Growing Food On Green Roofs

Green infrastructure has many purposes.

Growing food on green roofs. 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. Green roofs are not a new concept but of late one that slowly seems to be attracting more and more interest. The food roof farm is an urban farm in downtown st. But there s no requirement that these spaces provide a means to grow food.

By growing food on green roofs there are also extended environmental benefits to consider. Green roofs absorb rainwater grow food. Green roofs absorb rainwater and grow food. For instance allium species can thrive on extensive green roofs especially chives.

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. 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. Green roofs can also help moderate the energy needed to maintain the temperature of a building by keeping the roof.

Louis garden is a space for the community to come together. In fact many plants associated with green roofs in continental europe such as marjoram oregano basil are classic extensive green roofs plants. 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. Rooftop food growing has a growing interest.

Even on extensive green roofs with a depth of 150mm it would be possible to grow native herbs. February 08 2019 10 48 am share on facebook. For example in toronto ontario 50 to 60 per cent of consumed food is imported. However it is possible to grow herbs on extensive green roofs.

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. Growing food locally not only increases food security creates new employment training and creates new green space it reduces food transportation distance. It is a great space for community gardens volunteer education and event opportunities. Cities around the world are making green roofs mandatory in new building construction.