Roof Top Gardens flourish from Hong Kong to Philly

Green roofs are springing up from Hong Kong to Philadelphia as more and more cities and communities realize the benefits green roofs provide for people and the environment.

From growing edibles to planting colorful perennials and natives that attract beneficial wildlife, green roofs provide a relaxing escape from the noise and pollution of city life. As an added benefit, roof top gardens reduce rainwater runoff that contributes to flooding and pollution, and help cool buildings by absorbing heat.

With so much to offer, even big corporations like Philadelphia based PECO Energy have jumped on the green roof bandwagon.

They partnered with  PHS (Pennsylvania Horticulture Society), known for the prestigious Philadelphia International Flower Show, to design and maintain PECO's 45,000 square foot green roof  perched eight stories high above the crowded streets.

PHS provides plans, plants and maintenance, and conducts walking tours where visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the city along with areas that feature large planters filled with a variety of native grasses and perennials.

This fits nicely with PHS's green initiatives to educate and grow stronger communities by supporting urban farming and community gardens, restoring vacant land, planting trees and more.

Around the world, rooftop farms are springing up on top of skyscrapers like in Hong Kong, where urban dwellers of the modern asphalt jungle grow fresh fruit, veggies and herbs for better health and wellness and the incomparable fresh taste of homegrown food.

From walking tours to a peaceful escape from a harried day, nothing beats the simple pleasure of enjoying Mother Nature where green meets blue.

Let us know if your city is planning to add rooftop gardens and if not, why not? Cost to build and maintain? Or not enough interest?

Lynne
Garden Media Group
photos credits: NYC Rockefeller Center rooftop gardens by David Shankbone, Wikipedia Commons

GMG's Friday Find! - It's a POP-UP Garden!

Last week's Friday find was all about planning your garden and this week's find is how to set one up...Quickly! Practically right out of the package...just add soil (and your favorite veggie seeds!)

The Little Acre® Raised Bed Garden Bag makes it quick, easy and affordable to grow an organic garden of veggies, herbs, berries and flowers just about anywhere!

NO Tilling - No Digging - NO Soil Amending - NO Tools

Simply  1. Open it up

 2. Fill it with soil

3. Plant & Watch it Grow

Description from their website...
•Can be set-up just about anywhere - apartments, condos, small back yards, patios, roof tops, urban/suburban settings.
•Can be used again next year! Leave out or fold up and put in the garage.
•Sturdy construction and completely self-supporting once filled with soil - holds a rectangular shape well.
•Cute design, light color reflects sunlight delicate plants will not over-heat.
•Sizes: 3’ X 4’ X 12” ("Original") and NEW for 2012: 2' X 3' X 8" (The Little Acre "Junior")!
•All this for a Suggested Retail of just $49.95 for The Original and $39.95 for The Junior!

So now the excuse "I hate digging and tilling" is no longer allowed! Got any other excuses? Let me know what they are and I will try to find a product to help you over those hurdles!

Now GO GET GROWING!!!!

-Karen
GMG

Garden #2: What should I plant?

My Husband and I are trying to decide what we are going to plant in our veggie garden this year and if we should attempt an even bigger garden this year! We have ideas of grandeur for our second attempt. Last year's plot was 2- 6x8 areas...we are thinking this year's will be 22x15!

I am not saying last year was a failure! NOT AT ALL! We are still enjoying the fruits of our labor with amazing homemade pasta sauce. (See last picture.)

But the entire process was a lot of work...fun work. We were going through the pictures from last summer and came across this little timeline in film of our very first veggie garden. WOW...what a transformation...from the row of bushes that were occupying the space which we (by 'we' I mean Mark & Dad) removed to make room for our spur of the moment idea!

So I thought I would share a few shots from beginning to end...from just plain dirt to amazing sauce!

 Big JUMP in the timeline here...

 FYI...These are all tomatoes.

 The green fence stakes are 3 feet tall. Needless to say we had VERY tall tomato plants!

What I would like to know is what are your favorite tomatoes to grow? I think we will grow from seed again this year...so I need to get those seeds bought!

Please help a novice gardener out and give me some suggestions of some of your favorite veggies (not only tomatoes) that you have had success growing and enjoying!

-Karen

GMG

The Year of the Experimental Gardens "TAKE 3"

Well, here's part 3 of my “Year in the Experimental Gardens”. In the two previous posts I shared my gardening experience with my containers and raised garden. Today, I will share with you my experience with Topsy Turvy® planters and my attempt at pond hydroponics.

The six Topsy Turvy® planters I planted are hanging on my children’s wooden play set that they don’t use anymore and unfortunately the plants are not faring so well. One pepper plant has died, two are hanging on with no fruit, two are so-so and one tomato plant looks lush with leaves, but still no fruit. They were planted in the same mix as the raised garden – ½ top soil and ½ Organic Mechanics Planting Mix, and I added some Dynamite plant food. Surprisingly the TT’s plants that are doing the best are the ones getting the least amount of sun.

The most fun garden experiment for me this year was my pond hydroponics. Why not? The fish love to eat the roots and plants don’t need soil to grow, just sunlight and water so it was a win win situation.

I planted one green bell pepper and one beef steak tomato plant. So far, they are doing “ok”. These are strictly experimental and will not be consumed due to the pond chemicals we’ve used to clarify and make the water healthier for our fish. They say they are 100% natural but I am not 100% sure they are safe for human consumption even if in the fruit of a plant. The tomato plant is much smaller than all the other tomato plants in my menagerie with no fruit on it but it still looks healthy. The pepper plant is much smaller than the other plants however it does have two fruit growing on it.

The plants I am pleased with most in my pond are the pond plants I purchased at Gateway Garden Center in Hockessin, DE last month. They look amazing and my fish are happy with the new additions. The white water lily is beautiful and it seems as though there are new leaves daily which are making a wonderful canopy for the fish. The white bog plant is doing well and the shoots are above the water line so I am excited to watch them spread out. Finally, I have my water hyacinths that are multiplying like crazy and am awaiting their exotic blooms.

Thank you for visiting my gardens! Please let me know what you think or any feedback to help my gardens grow happy and healthy! I’ll keep you posted with any developments.


Tracey - GMG