Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

West Edmonton Mall Ice Palace Greenhouse

December 11, 2015 by Dustin Bajer Leave a Comment

The West Edmonton Mall Ice Palace Greenhouse. Because Who Among Us Hasn’t Though “Jeez, I Could Really Go For Some Locally Grown Mall Kale Right Now”?

The West Edmonton Mall Ice Palace Greenhouse. One of many assets in a post-apocalyptic Edmonton.

We’ve all been there. Shopping for the holidays. Walking from one end of the Mall to the other. Feet aching and arms filled with…way too much stuff. Who among us hasn’t though “Geez, I could really go for some locally grown mall kale right about now”? Ladies and gentleman, may I present to you the West Edmonton Mall ~~Ice Palace~~ Greenhouse. Marvel at the melons. Tour the turnips. Browse the brussel sprouts.

The Hive Next Door: What To Do When Honeybees Move In

June 25, 2015 by Dustin Bajer 2 Comments

So your neighbours have a honeybees. Now what? Should you be worried? Will you get stung? Can expect more fruit on my trees? FAQs about the hive next door:

Dustin Bajer, Backyard Beehives Edmonton Alberta

Dustin Bajer stands in front of two backyard beehives. Edmonton, Alberta
Photo by Kevin Tuong for Metro Edmonton

Are honeybees legal in the city?

Yes, honeybees are legal in Edmonton, though, they do need to be registered with the City and the Province. Here’s a link to the City of Edmonton’s Urban Beekeeping guidelines. Not from Edmonton? Try googling your city or town. [Read more…]

The Walterdale Bat Bridge

June 21, 2015 by Dustin Bajer 2 Comments

Span The Gap Between Urban and Ecological Design with Bat Bridges

Edmonton Waterdale Bridge, Bat Bridge, Biophilic Design

The Walterdate Bat Bridge is an ecologically inspired structure at the edge of Biophilic design. Part bridge, part mosquito solution, the structure places the built environment within its ecological context.

[Read more…]

Fly the YEGpie Flag!

May 6, 2015 by Dustin Bajer 2 Comments

The Edmonton YEGpie Flag

The Edmonton YEGpie flag features Edmonton’s most hated (but kind of loved) urban bird, the resourceful and hearty magpie. Not unlike the city it calls home, the magpie is an underrated, under-appreciated animal that we complain about but secretly think is kind of cool. With the YEGpie at its centre, horizontal bands of blue and green represent the mighty North Saskatchewan River and Edmonton’s Aspen Parkland forest.

Order A YEGPIE Sticker

Edmonton Flag redesign. YEGpie flag, magpie

The Edmonton YEGpie flag features Edmonton’s most hated (but kind of loved) urban bird. The resourceful and hearty magpie.

Edmonton Flag Design Featuring a Magpie. Two blue bands represent water and sky while the central green band represents Edmonton’s Aspin Parkland forest. The Magpie, like Edmonton itself, is an underrated and often under-appreciated creature. Resourceful, hardy, and prettier than we’re willing to admit.

YEGtrees: Mapping Edmonton’s Favourite Trees

April 30, 2015 by Dustin Bajer 15 Comments

YEGtrees Map: Edmonton’s favourite unique, historic, and delicious plants.

Edmonton historic hearty Capilano Apricot #yegtrees

One of three historic Edmonton apricot trees growing on the West side of 75th Street.

There’s something simultaneously very personal and completely public about having a favorite tree; it’s an interesting intersection between private, urban, and natural history. Trees are rooted in place and to love a tree is, in some small way, to love where you are – to become a part of it.

For anyone who’s walked around Edmonton, you’ll know that the City’s urban forest is pretty impressive. But trees aren’t just beautiful to look at; they cast shade, store carbon, provide habitat for animals, soak up millions of liters of water, and (yes) some even grow food. [Read more…]

Urban Glaciers In A Time Of Climate Change

February 8, 2015 by Dustin Bajer Leave a Comment

Urban Glaciers: In a world where glaciers are disappearing, could Northern Cities build them from scratch?

A slightly tongue-in-cheek, slightly serious look at what to do with all that snow.

Urban Glaciers: In a world where glaciers are disappearing, could Northern Cities build them from scratch? A look at what to do with all of that snow.

If you visit Edmonton, Alberta (Canada) travel the city’s ring-road in search of giant mountains of snow. Often lasting well into Summer, some citizens have taken to betting when on when it’ll melt. What if Northern cities [Read more…]

Edmonton Beekeeping: 6 Things To Get Started

September 12, 2014 by Dustin Bajer 1 Comment

Edmonton Beekeeping Pilot Opens Doors For Urban Beekeepers.

Edmonton Beekeeping. An urban beehive with a green roof

Edmonton Urban Hive

In the Summer of 2014, Edmonton rolled out the details of a new Edmonton Beekeeping pilot. Great news for would-be urban beekeepers! Though, before going into detail, let me preface this list with a quote from the Edmonton Journal and Mayor Don Iveson:

Since many cities already permit urban beekeeping, Mayor Don Iveson characterized the program as a “pilot” for functional reasons only, not just “dipping a toe in the water.” Projects will get the green light this summer, with administrators coming back to council next year with bylaw changes.

[Read more…]

Join The Edmonton Swarm Catchers List

July 16, 2014 by Dustin Bajer 1 Comment

Join The Edmonton Swarm Catching Remind Group

Before we begin – if you’re in the Edmonton area and there IS a swarm of bees outside your window, call (780) two-three five – zero-two-two-three or visit Report A Swarm Or Honeybee Colony.

If you’re in Edmonton and interested in catching swarms, there are a few ways to stay in the loop. I typically receive 30 to 40 local swarm calls per season and can’t catch that many. The first place I’ll post information about local swarm calls in the Hive Mind Group on BeeComm. If nobody in Hive Mind is available to catch them, I’ll send it to my swarm catching list:

Swarm Call Priority:

[Read more…]

CBC Interview: Edmonton Considers Urban Beekeeping

July 4, 2014 by Dustin Bajer Leave a Comment

City of Edmonton Considers Urban Beekeeping. An Interview With CBC Edmonton AM‘s Mark Connolly.

Mark: Ah yes, loves goes in hand in hand with those birds and bees does it? When it comes to backyards, though, not everyone loves the idea of birds or bees. yesterday we talked about the possibility of the city approving urban chickens. Today the city comes out with a report that [Read more…]

Edmonton’s River Valley Food Forest

June 21, 2014 by Dustin Bajer

Edmonton’s Food Forest – An Edible Ecosystem in the River Valley

Each summer since 2014, hundred of volunteers descend into Edmonton’s river valley to add thousands of edible, native trees and shrubs to the City’s first publically planted food forest.

Located on the South facing slope of MacKinnon Ravine, the goal of the food forest is to [Read more…]

West Edmonton Mall Ice Palace Greenhouse

The West Edmonton Mall Ice Palace Greenhouse. Because Who Among Us Hasn’t Though “Jeez, I Could Really Go For Some Locally Grown Mall Kale Right Now”?

The Hive Next Door: What To Do When Honeybees Move In