In Georgetown, the largest freestanding Green Wall in the Seattle area stands as a banner to community health in action, hiding an ugly concrete barrier. The Green Wall is not only a successful, sustainable structured landscape ‘intervention’ in its inherent functionality, but delivers benefits that satisfy the goals articulated in the participatory design process.

A growing number of urban/rural communities are developing this kind of co-operative, food-friendly approach. Instead of building a residential development around a swimming pool, a tennis court or some kind of hard landscaping, more innovative developers are creating “agrihoods” - neighborhoods with a farm as the central focus.

Green roof pioneer Germany has a green roof market that continues to grow. The building greening sector already provides thousands of jobs - and this employment trend is increasing in line with the growth. Supportive policy and new trends featuring integrated water management and solar PV integration continue to drive the industry.

The General Services Administration's Public Buildings Service has over 2.2 million square feet of green roofs on 80 buildings around the country. PBS is currently implementing a comprehensive plan to ensure the long-term maintenance and functionality of green roofs.

An anonymous, informal green roof survey completed by 160 students of P.S. 41 in New York City demonstrates the green roof's valuable emotional, social, and educational benefits, even compared to the lower-level playground.

With 4,500 square meters (over 48,000 square feet) of grass and 50 olive trees planted above commercial space, the urban rehabilitation of this square has completely transformed this important public space, creating an attraction for both tourists and residents.

In March 2010, P.S.41 in NYC, opened the Green Roof Environmental Literacy Laboratory, a 15,000 square foot sedum and native plant green roof The first outdoor learning space of its kind in NYC benefits children with activities from skyline drawings to insect research projects.

A green wall at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Langley, BC captures water that drains off roofs and uses it to grow an array of plants, while supplemental irrigation is powered by solar panels with battery backup.

Even outside of hurricane zones and green roofing - all roofing projects can be affected by wind, and uplift must be accounted for in every roof design. The University of Miami’s new Lakeside Village development features several hurricane-strength green roofs.

This June, Cornelia Hahn Oberlander will celebrate her 100th birthday. This is not surprising if you have come within a meter or so of the orbit of Cornelia Hahn Oberlander - a rare treasure of a person, bursting with an energy that simply radiates the positive spirit of possibility.