We're Havng A SIP Seminar And You're Invited!

Recycled Soda bottle SIPs - the start of something big

The Center for Urban Greenscaping (CuGreen) is offering the first in a series of informative sessions about modern sub-irrigated methods of growing plants. It will be held next Thursday, July 29 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Gowanus Studio Space here in Brooklyn.

The seminar is free but registration is required. Enter your email address in the box to the left or follow this link for more information and to register.

The first seminar will be an overview of 21st century urban greenscaping using sub-irrigated systems (SIPs). Greenscaping with SIPs covers growing both decorative and edible plants in the built environment. They may be growing indoors, on rooftops, balconies or paved surfaces. Adequate light and a source of water are the only requirements.

Speaking of rooftops, one of the most progressive rooftop gardens in the New York area is the Slippery Slope Rooftop Micro Farm created by Frieda Lim. She will be a special guest at the seminar and available to answer questions at the end.

The seminar will elaborate on the fact that SIPs describe the irrigation/aeration system rather than the planter. The planter is a housing (a container) for the sub-irrigation system. SIPs are analogous to the plumbing in your kitchen and bath that is hidden from view. The same is true of SIPs.

Any watertight container can be a SIP with the addition of some simple “plumbing”. One of the simplest methods is to use corrugated plastic (HDPE) drain pipe. Even traditional raised beds can be SIPs using this method.

The simplest way to learn how SIPs work is to grow some herbs or houseplants in recycled soda bottle SIPs. They are also an excellent education tool to teach children about plants and how they grow. Everything is visible including the soil and root system.

We will cover soda bottle SIPs and many other forms of SIPs including commercial products and homemade versions in the seminar. All of this is opening an enormous potential for new small businesses and green jobs. We will present an overview of these opportunities.  

Comments

[meemsnyc]

This sounds like a cool seminar. I'll have to see if the hubby wants to go too!

[Greenscaper]

I hope to meet both of you.

[SIPlearner]

wish I could make it but I have to work late; would like to get more info on the corrugated pipe SIP design; hoping u could tape and post to youtube.