Bees: Nesting Boxes Pt.2

Here is a short video on making your own nesting box. Quick and easy. Don't let the simplicity keep your creativity at bay. Use this as a starting point for perhaps a more colourful or creative focal point or feature in the garden.

Sudbury's Delki Dozzi Park "Learning Shed" Design Competition

Draftroots has entered a community design competition! Ward 1 in Sudbury has requested submissions for the 2012 "Learning Shed" design competition. The following entry is by Draftroots Design.

Click the following link to view other entries.
http://www.facebook.com/ward1garden

Bees: Nesting Boxes

As we know, plants and insects live harmoniously - but why not lend a hand by adding a new feature to your backyard garden. Nesting boxes help to encourage our bumbling little buddies to hang out and pollinate those local neighbourhood flowers.

"Nestboxes provide artificial nesting space for female solitary, cavity-nesting bees and pest-controlling wasps."

www.tobee.ca

"Artificial nest boxes consist of two main parts, the box and the nest. Natural nests do not have a "box", the box is the surrounding soil, the grass tussock, etc. The material you use is unimportant. Wood is the favourite, but plastic, or metal are also possible. Two plastic flowerpots joined together make an inexpensive nest box, as do large metal cans with some form of lid."

www.bumblebee.org

Furthermore, scientists and enthusiasts continue to study bee populations as their numbers have been declining over the years. One interesting study is being conducted by Scott Maciver in Toronto , ON. His work can be further explored at www.tobee.ca

The Living Wall

The living Wall is a great alternative for large concrete sound barriers. It can be used to naturalize rural and urban environments when a privacy screen is needed. It is 100% biodegradeable and a very green option for privacy and sound buffering. It absorbs CO2 and acts as a filter for air born pollutants.







For more info check out www.livingwall.net

Warming Huts: Winnipeg's Architectural Draw

Winnipeg hosts a design competition for Architects. The goal is to have a series of warming stations along the river, where skaters can stop and take a breather. Participants include Professional Architects as well as students - all competing for a feature spot on the skating trail.

As stated on theforks.com website:
"The first, and possibly the most anticipated hut, comes from world renowned invited architect, Frank Gehry.
“Over the past two years this competition has grown exponentially in terms of international recognition. Case in point, Frank Gehry agreed to participate base on an ask by letter,” says Paul Jordan, Chief Operating Officer, The Forks. “Having Gehry and his team participate is the icing on a very big cake.”
Gehry, the designer behind such iconic projects as the Guggenheim in Bilbao, the Dancing House in Prague, and the Strata Center in Cambridge, will design a hut made from large blocks of ice entitled, FIVE-HOLE. The blocks are slated to be shipped from Montreal especially for Gehry’s project."









Visit http://www.warminghuts.com for more info and photos

Featured Artist: Sean Martindale