Galactic gardening in NYC

No need to consider soil fertility with these hydroponic greenhouse pods. Very interesting... but they presumably offer no water retention or insulation...

Rooftop soil fertility

A very interesting article on fertility problems associated with Uncommon Ground's intensive greenroof/garden roof soil.

Inspiration on a rainy city day

Some green roof eye candy, from NYC...

Chicago's Comer Youth Center green roof wins ASLA award

I've got this fantasy about starting a network of agriculture-supporting green roofs, akin to the one at Rooftop Farms in Brooklyn. Seems as though I'm onto something. Much more here.

In Brooklyn, Lettuce, Not Steel, Scrapes the Sky

Today the Atlantic published an inspiring piece by Annie Novak of Rooftop Farms. Check it out: In Brooklyn, Lettuce, Not Steel, Scrapes the Sky.

(K)Notweed Acres

When I first moved into my apartment in Brooklyn 3 years ago, I was excited at the prospect of having a vegetable garden in the backyard. Unfortunately, the space was incredibly overgrown with weeds and strewn with trash, to boot. The first order of business, then, was to prep the landscape for some raised beds. Turned out that this task was easier said than done; I didn't know it then, but the predominant weed was Japanese knotweed and it would not die without a serious fight.

My experience with knotweed is that it's nearly invincible. I've tried to pull the plants. I've tried to dig and pull the roots. I've tried to quarantine the raised beds with weed-block fabric. I've tried herbicide. So far, nothing has worked over the long term. In the end, I've found that the best way to combat this terror is to be out in the garden pulling weeds at least twice a week. The pieces that I pull go directly into the trash; any stray leftovers can and will sprout on their own.

Anyway, given the headache I've endured for some homegrown produce, you can imagine my desire to experiment with these little saviors...

Building a cold frame

Perhaps not strictly water-related, but very well done and awesome for us gardeners mourning summer. I'm embarking on my cold frame adventure tomorrow.


How to Build a Cold Frame - Funny video clips are a click away

It's blocking my sunlight!

An interesting bit about rooftop agriculture (and highlighting Rooftop Farms) in the Detroit News.

Rooftop Farms

So, I finally made it to Rooftop Farms in Greenpoint yesterday to scope out what they're up to and how they've managed to grow vegetables and fruits atop the City That Never Sleeps. I must say, it's a great space albeit smaller than I had envisioned.

They had what looked to be a decent year despite the bad weather. Lots of healthy looking tomatoes, chard, kale, cilantro, lettuce, winter squash, beans, eggplants, peppers, etc.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get details on the technical considerations, since apparently Goode Green did the design and installation of the greenroof without involving the farmers themselves.

Nevertheless, I got some cool shots on my phone and will return (next week, assuming I get all my fall seeds planted on Friday or Saturday) to help and -- hopefully -- learn something about composting sans worms.

An unassuming building topped by a very cool roof.

Future Green Brownstone

I was poking around the net yesterday, searching for info. on greenroofs in NYC and Brooklyn and happened upon a series of posts on Brownstoner that I found totally fascinating. They're by a landscape architect/greenroofer named David Seiter who's got a firm in Brooklyn called Future Green Studio.

Apparently, Mr. Seiter was tapped to work on a greenroof for his co-op building in Park Slope, Brooklyn and decided to offer a glimpse into the development of the roof to the general public on Brownstoner. Check the site for some images of the Park Slope roof and some pretty neat images of other ideas/projects.

Rooftop crop

Thought I'd briefly highlight an inspiring article about rooftop gardening in Milwaukee, with a pretty ingenious irrigation system.

Greening the world's business leaders

Forbes.com -- "Home Page for the World's Business Leaders" -- published several very interesting opinion pieces in its "State of the City" feature yesterday.  One of the more interesting pieces extols the virtues of urban gardening and green roofs in NYC.  Another, by James Corner, director of Field Operations, discusses the many benefits of urban parks.  Check the rest of them out here.

Somewhat shocking but very cool to see these stories on the Forbes site.  I'm so excited that this urban environmental movement is getting so much press, especially in historically business-centric publications.