Daniel's Home Garden

2009-10-11T16:40:00.000-07:00

Last Friday night in the ACROSS activity, we had an interesting topic: Sustainable Development. At the end, Robert said he felt guilty because he loved taking shower and thus use a lot water. He felt this life style was not sustainable at all. Also, thinking of those poor kids all around the world even cannot access drinking water, he even felt sinful to "waste" so many water.

Since last Friday night, I have been thinking it over Robert's question and “waste culture.” I think now I have new answer, that is, we’d better to distinguish “waste” and “luxury.” “Luxury” is only partly overlapped with “waste,” although some luxury behavior looks or sounds apparently very wasteful and thus very un-sustainable. However, if we completely blurred the boundary between these two, then we have to consume only necessary amount of commodities, or we are “wasting” something.

Just imagine, if you-take-shower-twice-a-day is waste, is living in a big house a waste or not? Is going to museum or concert waste or not? In this sense, having a skyscraper lighting all night is also a luxury, not waste.
As I said that night, water is kinds of special that it is both necessity and luxury, and the threshold is hard to be defined.

In terms of economics, “waste” refers to the cost generating zero benefit while “luxury” refers to “unnecessary” cost. While in developing country or community in poverty, “luxury” is kinds of negative or even “sin,” it is not intrinsic or universal sinful. Therefore, it is easily to understand that many Chinese, including me, feel “Americans are so wasteful” when we just stepped onto American’s land.

We surly need to fight against “waste.” But again, I think we should be far away from being judgmental.

regenerative and industrialized

2009-09-09T20:16:00.000-07:00

In some cases they are compared with each other. However they are not totally opposed to each other. So John Tillman Lyle's article Regenerative Design for Sustainable Development caused some confusion.

My orchid will have another bloom!

2009-09-05T05:22:00.000-07:00

My orchid is going to have another bloom!
I was told that orchid is too delicate to be raised at home. Even it can survive, it will probably never bloom again although you did saw beautiful flowers on buying it.

Now, see, my orchid not only survive but also prepare to bloom!

Pictures and details are on the way.

[quote] Renewable Energy, Meet the New Nimbys

2009-09-05T05:14:00.000-07:00

Technology changes, but human nature doesn't. Environmentally friendly energy projects are running into the same cries of "not in my backyard" that stymied a previous generation of alternative-power efforts.

Proposed renewable-energy projects have been drawing opposition from people who worry about marring landscapes. Above, a solar-power facility in the Mojave Desert.

Even as Americans tell pollsters they are eager for alternatives to fossil fuel, some are fighting proposals for solar and wind projects and for the thousands of miles of transmission lines that would be needed to carry the cleaner energy to market. The protests echo grass-roots opposition that has blocked nuclear plants and energy-producing trash incinerators for decades.
The new backlash is fueled by worries that renewable-energy projects would occupy vast amounts of land to produce significant amounts of power. Either renewable projects would have to be centralized and sprawling, covering many square miles apiece, or they would need to be distributed in pieces across millions of rooftops and lawns.
Renewable-energy projects would reduce pollution and combat climate change. The trade-off is that many more people would have to see wind turbines, solar panels and other energy infrastructure near their homes in order to diminish the need for coal mines and other fossil-fuel facilities.
"Anywhere I walked on this property, we'd be able to view them and we'd be able to hear them," says Tina FitzGerald, who lives with her family on a 12-acre Vermont farm near where a developer has proposed erecting five wind turbines, each about 400 feet tall. "There should be a place for these -- someplace that isn't going to impact families quite so much."
In California, which is considering a goal of producing a third of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020, some residents are fighting proposals to build vast solar-energy plants in the Mojave Desert, one of the most remote and reliably sunny spots in the U.S. Up and down the East Coast, meanwhile, residents are opposing plans for wind farms, fearing they will mar views and lower property values.
Americans aren't alone in their skittishness. In the U.K., which also aims to generate about one-third of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020, local opposition is holding up proposed wind projects. Resistance in Ontario led the Canadian province to pass legislation in May establishing a framework for locating renewable-energy sites; local opponents will be able to challenge projects on environmental or safety grounds, but not for aesthetic reasons.
In a report last year, the Paris-based International Energy Agency cited "not in my backyard" sentiment as among the top five threats to the growth of renewable energy world-wide.
The U.S. has to make a tough choice, says Jason Grumet, president of the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington think tank that supports giving the federal government more authority to push renewable-energy projects forward. That will be necessary, he says, to curb the country's dependence on foreign oil and its greenhouse-gas emissions. "You have to ask yourself: At what point do priority national interests need to override local goals?"
The clash over whether it is more important to produce nonpolluting domestic energy or to protect environmentally valuable places poses a dilemma for some longtime activists.
Calvin French, a 72-year-old retired high school English teacher, has belonged to the Sierra Club all his adult life. Leaders of the environmental group are working with California officials to help pick sites for big renewable-energy transmission lines as a way to combat climate change. But many club members, including Mr. French, want to protect their favorite places.

Antelope-like pronghorn grazed on California's Carrizo Plain. Proposals for three large solar-energy projects there have drawn local opposition.

