AGRICULTURE REPORT - Building a Rooftop Vegetable Garden

AGRICULTURE REPORT - Building a Rooftop Vegetable Garden

21 September 2004


Broadcast: September 21, 2004

This is Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

Who says people need land to grow vegetables? All you need is a roof that is strong enough, and flat enough, to support a garden.

We are going to describe one way to build a rooftop garden that does not even require soil. The advice is based on a method developed by the Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization, or Echo, in the early nineteen eighties. Echo is a Christian non-profit group that has a demonstration farm in Florida. The idea was to help people living in cities to grow their own vegetables.

Four things are needed to follow this design for a small rooftop garden. One thing, as we said, is a roof that can support the weight. Another is grass cuttings. The third thing is a sheet of plastic on which to spread the cut grass. And the last thing is a box about eight centimeters deep and made out of four pieces of wood.

Once you are sure the roof is good, cut and collect some grass. Then lay down the plastic where the garden box will go. The four-sided box can be as long and as wide as needed. Place the box on top of the sheet of plastic. Then fill it with the cut grass. Next, add water and walk on the cuttings to press them down.

After about three weeks, the rooftop garden is ready for planting. Put the seeds directly into the wet grass cuttings. This garden is a good place to grow peas, tomatoes, beans, onions and lettuce. If the box is deep enough, potatoes and carrots will also grow.

It is important to keep the grass wet until the plants begin to grow. When the plants are growing, they will need watering every day, unless there is rain. And they will need some liquid fertilizer. If you can get chicken waste, you can make your own liquid fertilizer. Put the chicken manure in a cloth bag. Then, put the bag in a big container of water. After about one week, the water becomes a good liquid fertilizer.

Rooftop gardens need a lot of water. Also, seeds and new plants must be protected from insects and birds.

Rooftop gardens are increasingly popular, and not just to grow vegetables. They keep buildings cooler in the sun, so they save energy. They can also extend the useful life of a roof. Rooftop gardens also reduce the runoff of stormwater and help clean the air. Plus they add beauty, and give birds and insects in the city a nice place to live.
http://www.voanews.com/specialenglis...-09-21-1-1.cfm

[sunshineseastar]

thanks for this post....earlier today i went to a farmer to ask if i could use a small piece of land to make a garden........i was told no because the government stoll it to build houses for rich people.....she live therre her whole life and now she is kicked out....all the farmers in this area said the same ....she toldme that she´d like to see them eat the bricks....ha.......people you better start to figure out where your going to grow your food........for the last few years i´ve been growing sprouts.....and i can survive on them....i would suggest also start to practice now so you understand which seeds need what.....also check out food for free....greens ..mushrooms....seaweed....pinecones.....anything you can scavage from mother earth....learn now so when you need this skill it´s second nature to you......

[Lance]

http://www.gardeningrevolution.com/index.html

If you need a rooftop garden, you are probably already pooched but hey...try away.

[bulbous]

Anybody have experience growing vegetables in a tropical climate?
Anybody want to have a go?
I'm thinking spuds, onions and cabbages alongside indigenous varieties just never done anything like it before
Any help or advice greatly appreciated