Sustainable Futures: Designing Green Communities and Buildings

In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with farmer, rooftop agriculturalist, and integrated ecology advocate Benjamin Fahrer, owner of Top Leaf Farms. Benjamin is a sustainable food and farm management expert, directing his energy on regenerative farming approaches for long term sustainability, health, and food security. His ecological approach to farming and farm management aims to grow food that supports not just the people who eat it, but the land in which it grows, and the people who grow it. He is also an advocate for directly interfacing with the natural world, getting your hands dirty and finding the power in the connection with the planet that sustains us. Join us for a conversation on the importance of food, soils, and a better, more sustainable path towards growing food.

In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with rooftop farmer and sustainable food systems advocate August Stubler, who oversees the operations of the Blackwood Educational Land Institute's Skyfarm at POST Houston. August has a passion for connecting communities with sustainable, local food and uses the farm to further that passion by exploring what is possible on a 1 acre plot of rooftop in downtown Houston, Texas. Through the Skyfarm, they are pushing the boundaries of rooftop food production and exploring how to develop sustainable, resilient food systems for Southeastern Texas. Join us for a conversation on the importance of connecting with food production and bringing farming into the city.

In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with pioneer and self-proclaimed soil nerd Molly Meyer, founder and CEO of Omni Ecosystems out of Chicago. Molly's started Omni Ecosystems with the goal of democratizing nature, a vision of creating sustainable spaces and products that serve everyone and support broader ecosystems. With that goal, Molly and their team at Omni have worked tirelessly to tune the Omni Infinity Media, a lightweight, high porosity growing media that supports both plants and microbial networks to recreate whole ecosystems that are resilient, versatile, and affordable. With an emphasis and passion for soil sciences and dynamics, they are looking at ways not just to mitigate the impacts of the built environment, but to leverage constructed ecosystems to eliminate the impacts of the development industry entirely, allowing urban communities and natural ecosystems to coexist. Join us for a conversation on how Omni is taking a deep dive into the soil to better understand the world beneath our feet.

In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with activist, developer, and President of the Daniels Corporation Mitchell Cohen, as he details his work in the redevelopment of the critically underserved and disadvantaged Toronto community of Regent Park. Mitchell shares his experiences working in community development in Montreal, and how that eventually led him to spearhead the $1.5 billion revitalization project. Through an emphasis on affordability, community preservation, and resilience, his work in Regent Park has transformed the neighborhood from one of neglect and inattention to a thriving and inclusive community with deep connections to history and place for those who live there, fulfilling a 75 year vision for the community. Join us for a conversation on how affordability and preservation can be prioritized while growing our communities for the future of urban growth.You can find Mitchell's book Rhythms of Change - Reflections on the Regent Park Revitalization at all major retailers.

In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with a Dr. Kathleen Wolf, researcher and social scientist specializing in the intersection of nature and human health and wellbeing. Dr. Wolf focused her research on the human dimensions of urban forestry and urban green space, in particular studying nearby nature experiences and human health response. She has numerous publications to her name, aimed at building better knowledge of the social and psychological benefits that city trees and nearby nature provide, and sharing that across non-traditional audiences, including business, public health, medicine, and urban planning. Today, although semi-retired she continues to be active in research and science outreach, looking at ways in which the human experience is enhanced through the natural systems around us. Join us for a conversation on how human health responds to the natural world, and the ways in which we can incorporate those impacts into our design process.

In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with a luminary of sustainable built environment systems, Gail Vittori. Gail is the Co-Director of the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems, and has lead the way in the field of sustainable health care and resilient building. Through her career she has led innovative resilience strategies and explored ways to enhance the built environment for this and future generations, such as the proposal of a conceptual framework for what became the City of Austin's Green Building Program, widely considered the first green building program in the world. She is also the co-author of Sustainable Healthcare Architecture, a seminal work on the design and operations of sustainable healthcare facilities which promote healing and wellbeing through their design and interface with natural systems. Join us for a conversation on the power of the natural world, and the important ability it has to enhance our wellbeing.

