NYT on Rooftop Farming

The amount of people that forwarded me this article in the NY Times today made me think that I may have finally crossed the line into Veg.itectural obsession. 'Urban Farming, a Bit Closer to the Sun' is a great overview of some great examples of rooftop gardening in the New York area.




:: image via NY Times

From the article: "Aeries are cropping up on America’s skylines, filled with the promise of juicy tomatoes, tiny Alpine strawberries and the heady perfume of basil and lavender. High above the noise and grime of urban streets, gardeners are raising fruits and vegetables. Some are simply finding the joys of backyard gardens several stories up, others are doing it for the environment and some because they know local food sells well."




:: image via NY Times

Read the entire article here... good stuff. A parting quote: "Another benefit gardeners get from planting well above the ground is that they face fewer pests. But roof gardeners also have to think about winds that can knock over tender vines. And while concentrated heat on top of city buildings can help tomatoes ripen, it also means more frequent watering, even if irrigation requires lugging watering cans up stairs.Though rooftop gardens go back at least to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the modern green roof movement has made its way here from Europe, where for years government policies have encouraged or required green roofs."