more bees please

Standing on the roof of SHARE Food Program in north Philadelphia, the audible hum of bee wing vibration is hypnotizing.  Workers dart out of their hives to forage for pollen and nectar, others sluggishly return with…

financing the farm

Loquacious urban agriculture enthusiasts, like myself, revel in spreading the rooftop agriculture gospel.  I’ll happily talk your ear off about the countless benefits of rooftop farming, explain the technical intricacies of skyline farm design, and debate the…

ruminating on rain barrels

Winter is the perfect time for gardeners and farmers to rest, plan for spring planting, and investigate big questions that sprouted during the past growing season.  My big question this winter: Is it safe to water edibles…

putting your money where the mouths are

“Imagine cities that feed their own inhabitants.  Imagine communities that are connected by farms.  Imagine knowing your farmer and knowing your food.”  This is the vision of Mohamed Hage, founder and CEO of the Montreal-based rooftop farming…

no water? no problem.

All this talk about high-tech rooftop farming makes my hungry for a good old fashioned DIY project.  Presenting: the self watering planter. As you may recall from an earlier post, “the naked truth,” my Philadelphia row home roof…

seedling envy

Behind on starting your seedlings this year?  Don’t fret!  Thanks to this winter’s polar vortex you’re not alone; we’re all a bit behind.  With frosty nights and spring (hopefully) around the corner, it’s time to hit the seed…

winterize that garden

The blustery weather and wintry mix blanketing much of the country lead many to believe that winter is upon us, albeit a week early.  It may be cold up on your roof, but you best climb…