Roof-top Kitchen Gardners

Comment

Comment by Dr. D K Sadana on January 19, 2010 at 11:36am

Thanks Kathryn,
The site shows the use of simple boxes and free spaces for gardening. A very good example.

Comment by Kathryn on January 14, 2010 at 1:56am

http://www.technologyforthepoor.com/UrbanAgriculture/Garden.htm I think you will be interested in this site Dr Sadana

Comment by Dr. D K Sadana on December 28, 2009 at 11:43am

Several questions on Roof Top Gardening answered By: Pavithra Rao in

http://living.oneindia.in/home-n-garden/roof-garden.html

---------------------------------------
Do you live in a city? If you answer in affirmative to this question then you have all the reasons to go rooftop gardening.

Rooftop gardening is quite challenging, but the idea is not new. The hanging gardens of Babylon, for example, were terraced gardens arranged in set pyramids over elaborate rooms. Europeans too have been enjoying rooftop gardens for centuries now.

So, why should we opt for rooftop gardening?

There are many good reasons for rooftop gardening. The first and foremost reason is that rooftop gardening increases access to private outdoor green space, be it at home or at work, within the urban environment. Secondly, rooftop gardens act as ecological oasis in the cities and help in improving the air quality by reducing air pollution and dust. Thirdly, rooftop gardens insulate buildings against extreme heat and cold.

These are not all. The roof gardens can play a major role in supporting urban food production. They also help in saving rainwater as the rainwater would otherwise rundown to mix with the sewage. Lastly, roof gardens act as natural habitat for birds and insects and provide them shelter.

Now that you know the benefits of rooftop gardening, you would also like to know how to have one.

Before you begin, there are certain things to be looked into.
• Make sure the roof on which the gardening is to be done is strong enough to carry the weight of the garden.
• The roof or the terrace should be sloped and have an effective drainage system.
• Also make sure that there is no leakage of water in your roof garden.
Structuring your roof garden

Plan: Unlike any type of garden, roof garden also needs a detailed plan. Roof gardens look good if they are proportionate with lawns, shrubs, ground covers and small trees. If you wish, you can also incorporate the concept of water garden or rock garden or create a shady structure on your roof garden.

Plants: Once you have outlined a detailed plan for your roof garden, the next step is the choosing of plants. Fiber-rooted plants are preferred for roof gardening than plants with tap root system. Tap-rooted plants may grow through the building, thereby causing harm to it. Also note that the plants on the roof are exposed to severe heat or direct sunlight and also strong winds. Hence select plants that can withstand wind and also retain water.

Comment by strawberrygoat on December 22, 2009 at 6:30pm

my reasoning will be, that if I can't have a second story built to my house, then I can at least have a story of garden added up there.
with rails, along the edge, watering system put in and good drainage, to be redirected back to the garden beds, from rain barrels hooked to the downspouts.
I can't figure a reason why not do this...and the view would be so fun, as a perk.

Comment by Dr. D K Sadana on December 10, 2009 at 9:48am

For answers to the following questions, please visit the site - http://www.cityfarmer.org/rooftop59.html
------
Qs.
1. What kind of Roof would be suitable for a Rooftop Garden?
2. Does the Roof Garden increase the Risk of Water Leakage or Damage to the Roof?
3. How can rainwater falling on a site be used most effectively?
4. What issues have to be addressed in the design and construction of the rooftop garden?
5. What are the Structural Considerations of Rooftop Gardens?
----------

Here are the points in brief:
-*-*-*-*-*-
The world is now paying attention to Roof-top kitchen gardening. Make a small beginning on the kind of roof you have. Concrete roofs can bear more weight. Make a steady growth in all cases.
Do not let water sit on the roof for long periods of time. A layer of filter cloth or old cotton cloth would keep the soil from draining out
Always find the leaks – there will be small leaks - compartmentalized planting beds could solve this problem.
Heavy rainfall water can take the soil along; extra care needed in heavy rainfall areas. Under normal situations, direct the flow of runoff to planted areas and retention areas so that as much water as possible can be retained on the site. Runoff could be directed to a subsurface reservoir to provide water to plants on an "as-needed" basis.
Rooftops are often made to bear another roof on top of it – if so weight of the Roff-top kitchen garden covering maximum 60% area is not a problem. This for flat roof-tops; slopy roof-tops have to be considered differently.
-*-*-*-*-*-

Comment by Dr. D K Sadana on December 2, 2009 at 8:16am

Thanks Kathryn for the valuable link - Mr. Tomelden made right points on 'Why Roof-top Kitchen Gardening'

Comment by Glenn Fletcher on December 2, 2009 at 7:51am

I think one major thing to consider when gardening on your flat roof top or balcony, is the weight of the pots/compost and the strength of the structure you are placing them on.

Comment by Kathryn on December 2, 2009 at 2:09am

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/17/dining/17roof.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37684278@N08/3472385599/

Comment by Kathryn on December 2, 2009 at 2:02am

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/4991833/mature-homemade

look.at.this.site.it.tells.you.how.to.make.containers.suitable.for.use.on.your.roof.

Comment by Kathryn on December 2, 2009 at 1:57am

I.have.started.mine.with.a.few.pots.of.chrysanthemns.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page