Welcome to Inside Urban Green!

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You have found the home of InsideUrbanGreen.org, successor to InsidePlantsLive.org and Greenscaper.net started in 2004.

There is a wealth of information about the maintenance and growing of indoor plants (aka houseplants) in the archives of IPL.org. It is equivalent to what you would expect to find in a book on the subject. Moving forward, I will gradually transfer the most valuable information to this new blog.

The use of modern, scientific methods of container plant maintenance will continue to be the main theme. However, the content is broadened to include personal, or family food production. This is often called “urban agriculture”.

I believe the ultimate locovore grows at home, be it a rooftop, balcony or paved surface. You will find here that turned earth is not necessary.

Read on and return. This blog now includes current information about vegetable growing as well as the maintenance of decorative foliage and flowering indoor plants (commonly referred to as “houseplants”).

The Center for Urban Greenscaping 

The center was founded in 2009 to meet an unfilled need. There is no institution that I know of here in New York City teaching box, bed and bucket container gardening using modern methods of sub-irrigation and hydroculture.

Both manual overhead watering and drip irrigation are less effective for watering plants growing in containers. When sub-irrigated planters are used properly, they produce healthier plants and more vegetables using less water and personal time.

Box, bed and bucket planters are flexible and portable. If you rent, they move with you. If your community garden needs to relocate, rent a moving truck and away you go to the new location.

This is a functional map of the Center for Urban Greenscaping (CuGreen). Primary objectives of the center are green job creation and improving education about urban food production using modern sub-irrigation methods.

Some Past Green Events in Brooklyn 

Come and see a demonstration of how to make sub-irrigation (aka self-watering) planters from recycled 2 & 3 liter pop/soda bottles. There will also be a demonstration of box and bucket planters that save water while producing in the range of 50% more vegetables with no need for tilling the earth. Using these planters you can grow fresh vegetables anywhere there is enough sunlight on a balcony, rooftop, driveway or other paved surface.  

Thursday, April 30, 2009 - 5:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. ECO FEST - PS 102, 211 72nd Street, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY - Auditorium and Gym

Saturday, May 2, 2009 - 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Brooklyn Food Conference, John Jay High School, 237 7th Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY

Saturday, May 9, 2009 - 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Environmental Awareness Fair, New Utrecht Reformed Church, 1828 83^rd Street Brooklyn, NY More information (.doc)

Sunday, June 14, 2009 - Second Annual Greening the Ridge Festival, Veteran's Memorial Pier at 69th Street in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY 

The Rooftop Garden Project

Watch The Rooftop Garden Project video and you'll understand why I have such admiration for these young people. It is a world class project, one worthy for us to emulate here in the U.S.

Your comments are valuable

Your comments, feedback and constructive suggestions are more than welcome. Peer review and challenging questions are the essence of scientific investigation which is a primary goal of this blog.  

The subject of urban agriculture deserves more discussion among people who are not necessarily members of the ultraconservative gardening community. There is no farmer ethic or green thumb required here. This is about good science and good social action at a time when both are much needed.

If you are more comfortable with email you can reach me at UrbanGreenscaper [AT] gmail.com

Comments

[Lisa]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for making this site. I am very interested in learning more and look forward to your additional posts. Indoor urban agriculture is a fantastic idea!

Lisa

[Joseph]

To Bob - best of luck with your new site. Let's hope the message gets across to more people now...

To all others - reading Bob's Inside Plants Live site changed my outlook to growing and have had great results using less water and effort. His advice and information is worth noting and implementing...

[Bob aka Greenscaper]

Thanks! Your supportive comments are appreciated more than you could possibly know. I look forward to the day when this blog is a team effort. The topic deserves it.

[Bruce F]

Hi Bob,

I'm taking your advice about blogging.

We, ok I, decided to start one up and would like to get your feedback.

http://www.greenroofgrowers.blogspot.com

Hope things are going well,

Bruce

[Greenscaper Bob]

Great news Bruce!

Your knowledge will be a valuable addition to the ever increasing database of information on the subject of rooftop gardening and urban agriculture.

I wish you much good luck with your new blog.

[Petra]

I'd love to make your self-irrigation pots from pop bottles, but I'm (embarrassingly) confused as to how you water them. Are you removing the plant each time and filling the basin? Doesn't that (not to be too punny) jar the plant, especially the bonsai? Thanks so much for all the lovely pictures and advice!