His battlefield is the Carrizo Plain, a 460-square-mile swath of grassland about 115 miles north of Los Angeles that is traversed by the San Andreas Fault.
The parched, rugged expanse is home to species including the endangered kit fox and the antelope-like pronghorn. It also is one of the most alluring spots for solar panels in the nation's most populous state. There is prolific sunlight. Much of the land has been subdivided into farms, meaning that acreage no longer can be defended as untouched. And there is a high-voltage line nearby, with capacity to carry solar power to the public.
Amid local opposition, county and state officials for months have been mulling three big solar-energy projects that together would amount to some of the biggest solar arrays in the world.
"Big things like global warming" are difficult to understand, says Mr. French. "But you can go out into a beautiful place and say, 'This needs to be protected.' That's easy to understand."
Around the world, countries that have rolled out fossil-fuel alternatives most aggressively have used heavy-handed government action to address such sentiment. France, for example, now produces about 80% of its electricity from nuclear energy. But France's national government manages the country's nuclear-construction program, and it has pushed ahead for decades despite sometimes-heated public protests.
Lawmakers in the U.S. Congress now are fighting over how much power the federal government should have in getting energy projects built. Many renewable-energy proponents say a massive network of new transmission wires would have to be built to bring large supplies of renewable power to population centers. A Senate committee passed a bill in June that would give the federal government authority to decide where to put new power lines if states, which now make those decisions, move too slowly.
The drive for more federal control has the support of many executives in the electric industry, who say the new transmission lines should be available for energy from all sources, including fossil fuel. But there is plenty of opposition to giving Washington that power. Some lawmakers from densely populated states don't want big new transmission lines running through their land. Many state utility regulators also object to an increased federal push.
Caught in the middle are states where renewable energy suddenly is big business. Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal likens his state's wind boom to the coal rush that hit Wyoming three decades ago in the wake of an energy shock.
At a wind-energy conference in Wyoming last month, Gov. Freudenthal, a Democrat, delivered a stern warning to wind-turbine developers, telling them to make sure their projects don't harm a small bird called the sage grouse.
"What I have is an obsession with making sure that the economy of this state continues to function, and it won't if that bird gets listed," according to his office's transcript of his remarks.
Anything that nudges the sage grouse toward the federal government's list of endangered species, he explained, would trigger land-use restrictions that would jeopardize Wyoming's main economic engine: the production of coal, oil and natural gas. "Generally in this state, we support economic development," he told the wind developers. But "when all of a sudden it ends up in our backyard, our view changes a lot."
Jeffrey Ball responds to reader questions at WSJ.com/Currents. Email him at powershift@wsj.com

Advanced LAR Theory class

2009-09-02T17:40:00.000-07:00

Advanced LAR Theory class
Generative Design, Remediation Design and Improvisation.
This semester I am taking a theory class in the Department of Landscape Architecture, which concerns on the “position” of a landscape architect.
I personally want to find some reason behind the forms or beyond the forms.
Each class there are two students leading the discussion concerning the general position, the professor gave us 3 options, the Generative Design, the Remediation and the Improvisation. Yesterday, the topic was the Generative Design.
Generative Designer can be understood more like a gardener than an operator. They do not control every aspect of the plant’s functionality but just nurture and guide, having the designing work grow as themselves in a certain environment, accepting specific local influence. Thus designing can possess their own “lives,” to adapt new functions and social changing around it, and might regenerate in certain conditions.
It’s kinds of interesting but I’m interested in the Remediation Design more.
As everyone knows, the word “Architecture” refers to the combination of art and technology. In my sense, there are few, if any, criteria in the field of art being objective and clear. In some cases, works of art are too hard to be appreciated by the populace, whereas some art reviewer applause greatly to them. However, technology is another thing. Normally we have clear criteria to judge some technical issue, such as efficiency, effective, cost saving etc.
No doubt, the Remediation Design can be related to the technology directly. Its start point is to address some problem(s). It might have some additional art-related requirements, such as to make this location more beautiful or artistry, but its fundamental requirement and evaluation system has been set up clearly, which make me, personally, caught up the feeling of settled and "safety".

[quote] Plans for a Winter Garden

2009-08-30T18:34:00.000-07:00

Plans for a Winter Garden
Linda Knox

What makes a "winter" garden special? Or perhaps the question should be: what makes an ordinary garden a special winter garden? Quite simply, the fact that a garden appears at a time when everything else in the winter landscape is dull, plain and brown is outstanding alone.
Starting from the horizontal aspect, you may decide to build walkways or edges at various sections of the yard. Remember that pieces of walks or paths create interest if set at angles or if irregular stone shapes are used. A curved path approaching an entrance extends its own invitation to the visitor approaching your front door. The path may be stone, brick, concrete, paving blocks or gravel; even a perfectly flat front or side yard benefits by the delineation of planting areas. A small statue tucked into a corner or between beds at the edge of the garden adds interest to the design, and generally, small spaces appear larger if plants around the edges surround a wider lawn.

