Growing Food On Green Roofs

For example in toronto ontario 50 to 60 per cent of consumed food is imported.

Growing food on green roofs.

February 08 2019 10 48 am share on facebook. In fact there are some urban agriculture rooftops where the food is grown on hydroponic systems on the roof to avoid the need for a growing substrate altogether. Even on extensive green roofs with a depth of 150mm it would be possible to grow native herbs. To help with that initiative in the nation s capital a team at the university of the district of columbia has created a rooftop garden on campus with a wide variety of vegetation to help absorb excess rainwater and grow food at the same time.

It is a great space for community gardens volunteer education and event opportunities. However some roofs can take the required substrate depths for growing food. Green roofs are not a new concept but of late one that slowly seems to be attracting more and more interest. Louis located just north of the delmar divide.

Given proper management there is plenty of scope to make better use of rooftops walls and water sensitive urban design assets as sites for growing edible plants. Cities around the world are making green roofs mandatory in new building construction. Green infrastructure has many purposes. The food roof farm is an urban farm in downtown st.

By growing food on green roofs there are also extended environmental benefits to consider. In fact many plants associated with green roofs in continental europe such as marjoram oregano basil are classic extensive green roofs plants. Urban agriculture on roofs and walls can be part of community gardens private residences school farms social enterprises or may have potential to be commercial farms. Growing food locally not only increases food security creates new employment training and creates new green space it reduces food transportation distance.

For instance allium species can thrive on extensive green roofs especially chives. Rooftop food growing has a growing interest. However it is possible to grow herbs on extensive green roofs. Green roofs absorb rainwater grow food.

But there s no requirement that these spaces provide a means to grow food. According to tree hugger the popularity of green roofs is growing by 35 in the united states in the past couple of years. In general rooftop farms or gardens sit within the intensive green roof category. Louis garden is a space for the community to come together.