[Greenscaper Bob]

Hi Petra,

Good question! I lift the planter and add a measured amount of water to the reservoir.

Some people make a hole in the side of the reservoir (bottom section) so that they can add water without having to lift the planter section.

I hope this answers your question?

[Matt]

Hey Bob,
I tried emailing this to you but your mailbox on insideplanslive.org is full and I don't know your insideurbangreen.net address.
Anyway I just found your blog(s) yesterday and I think they are awesome! TONS
of great information. I am so happy I found it, I have been struggling
to start some sub-irrigation (self-watering) containers. I am the type
of person who really doesn't feel confidant about an endeavor until I
have a better understanding of what is happening in the entire system.
Growing plants has been an invisible system to me up until now. Thank
you for providing such a great resource!

As I have just started reading your blog I am not sure if you have seen this:
http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/07/05/keyhole-gardens/

Looks to be pretty interesting, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it
(as would others I'm sure).

Cheers,
Matt

[Ernie (Ernestine) Herman]

I very much like your ideals. The soda container may just help me with seedlings. I get them started only to have them fail before I can get them in the ground. Thanks. I also put a link on my site to yours to show other people what a great ideal this is. Please visit and let me know if this is ok with you.
http://mynestlife.blogspot.com/2008/09/recycling-plastic.html

[Greenscaper Bob]

Ernie...thanks for the feedback. The world can use all the help it can get spreading the word about repurposed pop/soda bottle planters and propagators. I'm definitely going to do some vegetable seed starting early next spring in pop bottle propagators. I've learned how good they are for rooting cuttings. Now I'll learn about seed sprouting. It will be fun!

[Pallavi]

Hi Bob,
I got to your blog thru typepad. I have recently started an online store at www.greensomethings.com which sends indoor plants as gifts to people in India. I definitely see myself using/reading your blog regularly to gain more insights on container gardening. Do visit my blog www.greensomethings.typepad.com to let me know what you think about my store/blog!
And all the best with your blog...:)

[MostEmailedNews.com]

It's pretty amazing that the idea of rooftop gardens is just taking off.. Can you imagine the difference in the heat island effects in cities like new york if most buildings had oxygen producing gardens on their roofs instead of head radiating silver coated tar paper?

- t

http://MostEmailedNews.com

[Megan]

I've been using your soda bottle planters to grow herbs on my windowsill this winter, so thank you for that idea. I noticed these planters on a recent trip to Ikea and thought you might be interested.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20039394

[Greenscaper]

Thanks for the IKEA self-watering planter link. I"ll post about it.

[hkki]

nice website. Here is somr information about roof gardens
http://www.geosyntheticsworld.com/search/label/Roof%20garden

[David]

Hi. I'm very interested in your idea to add sub-irrigation to the square foot garden. I'd like to do this as well. Have you made progress or have plans on how this can be accomplished?

David

[Toni]

Hi Bob I love your blog!
FYI:
www.greenerairsolutions.com

[Derek Sacerdote]

Hi. My name is Derek and I just stumbled onto your site. It so happens I am running for City Council in Brooklyn and the sort of independence building teaching you represent is EXACTLY what I would like to promote. I would like to connect with the mind(s) behind this site to share ideas. PLEASE contact me if you are interested.

[Audrey]

Hey,
I JUST stumbled upon this website, and find it quite fascinating.

This is something I found just recently, (www.woollypockets.com) and wondered what you thought about it.

Also, I just moved to an apartment that was built in the 30's and most likely has lead paint (underneath years and years of other paints) I was wondering if lead would affect plants, and if significantly so, are there plants that would be okay. I know it's very scientific, but maybe there's something you've heard elsewhere about it?

Thanks a bunch and I look forward to your response!

[A reader]

I believe the reason so many mainstream media outlets do not cover sub-irrigation is due to their advertisers. Take the EarthBox, it requires no expensive tools, chemicals, books or classes. These are the long commited sources of advertising revenue for Sunset magazine, Organic Gardening, and others. Television is no different, nor are many websites or blogs who are also beholden to money.

[Raffi]

http://www.gardenology.org - a gardening wiki and plant encyclopedia (a la Wikipedia) could use a couple of people coming in and adding some good content on urban gardening. It would be a great resource for everyone visiting the site...

[Felicity Waters]

hey thanks for referencing Garden Beet!!! very kind of you