Paths and raised areas lend a sense of movement. You will not find many moving signs of life unless it is a rabbit scurrying or a squirrel recovering his hidden stash of food that only he remembers. Most welcome to gardeners are the colorful birds (cardinals, jays, finches, woodpeckers) that are easily drawn to feeding stations strategically placed around the yard. An all-winter feeding station supplies another focal point whether at the edge of the landscape or in a protected corner - feathered friends appreciate your kindness at any spot.
In spite of the temptation to choose showy plants such as ornamental cabbage that look great for a short time on display, you should consider that protection is necessary and the onset of severe weather will probably end their usefulness. To avoid this problem, choose plants that will continue through the winter and into coming years. In other words, consider plants recommended for zones 6-7 which safely grow in our locale. Planting of carefully selected trees may be the next step. Remember that the important thing for winter will be the overall shape and size of the tree when mature for the space allowed, whether evergreen or deciduous meaning that the limbs will be bare when leaves have fallen. Just a few small trees and shrubs that provide color for winter interest include the ever-popular holly, red twig dogwood, winterberry and nandina (or false bamboo).
Among the ground covers that spread a green carpet across ordinary dull, winter soil is English ivy. It requires little care and does well in sun or shade. Since ivy will climb, use it away from walls. It can color embankments or sections surrounding lampposts, corners set off by rails or fencing, etc.
Another dependable, multi-seasonal ground cover is, 'Ajuga' or bugleweed. It spreads by stolens that produce dense mats of plants. Being a member of the mint family, it can get out of bound but may easily be lifted in spring or fall to new sites. It fills spaces around shade trees, especially where a lawn refused to start, and flowers throughout the summer growing season. Choices are 'Alba' (white flowers), 'Burgundy Glow' (variegated foliage with blue flowers), and 'Bronze Beauty' (bronze foliage and blue flowers). Periwinkle (vinca minor) stays dark green year-round with delicate leaves on long trailing stems which root at the nodes as it runs across the ground. It likes full or partial shade, which makes a nice under planting for spring bulbs, as it reaches only six inches in height. Periwinkle may be divided at any time - plant rooted cuttings in spring or several weeks before the ground freezes.
Ground covers that prefer sun and are tolerant to dry situations include many varieties of juniper. Plant these evergreens in open areas, on slopes or banks. Choices include 'Bar Harbor' (spreads 6-8 feet and reaches 1 foot in height), 'Plumosa' (spreads to 10 feet, reaches 18 inches to 2 feet in height and changes to a purplish color in winter), 'Blue Chip' (grows 8-10 inches high and keeps its bluish tone) or 'Wiltoni' or 'Blue Rug'(grows only 6 inches high and has silver-blue foliage).
No matter the season, in What Gardens Mean, University of Chicago Press, 1998, Stephanie Ross reminds us "in appreciating a Gothic cathedral or a Palladian villa, we notice its relation to its site, the statements it makes, and the emotions it evokes". All this is true of our approach to gardens as well." Happy planning for next year's winter garden!

继续谈话

2009-08-29T18:01:00.000-07:00

昨天给我们上“环境规划工作室”课的今年刚在我们学校毕业的博士后，Damian P。
他在拿到规划的硕士之后曾经在波特兰的consulting firm里工作过几年，然后回来读博士，现在选择留在学校里当老师。
于是我约他说说他对择业和读博的看法。
首先他认为我的观察是对的，如果我想要作规划而不是customer－based的服务的话，最好就是去私人consulting firm。我问那你为什么离开了呢，难道你不喜欢作规划么？他说他喜欢，但是让他最不喜欢或者说下决心离开的是做规划必须要跟各方面stakeholder谈，比如小区业主，某某董事会，这些人白天各有各的工作，只有晚上才有时间凑到一块儿和你谈。他非常不喜欢这种工作时间以外的工作。另一个他不喜欢的是在那种工作里，他能做的至多是二次研究（secondary research），而他很想做点自己的东西出来。于是他选择回校读博然后留校。
他不认为读博只对教书有用。他说他很多博士的朋友都在practicing profession。有博士的头衔，你都可以自己成立事务所了。我说了那个2％的数据。他说那是根据apa（美国规划师协会）的会员统计的，有相当一批博士或者planner不是apa会员，比如我们系的谁谁和谁。Wow，这可是个很有力的反驳。不过他也承认说，如果你只是想做practicing，在consulting firm里做comprehensive plan，那么硕士也就够了，博士不是那么有必要。
我接着问他对景观规划的看法。他说他以前有一些同事是景观出身的，他们公司里也有专门的景观规划部，他说他很感兴趣景观规划做的东西，只可惜他画画不好，如果他画画好，或许他也跑去做景观规划了。我不置可否，没告诉他说我不认为学景观一定要画画好。：P
至于policy making，他说，这个你不能期望太高，无论在哪儿政策制定和改变都是一个渐进的过程，每个项目能有一点点微小的进步和修改就已经很不错了。Consulting firm的确在做相关的事情，他们的确通过他们的项目在向政府提出建议来影响政策的制定，但是很有可能无法实行，政府并不采纳你的意见。但是并不能因此说consulting firm的工作是没有意义的。
现在形势已经渐渐明朗了。