In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with green roof pioneer Tom Liptan, one of the key figures in launching the green roof market in North America, to discuss the growths and changes in the green roof industry and where it could go from here. Tom's journey with green roofs began out of his own interest, building a green roof by himself on his garage, and over time grew to influence his work with the city of Portland and his thinking about urban ecosystems and climate resilience. He has been a key figure in the growth and development of the green roof industry and the thinking around North American stormwater management through green infrastructure. Join us for a conversation on the early days of North American green roofs, climate resilience, and reflections on an illustrious career in green infrastructure.

In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with climate science pioneer Dr. Cynthia Rosenzweig to discuss the impacts and opportunities of climate change on our urban environments and how we can create more resilient communities. Dr. Rosenzweig's work has been at the forefront of climate science and resilience planning for decades leading large-scale interdisciplinary research studies on the impacts of climate change in both rural and urban settings. Her research has shaped how we understand the close relationship between food and climate change, most notably predicting the impacts of the interaction between climate and food systems. Join us for a conversation on climate, progress, and how one of our premier climate researchers maintains her positivity for the future.

In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with professor, researcher, and advocate Dr. Sabine O'Hara to discuss urban agriculture, food justice, and the fostering of a better relationship with the products that sustain us. Dr. O'Hara's work has focused on enhancing food equity, promoting health and wellbeing through sustainable food systems, and enhancing urban sustainability with the ability to sustain itself. She has consistently focused on the enhancement of local communities through a diverse array of sustainable food programming and access. Join us for a conversation on food, agriculture, and community resilience with the power of green infrastructure.

In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with architect and visionary Ken Yeang to discuss the the practice of ecological design and how it can and must be used to enhance global resilience and combat climate change.

In this episode, Sustainable Futures sits down with architect and visionary Ken Yeang to discuss the the practice of ecological design and how it can and must be used to enhance global resilience and combat climate change.

Sustainable Futures sits down with designer and consultant Bill Browning to discuss the science and practice of biophilic design and how it can influence and affect our interaction with the world around us.

Sustainable Futures sits down with ecologist, educator, and researcher Dr. Olyssa Starry to discuss how plants use what and what that means for our environment.

Sustainable Futures sits down with artist, designer, and thought leader Herbert Dreiseitl to discuss the critical role of water in natural ecosystems.

Sustainable Futures sits down with Assistant Professor Scott Macivor of the University of Toronto to discuss the critical role of insects in the natural world.

Sustainable Futures sits down with noted ecologist Dusty Gedge, president of the European Federation of Green Roof and Wall Associations.

Sustainable Futures is joined by Nicole Austin, Black Student Engagement Coordinator, and Arlene Throness, Urban Farm Manager, to discuss their work with the urban rooftop farms at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Sustainable Futures is joined by Dr. Mike Dixon, PhD to discuss his futuristic work in developing a biological life support system based on plants for the International Space program.

Sustainable Futures is joined by green roof luminary Ed Snodgrass to discuss his pioneering work in sustainable farming practices, his leadership in the green roof industry, and his contributions to our understanding of native planting practices.

This episode, Sustainable Futures is joined by Ben Flanner to discuss the business of urban agriculture, how the Brooklyn Grange weathered the pandemic, and how a rooftop urban food revolution can help improve our communities and the people who live there.

Sustainable Futures is joined by Howard Neukrug to discuss the management of water in the city of Philadelphia, how it can be addressed through green infrastructure.

Sustainable Futures is joined by Dr. Jennifer Bousselot to explore the burgeoning field of rooftop agrivoltaics to enhance food security, and improve clean energy pathways

Sustainable Futures is joined by Dr. Brad Bass to explore one of the most direct manifestations of climate change, the urban heat island - what it is, how it works, and what can be done about it.

Sustainable Futures: Designing Green Communities and Buildings is a Living Architecture Monitor podcast presented by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities.Learn more at greenroofs.org and livingarchitecturemonitor.comMusic provided by Muzaproduction