Carbon Farming:

Carbon farming or carbon sequestration refers to the retention of carbon dioxide in vegetation and soil, resulting in a reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
One of the most successful ways to actively sequestrate CO2 from the atmosphere into the soil is by the use of a Keyline Plow.
The term Keyline comes from the reference to a “keypoint” on the watershed, which is the interface between collection and distribution of water on the landscape, where ridge meets the valley. Keyline is a philosophy and technique that doesn’t pit the needs of farmers against environmentalists trying to protect wildlife and fish habitat, and with carbon sequestering techniques used, helps to address aspects of global warming and climate change.
Water harvesting strategies employed by Keyline Design provide drought-proofing for farms. Keyline principles and techniques are based on a holistic approach that works with natural patterns to restore and increase the depth and fertility of the soil, while increasing its water holding capabilities. The Keyline plow utilizes a special cultivation technique to infiltrate water into the soil efficiently and hold it on the land as long as possible.

Energy Farming:

Another source of income as well as source of environmental leadership will be generated from energy farming. Within the next eighteen months, a new generation of photo voltaic panels, the Extreme Concentrated Photovoltaics or XCPV is scheduled to be available to the consumer market, or at least to larger commercial clients. The scheme below shows a preliminary idea of how a considerable amount of energy can be farmed on this project site without reducing the space available for food farming.

According to this scheme, the PV panels will take advantage of the vertical or slanted faces of the southerly exposed terraces. They will be combined with low growing crops. Taller crops and trees will therefore be located on the terraces not utilized for solar power farming or staggered in a way not to interfere with the sunlight exposure of the solar panels.

The IBU buildings:

The IBU building structures shall be featuring intelligent “green” avant-garde technologies combined with low-tech natural materials, creating a completely sustainable environment. The manufacturers of the technologies may become building sponsor with their elements embedded into the structures in a kind of permanent showroom situation.
It is to be understood though that the IBU buildings will not look like an assembly of green products. Instead, the technologies will be chosen for the buildings that best elevate the architecture in its spatial qualities as well as its performance.

The IBU organic farm will be established and operated as an example of sustainability. This includes: A farming operation with a positive net gain in energy, all derived from renewable sources; The on-site cleaning and recycling of rain water and gray water; The cleaning of air by photosynthesis of plants and carbon binding through carbon farming.

The most advanced methods of organic farming, based on thousands of years of traditional knowledge, sustainability and renewable energy will be practiced, in whatever form the governing body sees fit. This will not be a dogmatic or static definition but one of flux that will constantly be renewed and upgraded as the learning continues.

Initially the IBU farm will be set up based on the philosophy of permaculture. Permaculture is understood as agriculture that can be sustained indefinitely. As such it stresses the value of low inputs and diverse crops. Permaculture principles draw on the practical application of ecological theory by analyzing the characteristics and potential relationships between possible elements of a farm. Each element is carefully studied in terms of its needs, outputs, and properties. For example a chicken needs water, moderated microclimate, food and other chickens, and produces meat, eggs, feathers and manure and can help break the soil. These elements and characteristics are then assembled in relation to one another so that the products of one element feed the needs of adjacent elements. Thus synergy is achieved while minimizing waste and the demand for human labor or energy. It is a sophisticated example of polyculture in which multiple layers of plant life are vertically integrated.

Hundreds of food plants will grow extremely well in our Los Angeles, including many high value crops that ironically often do not reach the multiethnic urban markets or carry a high price tag, often because they are imported long distances and spoil quickly.
The farm shall also include a nursery for the propagation of healthy organic plant stock and seeds.

Habitat Rehabilitation Zones and Wildlife Corridor

Most of the property is composed of non-native annual grasses and invasive weeds such as mustard, fennel and thistle.  This is probably due to the site’s history of land disturbance. Most recently, a large percentage of the site has been subjected to mechanical disking for fire safety.  There is at least one small stand of native black walnut trees. 
The opportunity exists to implement native vegetation restoration within the farm property. The optimum sites for this are along the perimeter of the property at the urban interface and within a few small dry drainages.  The plantings would have to conform to LA County Fire Dept. Fuel Modification Zone specifications.  Low-growing species such as native bunch grasses, wildflowers and small shrubs possess erosion control and habitat benefits for birds and butterflies, and can form a buffer between the croplands and surrounding neighborhood.  Restoration of native plants in the drainages would facilitate infiltration of run-off from site, as well as providing habitat for birds and beneficial insects, which would benefit the crops.