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…

an onion blooms in the desert

Amid conflict and persistent food insecurity Palestinian refugees are cultivating their rooftops to produce fresh vegetables close to home.  Last week the Middle Eastern sustainability news website Green Prophet reported that families in West Bank refugee camps…

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…

community roofs

Glitzy commercial farms tend to dominate the rooftop agriculture media scene.  Magazines, newspapers, the blogosphere (and even I!) can’t resist featuring these highly photogenic rooftops.  These farms rely on the surrounding community for indirect and sometimes…

top 5 rooftops of 2013

Rooftop agriculture reached new heights in 2013 thanks to enthusiasts around the globe like you!  Skyline farms and gardens sprouted up in record numbers, bringing fresh fruits and veggies to tables to urbanites from New York…

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…

the naked truth

All this talk about rooftop gardening makes me want to climb up onto my own roof to get started.  That’s right!  Believe it or not, my roof is naked; bare membrane all the way.  How could…

the inside scoop with Lara Mrosovsky

A 6,500 square foot rooftop garden atop Toronto’s Access Alliance provides the community health center’s visitors with opportunities for community development, environmental education, and social health activities.  Lara Mrosovsky, the organization’s Green Access Community Animator, engages primarily…

getting started

Aspiring rooftop gardeners and farmers often ask me what to look for when selecting a building on which to build their skyline gem.  This is an important question, as you never want to commit yourself to…

Roof-to-Table Photography Exhibition!

The EAT UP | Roof-to-Table Photography Exhibition captures the vibrancy of North America’s burgeoning rooftop agriculture movement.  With fresh roofscape imagery and gritty portraiture, this collection of 30 colorful photographs portrays food’s journey from urban roof to plate….