Green Roofs Agriculture In Cities

Urban agriculture is a productive form of green infrastructure that supports local economies creates jobs improves access to healthy fresh food and provides ecosystem services.

Green roofs agriculture in cities.

A green roof system is an extension of the existing roof which involves at a minimum high quality water proofing root repellent system drainage system filter cloth a lightweight growing medium and plants. Green roofs used as a means of agriculture also provide aesthetic and physiological benefits for people in urban areas kortright 2011 p. Emma tamlin is the engagement manager at green roofs for healthy cities and co chair of the toronto youth food policy council. Green roofs for healthy cities the industry association for professionals working in the green roof and wall industry is excited to announce the launch of citiesalive virtual from october 21 23 2020.

This innovative policy has resulted in more than 6 million additional square feet of green space across the city. Plants growing on green facades are generally rooted in soil beds at the base of the structure in elevated planters at intermediate levels or on rooftops. Steven spearheaded the first green roof demonstration project on toronto city hall 20 years ago and the mandatory green roof policy in toronto a decade ago. Due to steven s work grhc has helped to win green roof policy victories in san francisco washington dc.

With a passion for re naturing cities and an enthusiasm for food because of its connection to human health and environmental sustainability she hopes to bring more fresh food and nature to cities through urban agriculture and rooftop gardens. Grhc brings together urban and rooftop agriculture experts to share the benefits and challenges of urban agriculture projects at its urban agriculture symposium. Citiesalive virtual 2020 will be showcasing the best in green infrastructure design research and policy all with the underlying focus of how we. Green roofs once converted to produce food bearing vegetation create a social atmosphere mimicking that of a community garden.

In recent years cities across north america have been actively developing more green roofs which essentially means the top of a house or building that features vegetation planted over a. Depending on climate choice of species depth of soil bed orientation nutrition and irrigation regime green facades may take several seasons before achieving maturity.