools, Kimberly Williams Anderson from the State of Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority, Marja Winters from the City of Detroit’s Planning and Development Department, Jill Bryant from the City of Detroit’s General Services Department, Aundra Wallace of Detroit Land Bank Authority, and Mike Moran from the Archdiocese of Detroit. Lisa Berden of Miller Canfield will moderate the event.

The May 14 program starts at with networking at 11:30 a.m. Lunch will be served at noon. The panel discussion will run from 12-2 p.m. The cost to attend is $55 for CREW Detroit members and $75 for nonmembers. St. John’s is located at 44045 Five Mile Road in Plymouth, Mich., 48170.

About CREW Detroit:

Since 1986, CREW Detroit (www.crewdetroit.org) has been advancing the success of women in the commercial real estate industry through networking and member-to-member-driven business opportunities. It is a founding chapter of CREW Network, a professional organization made up of more than 8,000 women and men from across the United States and Canada. The network serves as a key resource to CREW chapter members and the commercial real estate industry as a whole. Members hail from all disciplines of commercial real estate and represent every type of expert necessary to complete a commercial real estate transaction.

Learn more at www.crewnetwork.org.

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Source: Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision