Having walked and waded through Florida's swamps most of my life, I've had to always watch for alligators, poisonous snakes and biting insect nests. Swamp trekking involves slow tedious movements, especially if the water you are walking through is dark and you cannot see what you are stepping on. Logs, holes and other obstacles often times lie just under the surface making a fast get-away nearly improbable.
Importantly most of the potentially dangerous animals in a swamp are non-aggressive unless bothered. An alligator typically (I say typically because there have been known aggressive and fatal attacks) won't bother you unless it feels threatened. Same way with rattlesnakes and stinging insects.
Now I will say a water moccasin is a mean creature and just as often as not they will chase you. Pushing my way through three meter tall saw palmetto along the edge of a creek one day I had a large water moccasin, Agkistrodon piscivorus, jump out of a saw palmetto, Serenoa repens, and begin striking at my legs. In my attempt to retreat I tripped and fell into the water where the snake continued to pursue after me and left with the choice of dispatch with my machete or have the moccasin bite me between the legs I cut the reptiles head off swiftly. Unfortunately, the snake's aggressiveness is embedded rather strongly within its DNA and the severed head continued to jump and strike for most of a minute, quite frighteningly.
I say all of this to make a point about biodiversity and green roofs.
One of the many things I've learned from the swamps is a subconscious awareness of patterns. When I am in the field where dangerous animals are located I look for patterns. In the plant community there are few large geometric patterns other than the flower. But on the ground plant habitat is always random in visual nature. However, when my eye catches a glimpse of a solid geometric pattern in length, width or height I immediately look to see what type of animal I am approaching.
A Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, for example can kill an adult quite quickly with its potent venom, yet this snake just wants to be left alone. So if I am in a thicket of plants and look ahead to see the distinct pattern as portrayed here in Wikipedia, I change my path so as not to interfere with the creature.
Plant communities will always exhibit more randomness in their visual patterns than animals. This is true even when walking through a seemingly uniform pine flatwoods area covered in meadowbeauty or wire-grass. The habitat may seem uniform yet there is the randomness of spacing between the pines and between the plants.
Recognizing patterns has saved me from stepping on a still lying 'gator' many times.
And the random beauty of plant communities, the lines, curves, colors and hues is nature's way unique way of fingerprinting - everything is unique. There are no exact and identical plant formations in nature.
Complicated uniqueness is the focal point of bio-diversity. Each plant system or wildlife community is diverse in biological constituency, hence the tern 'bio' - 'diversity'.
A nature-focused, native species green roof should be designed accordingly.
The subtle inundation's and changing ground elevation lines should be reflected on the roof. Green roof soil media gradations of 10 mm to 50 mm across a relatively flat stretch of roof are important. Elevation changes in living roof soil media provide much more than visual interest - they serve as wind breaks, assist in the collection, transport and storage of rainwater, dew and fog and provide shelter for visiting wildlife.
Too many times we may simply rake a green roof sol media flat. Allowing slight fluctuations in the soil media mimics nature and ultimately may allow for more chances at green roof community planting successes.
The same holds true for species mixes on green roofs. The general rule for a nature-based biodiverse planting is the 10-20-30 rule. The 10-20-30 rule guides us to plant no more than 10% of the green roof with any one Species, 20% of the roof with one Genera and 30% of the roof with one Family.
Monoculture plantings on green roofs are confusing to wildlife and provide sub-standard communal and foraging habitat.
And while it may be easy to call out in design the one or two proven plants for a green roof project, the long term habitat value will be diminished with a green roof that only contains one type of plant. Remember, even if the design intent is to have a solid, one color and one texture appearance across the roof, this can be accomplished with using a mix of similar appearing species. One does not have to create monocultures on green roofs to achieve design intent!
Learn to recognize patterns!
A good, biodiverse green roof planting design should afford stunning random beauty. The Jackson's chameleon's tail may be coiled in a recognizable pattern and the sharp eye will find the photo opportunity amidst the randomness of the green roof plantings.
Bio-diversity on green roofs, restoring habitat to the Urban Core.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Green Roof Sprouts!
The rabbit hutch green roof expansion was completed only a few days ago.
Constantly using new materials to see how they preform in the field, I am always surprised - usually pleasantly, with the results.
The green roof plant seeds sown on the expansion green roof had already sprouted!
The Green Roof is 50MM thick at its maximum depth.
One of the exciting aspects of this field trial is the use of Bio-Char material in the green roof soil media.
Bio-Char is a highly stable charcoal type compound with properties including high efficiencies at sequestering additional Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorous.
Wikipedia's bio-char description is as follows:
Biochar is a way for carbon to be drawn from the atmosphere and is a solution to reducing the global impact of farming (and in reducing the impact from all agricultural waste). Since biochar can sequester carbon in the soil for hundreds to thousands of years[2], it has received considerable interest as a potential tool to slow global warming. The burning and natural decomposition of trees and agricultural matter contributes a large amount of CO2 released to the atmosphere. Biochar can store this carbon in the ground, potentially making a significant reduction in atmospheric GHG levels; at the same time its presence in the earth can improve water quality, increase soil fertility, raise agricultural productivity and reduce pressure on old-growth forests.
The plants appear to like the bio-char material so far, and we will continue to update their progress.
As a lawyer trained educationally in environmental tort law, I am constantly looking at issues associated with new technologies as relating to green roofs. As a botanist I love to see how plants adapt.
Anyone can find issues with new materials. From a legal perspective there is nothing easier than bringing an action against someone for negligence or products liability when the product is not appropriately tested. Therein lies a great fear we must overcome in our quest for sustainability.
Fear keeps us thinking within the boundaries of safe and proven technologies, usually averting liability issues. However fear based approaches can lead to technology becoming stale and outdated, a 'backwards' type of thinking.
Bio-char materials will need to be thoroughly tested for many qualities, flammability being one. As soon as I mention bio-char, the first reaction many times is 'charcoal and fire!'. Research bio-char's flammability ratings though and you may be surprised at how stable it is.
Revisiting the rabbit hutch though, the 50mm thick soil and drainage layer will soon be thick with vegetables and wildflowers, cleaning stormwater, feeding rabbits, giving nectar to pollinators and providing beauty.
As always, your comments are appreciated.
Happy Green Roofing!
Kevin
Constantly using new materials to see how they preform in the field, I am always surprised - usually pleasantly, with the results.
The green roof plant seeds sown on the expansion green roof had already sprouted!
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| Future C3 and C4 Green Roof Plants |
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| Green Roof Rabbit Hutch Expansion |
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| Existing Green Roof on Rabbit Hutch - C3 and C4 Plants |
One of the exciting aspects of this field trial is the use of Bio-Char material in the green roof soil media.
Bio-Char is a highly stable charcoal type compound with properties including high efficiencies at sequestering additional Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorous.
Wikipedia's bio-char description is as follows:
Biochar is a way for carbon to be drawn from the atmosphere and is a solution to reducing the global impact of farming (and in reducing the impact from all agricultural waste). Since biochar can sequester carbon in the soil for hundreds to thousands of years[2], it has received considerable interest as a potential tool to slow global warming. The burning and natural decomposition of trees and agricultural matter contributes a large amount of CO2 released to the atmosphere. Biochar can store this carbon in the ground, potentially making a significant reduction in atmospheric GHG levels; at the same time its presence in the earth can improve water quality, increase soil fertility, raise agricultural productivity and reduce pressure on old-growth forests.
The plants appear to like the bio-char material so far, and we will continue to update their progress.
As a lawyer trained educationally in environmental tort law, I am constantly looking at issues associated with new technologies as relating to green roofs. As a botanist I love to see how plants adapt.
Anyone can find issues with new materials. From a legal perspective there is nothing easier than bringing an action against someone for negligence or products liability when the product is not appropriately tested. Therein lies a great fear we must overcome in our quest for sustainability.
Fear keeps us thinking within the boundaries of safe and proven technologies, usually averting liability issues. However fear based approaches can lead to technology becoming stale and outdated, a 'backwards' type of thinking.
Bio-char materials will need to be thoroughly tested for many qualities, flammability being one. As soon as I mention bio-char, the first reaction many times is 'charcoal and fire!'. Research bio-char's flammability ratings though and you may be surprised at how stable it is.
Revisiting the rabbit hutch though, the 50mm thick soil and drainage layer will soon be thick with vegetables and wildflowers, cleaning stormwater, feeding rabbits, giving nectar to pollinators and providing beauty.
As always, your comments are appreciated.
Happy Green Roofing!
Kevin
Rooftop Garden Trials - Green Roof Garlic Board Update
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| Kevin's Florida Green Roof Garlic Board |
Place a small 'pilot-plant' or 'test-unit' on the roof and see if the plants thrive or if the plants die.
Here is the sustainable Garlic board.
Sustainable because though this example is cedar, the board can be made of pine (potentially sustainable) or of bamboo (even more sustainable).
What does this really have to do with green roof? Sure, it may be small scale permaculture on the roof but it doesn't have a water proofing system or root barrier system and one can imagine what kind of missile the contraption may become during 130 mph winds of a tropical cyclone here in Jacksonville.
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| Garlic Board After 3 Weeks |
We'd take the board off the roof if a hurricane was approaching. Thankfully, hurricanes or tropical cyclones give at least a couple hours notice or more now thanks to NOAA and other weather watch services.
However hurricanes are not the focus of this post.
The board is a statement of sustainability.
The garlic board is a first step in a process. A process of moving away from synthetic materials to more natural materials for green roofs. Surely there will be hundreds, if not thousands of other trial materials in our search for green roof sustainability.
Maybe we use an approach similar to this in areas where the ground soil is contaminated with pollution, or infested with pest organisms. Maybe we provide simple shelter roofs while growing food. Maybe, instead of a pine or cedar board, we grow the food in the thick stem of a palm frond.
Its all about feeding the people.
Our collective intelligence as humans across the globe is so great that maybe if we throw out an idea, the idea will catch hold somewhere and grow.
The idea of developing a natural materials based green roof is growing in my mind and the garlic board is just one small step towards the idea becoming reality.
And the garlic board is working. The cloves are sprouting now and hopefully will grow and fill out the deep wide holes drilled into the board under the trough filled with soil visible in the photograph. Certainly the garlic is up high enough in the air to enjoy the bright sun's rays and the system is soaked with morning's dew on some mornings.
So we will watch the garlic cloves and learn something about cellulose as a platform for growing plants on roofs.
Having worked hands on with plants for over thirty years I believe there are approaches to take in developing and growing large mats of root interwoven plants that would hold themselves together on a green roof. Though wood and burlap and other natural materials may disintegrate over time, they may provide enough of a structural system to allow the plant roots to develop into a sustainable structural system themselves.
Coir may be another sustainable material for green roof system establishment. Potassium, salt and other limiting issues with coir can be resolved with pre-treament and maintenance procedures.
The approach we are discussing here would be relevant to green roofs with a primary function of habitat creation, food production, O2 production, carbon sequestration, urban heat island effect yet may present problems with green roofs constructed primarily for stormwater issue resolution.
Though a topic for another blog post, green roofs created for stormwater attenuation will probably need to be constructed out of a long term stable material.
True sustainability is what we all strive for.
I may never stop using woven plastics such as polypropylene or polyethylene, especially if they are made from post-consumer recycled plastics - might as well use up the scrap and they do hold the roof plant material together quite effectively.
However we are in peak oil, plastics are petro-based and I am a dreaming product of the post- plastic inundation era.
I do want to make a long term difference.
And maybe the start lies with what I will learn from a cedar board on a roof with allium plants.
Plastic?
As always, email your comments and questions.
Happy Green Roofing!
Kevin
Friday, February 11, 2011
Friday Morning Green Roof Notes
Headed out to discuss educational opportunities with an individual for a rooftop permaculture garden we are doing this spring.
Before heading out the door I wanted to post a couple green roof genre photos.
Photo One is a Morning Dove, taken this AM looking for insects in the nodding garlic, Allium canadense starts (native species here in the US). Biodiversity with green roof plants begins well before they are placed on the roof!
Photo two is a couple trays of Matt's Wild Cherry Tomato seeds Judy planted last night while I was cutting copper for the living wall. Matt's Wild Cherry Tomatoes are my favorite tomato in the entire world! Here is what Johnny's Seeds has to say about Matt's -
These small cherry tomatoes are packed with more taste than you can believe. 5/8- 3/4", deep red, round fruits have a tender, smooth texture, and loads of sweet, full flavor. High sugar content (11º Brix). Though the taste is superior, it doesn't yield well and the fruits are soft, so grow on a trial scale at first. Teresa Arellanos de Mena, a friend of former Univ. of Maine AG faculty members Drs. Laura Merrick and Matt Liebman, brought seeds to Maine from her family's home state of Hidalgo in Eastern Mexico. It's the region of domestication of tomatoes, and where these grow wild. Matt gave us the seeds. Indeterminate.
Matt's Wild Cherry Tomato will grow well on the rooftop garden, in fact it will produce more tomatoes you will ever be able to use. This plant should be number one on the rooftop garden/green roof permaculture list. Now is the time to start tomatoes - just keep them indoors until well after the danger of frost.
Photo Three is a shot of Black-eyed Peas sprouted and ready for transplanting up. Like clover, this plant fixes nitrogen into the soil. Good to eat and good for ferilizer.
Good green roof permaculture plants - Black eyed peas and Matt's Wild Cherry Tomatoes!
As always, email us your comments and thoughts and Happy Green Roofing!
Kevin
Before heading out the door I wanted to post a couple green roof genre photos.
Photo One is a Morning Dove, taken this AM looking for insects in the nodding garlic, Allium canadense starts (native species here in the US). Biodiversity with green roof plants begins well before they are placed on the roof!
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| Green Roof Plants & Biodiversity |
Photo two is a couple trays of Matt's Wild Cherry Tomato seeds Judy planted last night while I was cutting copper for the living wall. Matt's Wild Cherry Tomatoes are my favorite tomato in the entire world! Here is what Johnny's Seeds has to say about Matt's -
These small cherry tomatoes are packed with more taste than you can believe. 5/8- 3/4", deep red, round fruits have a tender, smooth texture, and loads of sweet, full flavor. High sugar content (11º Brix). Though the taste is superior, it doesn't yield well and the fruits are soft, so grow on a trial scale at first. Teresa Arellanos de Mena, a friend of former Univ. of Maine AG faculty members Drs. Laura Merrick and Matt Liebman, brought seeds to Maine from her family's home state of Hidalgo in Eastern Mexico. It's the region of domestication of tomatoes, and where these grow wild. Matt gave us the seeds. Indeterminate.
Matt's Wild Cherry Tomato will grow well on the rooftop garden, in fact it will produce more tomatoes you will ever be able to use. This plant should be number one on the rooftop garden/green roof permaculture list. Now is the time to start tomatoes - just keep them indoors until well after the danger of frost.
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| Matt's Wild Cherry Tomatoes for Rooftop Permaculture |
Photo Three is a shot of Black-eyed Peas sprouted and ready for transplanting up. Like clover, this plant fixes nitrogen into the soil. Good to eat and good for ferilizer.
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| Black Eyed Peas - Green Roof Fertilizer Plant |
Good green roof permaculture plants - Black eyed peas and Matt's Wild Cherry Tomatoes!
As always, email us your comments and thoughts and Happy Green Roofing!
Kevin
Constructing a 60mm Thick, Extensive Living Wall "La Paix Pour Le Piaf"
Starting a new living wall project, small or large, always brings mixed emotions. For me living walls are difficult, more so than green roofs, yet as important with different reasons.
Green and living roofs are a reflection of habitat that exists locally on the ground around the site, an extension of habitat, stormwater treatment, biodiversity and a refuge for wildlife.
Living walls are different. Sometimes it is difficult here in Jacksonville where the ground is flat, very flat, to find an existing natural habitat that living walls mimic, unless maybe it is a large Live Oak tree with resurrection fern growing up the side of its bark.
So, from my perspective I consider living walls to be more of a work of ethno-bio-art. I love to create ethno-bio-art.
However for me there significantly different approaches in creating living walls and green roofs. When I am doing a green roof I follow more of a purist design approach. 'Follow what nature is doing on the ground' is the standard theme I generally follow for biodiversity habitat roofs and then 'Follow what a Good Garden should be like' for rooftop permaculture projects.
There are many beautiful native plant and biodiversity living roofs around the world to draw design inspiration from.
Likewise there are many successful rooftop permaculture projects to learn from too.
However most living wall projects I've seen are mostly beautiful works of art and not a reflection of local habitat, though there are a handful of stunning native plant walls. Most living wall design combines the use of contrasting colors and textures to make an artistic statement.
I'm rambling on here only to justify my use of a copper sheet I recycled from an old solar panel to form the basis of the new small living wall panel. The living wall is a blending of metal and plants together into a fun living art project.
The frame is a structural ploypropylene frame in which will be embedded a growing media and mesh.
When complete the living wall design will be similar in structure to the following typical diagram.
The copper 'Peace Sign' will be attached to the frame and the entire wall panel planted with yet to be decided species.
I'll post more photos as the project progresses.
The living wall is entitled 'La Paix Pour Le Piaf' in recognition of the green roof efforts of those across the earth with particular mention to 'Toits Verts' in France.
Ethno-Bio-Art.
Living Walls.
Bringing the world together in Peace.
Happy Green Roofing
Kevin
The
Green and living roofs are a reflection of habitat that exists locally on the ground around the site, an extension of habitat, stormwater treatment, biodiversity and a refuge for wildlife.
Living walls are different. Sometimes it is difficult here in Jacksonville where the ground is flat, very flat, to find an existing natural habitat that living walls mimic, unless maybe it is a large Live Oak tree with resurrection fern growing up the side of its bark.
So, from my perspective I consider living walls to be more of a work of ethno-bio-art. I love to create ethno-bio-art.
However for me there significantly different approaches in creating living walls and green roofs. When I am doing a green roof I follow more of a purist design approach. 'Follow what nature is doing on the ground' is the standard theme I generally follow for biodiversity habitat roofs and then 'Follow what a Good Garden should be like' for rooftop permaculture projects.
There are many beautiful native plant and biodiversity living roofs around the world to draw design inspiration from.
Likewise there are many successful rooftop permaculture projects to learn from too.
However most living wall projects I've seen are mostly beautiful works of art and not a reflection of local habitat, though there are a handful of stunning native plant walls. Most living wall design combines the use of contrasting colors and textures to make an artistic statement.
I'm rambling on here only to justify my use of a copper sheet I recycled from an old solar panel to form the basis of the new small living wall panel. The living wall is a blending of metal and plants together into a fun living art project.
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| Living Wall Copper Finish Cut |
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| 60 mm thick Living Wall Panel, 'La Paix Pour Le Piaf' |
The frame is a structural ploypropylene frame in which will be embedded a growing media and mesh.
When complete the living wall design will be similar in structure to the following typical diagram.
The copper 'Peace Sign' will be attached to the frame and the entire wall panel planted with yet to be decided species.
I'll post more photos as the project progresses.
The living wall is entitled 'La Paix Pour Le Piaf' in recognition of the green roof efforts of those across the earth with particular mention to 'Toits Verts' in France.
Ethno-Bio-Art.
Living Walls.
Bringing the world together in Peace.
Happy Green Roofing
Kevin
The
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Integrated & Biodiverse Green Roof Plantings Clean Nitrogen from the Air Providing Plants With Free Fertilizer from the Sky
Easy to see the green roof clover is making fertilizer, fixing nitrogen and making available nutrients for other green roof plants. Look at how green the green roof clover is, an indication of how much Nitrogen is being pulled from the air and fixed into the soil.
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| Integrating Nitrogen Fixation Plants on a Green Roof Provides Fertilizer |
Smart green roof design integrates all types of plants and avoids monocultures. The general rule for promoting green roof biodiversity is:
- Less than 10% of a green roof should be comprised of one Species
- Less than 20% of a green roof should be comprised of one Genus, and
- Less than 30% of a green roof should be comprised of one Family
- Maximize Biodiversity potential
- Minimize pest damage risk
- Provide optimum habitat
- Allow plants to support one another through structure, nitrogen fixation and other means.
Our earth's atmosphere is comprised of approximately 7% nitrogen gas (N2) by volume.
SMOG contains small particles containing carbon and nitrogen too. Carbon dioxide too can be found in smog.
Most of the nitrogen gas in the atmosphere cannot readily be used by plants as fertilizer. The nitrogen in the air must be converted from N2 to NH3 (Ammonia) or NO3 )Nitrate) for assimilation by plants.
The nitrogen conversion processes are done in a variety of ways. A flash of lighting can convert N2 gas into NH3 and when you are outside in the rain when lightening hits you can sometimes 'smell' a change in the air.
Wikipedia defines the complexity of an ecosystem as a "web, community or network of individuals that arrange into a self-sustaining and complex hierarchy of pattern and process.
The beauty of the ecosystem web are all the benefits gained through the interrelations.
The photograph above is of an agave, one of my favorite Green roof plants and clover. The agave provides a windbreak and shade protection to the clover and the clover, through bacteria living in the clover root nodules, provides the agave with nitrate fertilizer.
No need to fertilize. Clover can add up to 150 lbs of NH3 and NO3 per acre per year ( 68.2 Kilograms per 0.4 hectare).
In fact, adding chemical fertilizers to 'push' or 'rush' a growing process ultimately can do more damage than no additional fertilizer.
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| Green Roof Design - Stacking |
The agave's long leaves filter particulate matter from the air flowing over the roof. The particulate matter is washed to the green roof surface by rainfall and then used by the clover for nutrients.
The clover is a C3 plant, grows rapidly and prevents erosion around the agave's roots. The agave is a CAM plant that uses CO2 at night, freeing up daytime CO2 for the clover.
Both the agave and the clover are beautiful. The agave has white flowers and the clover has bright red flowers.
Both the plants are beneficial to wildlife. Honey bees love both species. Other pollinators flock to the green roof's flowers when blooming.
Both the plants are beneficial t humankind. They sequester carbon, produce oxygen, offer beauty, clean stormwater, and provide habitat.
And they share survival responsibilities.
A perfect coexistence in an complex rooftop ecosystem.
Green Roof Fertilizer from the Sky.
Green Roof Tale of Two Turnips, Rooftop Garden v. Ground Level Garden
Green and living rooftop gardens have important advantages over ground level gardens. Some of these advantages are important to the quality of the garden vegetables being grown and the amount of produce ultimately harvested.
A living and green rooftop garden can offer the following benefits;
First, it is important to note here;
We practice organic gardening on all of our ground level gardens and rooftop gardens. We practice organic gardening because we have witnessed the massive quantities of chemicals standard agriculture methodology applies to soils and vegetables. But we do live on an Urban Core lot, in the middle of one of the largest cities size-wise in America, and our neighbors may or may not treat their soils and gardens with the care we do and subsequently may or may not have pests looking to come feast on our organically grown gardens.
In preparation for growing, say turnips or mustard greens, many farmers and city gardeners apply massive amounts of herbicides to the soils to keep the native herbaceous plants down, followed by many different types of highly toxic dusts and powders to keep insect damage to a minimum.
Consumers do not witness the poison applications first hand as they got o the market and purchase, big, leafy greens pumped up with chemical fertilizers and saved from the insects, not by smart planting and soil health practices, rather saved from the insects through constand dousings of highly toxic killer substances.
Then we wonder why we feel so tired and lethargic. A substance that kills bugs will affect humans too, just takes a little more sometimes.
But the good news is green roofs and rooftop gardens make a difference!
The following photo is of the greens on one of our rooftop gardens, also taken yesterday.
As you can see, there is no pest damage. The greens are spared from the insects.
Why? We can offer up several reasons.
Often, vegetable starts purchased at your local retail store are 'pumped up' with lots of fertilizers and other substances to make them look beautiful so they will sell easily. Once you plant these steriodized young plants in the garden or on the roof they go through shock and many die. So consider starting your own plants from seeds - they will grow better in the long run.
Rooftop garden requires some planning though as your vegetables will be subject to certain conditions not found on the ground. We've discussed these in previous posts and will do so again, so stay tuned here.
Consider the possibilities!
I believe we can feed the world with truly healthy food grown on the rooftops.
As always, we appreciate your comments and emails.
Happy green roofing!
Kevin
A living and green rooftop garden can offer the following benefits;
- More light
- Certainly more direct access to dew, fog and rainwater
- and important one we will discuss today - if clean soil is used originally then there may be isolation from ground level pests on the rooftop.
First, it is important to note here;
- All native insects have a purpose and are beneficial
- Providing the correct garden conditions can greatly reduce the onset of insect attack,
- Rooftop and green roof gardening provides important benefits to the soils and plants that help alleviate insect infestation, and
- Plants succumbing to insect attack may be dealing with a mineral, nutrient, air pollution or water quality issue.
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| Pest damage to the ground level garden turnips |
We practice organic gardening on all of our ground level gardens and rooftop gardens. We practice organic gardening because we have witnessed the massive quantities of chemicals standard agriculture methodology applies to soils and vegetables. But we do live on an Urban Core lot, in the middle of one of the largest cities size-wise in America, and our neighbors may or may not treat their soils and gardens with the care we do and subsequently may or may not have pests looking to come feast on our organically grown gardens.
In preparation for growing, say turnips or mustard greens, many farmers and city gardeners apply massive amounts of herbicides to the soils to keep the native herbaceous plants down, followed by many different types of highly toxic dusts and powders to keep insect damage to a minimum.
Consumers do not witness the poison applications first hand as they got o the market and purchase, big, leafy greens pumped up with chemical fertilizers and saved from the insects, not by smart planting and soil health practices, rather saved from the insects through constand dousings of highly toxic killer substances.
Then we wonder why we feel so tired and lethargic. A substance that kills bugs will affect humans too, just takes a little more sometimes.
But the good news is green roofs and rooftop gardens make a difference!
The following photo is of the greens on one of our rooftop gardens, also taken yesterday.
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| Rooftop greens, extensive green roof garden, Jacksonville, Florida |
As you can see, there is no pest damage. The greens are spared from the insects.
Why? We can offer up several reasons.
- Rooftop permaculture gardens are open to the birds for insect scavenging
- Rooftop garden soil media becomes hotter than ground level soils and may 'self-sterilize'.
- Green roof vegetable garden receive strong amounts of healthy sunshine
- Rooftops are high up off the ground and many soil insects may not be able to reach the rooftops.
Often, vegetable starts purchased at your local retail store are 'pumped up' with lots of fertilizers and other substances to make them look beautiful so they will sell easily. Once you plant these steriodized young plants in the garden or on the roof they go through shock and many die. So consider starting your own plants from seeds - they will grow better in the long run.
Rooftop garden requires some planning though as your vegetables will be subject to certain conditions not found on the ground. We've discussed these in previous posts and will do so again, so stay tuned here.
Consider the possibilities!
I believe we can feed the world with truly healthy food grown on the rooftops.
As always, we appreciate your comments and emails.
Happy green roofing!
Kevin
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Mid-Day Green Roof Plant Photos - 2 Types of Allium!
Two types of Allium shown here for today's mid-day Green Roof photos!
First is the two week old green roof on the rabbit hutch, a blend of C3 and C4 plants - check out how tall the Allium sativum has grown! Integrated greenroof beauty, pest control, flowers and food!
Next, the following photo are trays and trays of Allium canadense, the native garlic (Nodding garlic) ready for green roof planting. These plugs are over two years old! Keeping them in the tray subject only to nature based irrigation - rainfall, dew and humidity - acclimates them to life on the roof. They take off and grow when placed on the green roof.
As always email your comments or questions!
Happy Green Roofing!
Kevin
First is the two week old green roof on the rabbit hutch, a blend of C3 and C4 plants - check out how tall the Allium sativum has grown! Integrated greenroof beauty, pest control, flowers and food!
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| Rabbit Hutch Green Roof - Allium Sativum and C3 groundcover |
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| Green Roof trays of Allium canadense |
As always email your comments or questions!
Happy Green Roofing!
Kevin
Practical Green Roof Knowledge from the Gutter
Gutters, like rooftops, bridges, tall building facades and rock outcroppings are always good places to learn about those species that might make a candidate plant for the green roof.
Be aware that many times the most hardy species you see growing as pioneer plants in gutters may be exotic invasive species. Yet even with all of the more agressive plants taking over building cracks, walls and gutters, occasionally you will come across an interesting patch of greenery, one that is native and can be used on your nature irrigated green roof.
Plants are resilient. Provide some plants a two inch layer of gravel, sand or organic matter and they will grow and establish themselves in places most would not expect.
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| Nature Irrigated Non-Intentional Green Roof |
If you have the time and opportunity, stop and ask permission to examine the soil contents of the niche where the plants are growing. Ask the following questions;
- Is the growing media sandy?
- Are the plants growing solely in organic compost such as decaying leaves?
- It the growing media wet, damp or dry?
- Does the soil media appear to be well drained or is it in a place where water pools and accumulates?
- How about wind exposure? Are there wind breaks or are the volunteer plants sheltered from the wind?
- Look at light exposure. How much sunlight is available? Is there adjacent shade?
All of these questions (and more) will help build the database of green roofing knowledge you need as a green roof designer.
Learn from Nature.
I've heard some of the most knowledgable European green roof designers say - If it is good enough for plants and bugs (Nature) is it good enough....
Carry your camera, pencil and notepad and keep your eye out for plants in the gutters!
Happy Green Roofing.
Kevin
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
New Living Plants on an Old Wall, St. Augustine, Florida, La Mision Nombre de Dios
Aqui es un ejemplo cómo plantas de paisaje pueden llegar a ser partes de la historia
El ocho de Septiembre de 1565 Don Pedro Menendez y el Padre Francisco Lopez fundaron el pueblo de St. Augustine y la Mision Nombre de Dios. El Padre Lopez durante el transcurso del dia celebro lo que seria la primera masa en the US.
This was over 50 years before the pilgrims landed.
La capilla aquí fue construida aproximadamente 1600.
The creeping fig growing on the chapel is a native of Asia and though the chapel may have been covered with vines originally, the fig here is a beautiful but 20th century living wall.
La cruz es situada cerca donde la primera masa fue tenida.
Today creeping fig can be found across the southeast.
St. Augustine is rooted (no pun intended) in Spanish legacy so I had to try my Espanol :) here.
El ocho de Septiembre de 1565 Don Pedro Menendez y el Padre Francisco Lopez fundaron el pueblo de St. Augustine y la Mision Nombre de Dios. El Padre Lopez durante el transcurso del dia celebro lo que seria la primera masa en the US.
This was over 50 years before the pilgrims landed.
La capilla aquí fue construida aproximadamente 1600.
The creeping fig growing on the chapel is a native of Asia and though the chapel may have been covered with vines originally, the fig here is a beautiful but 20th century living wall.
La cruz es situada cerca donde la primera masa fue tenida.
Today creeping fig can be found across the southeast.
St. Augustine is rooted (no pun intended) in Spanish legacy so I had to try my Espanol :) here.
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| El Nombre de Dios 1600 with Creeping Fig Living Wall |
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| El Nombre de Dios 1600 with Creeping Fig Living Wall |
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| Padre Lopez Celebrates First US Mass in 1565 Here |
Neglected Green Native Plant Roof Survives Longterm
The photos here are of a green roof I had ignored and almost forgotten about.
During the hurricane and cyclone wind speed simulation testing at the University of Florida, I cut out several sections of this green roof thinking it may be used in the process. I never replaced the sections as several Washingtonia palms grew so rapidly, their fan leaves covered and hid the roof.
Pruning back the palms the other day I cam across the green roof system and plants and was excited to see how, even with total neglect and actual abuse from the palm trees, the native Allium canadense was thriving.
Shown here are the remainders of the mat left on the roof. The roof system is a gentle slope with a 20 mil waterproofing and root liner over the underlying roof (secured with a low VOC adhesive). There is no drainage layer - none needed as the soil media is quite permeable.
The sol layer is approximately 15-20mm - not much. Yet plenty for the Allium canadense.
The weave is geosynthetic material designed to hold the soil in place on a slope. There are many types of netting available. I am especially interested in hemp now and am conducting multiple trials with burlap and hemp.
Nature Irrigated, native species green roof surviving neglect!
During the hurricane and cyclone wind speed simulation testing at the University of Florida, I cut out several sections of this green roof thinking it may be used in the process. I never replaced the sections as several Washingtonia palms grew so rapidly, their fan leaves covered and hid the roof.
Pruning back the palms the other day I cam across the green roof system and plants and was excited to see how, even with total neglect and actual abuse from the palm trees, the native Allium canadense was thriving.
Shown here are the remainders of the mat left on the roof. The roof system is a gentle slope with a 20 mil waterproofing and root liner over the underlying roof (secured with a low VOC adhesive). There is no drainage layer - none needed as the soil media is quite permeable.
The sol layer is approximately 15-20mm - not much. Yet plenty for the Allium canadense.
The weave is geosynthetic material designed to hold the soil in place on a slope. There are many types of netting available. I am especially interested in hemp now and am conducting multiple trials with burlap and hemp.
Nature Irrigated, native species green roof surviving neglect!
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| Allium Canadense, Extensive Nature Irrigated Green Roof |
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| Extensive, Nature Irrigated, Native Species Green Roof |
Green Roof Plant Selection. Beauty and the Beast - Are Natives Safe for the Bees?
Using native plants on green and living roofs and across landscapes is currently in vogue for many reasons.
Native plant species typically grow more reliably in a given area than most imported landscape plants. Additionally, native plant species should be able to survive, once established, without any additional irrigation, fertilization or pesticide usage, so contributing less of a negative impact on the immediate environment.
On the positive side, native plant species can strongly support those insects, pollinators, birds and mammals passing through or endemic to the area. Research has shown native plant species offer more forage and nutritional value than modern plant hybrids or exotic landscape plants. So there are many good reasons to use native plant species.
What about negative aspects of native plants? Are there any?
Yes, possibly. However the negative aspects are minor in nature, but worth mentioning. First of all while many native plant species are rather common looking, others have stunning and beautiful flowers. This has led to the over-harvesting of many native plants from public lands, creating the need to add some native plants, such as wild-azalea here in Florida to the endangered and commercially exploited plant list.
Always purchase native plant species from a reputable and licensed nursery to help preserve native plants in their habitat.
Carolina jessamine or yellow jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens, is a another showy native plant here in Florida that makes an excellent green roof addition. Carolina jessamine is presently blooming, making it one of the first native species to flower in the spring. It is also the South Carolina state flower.
However, when researching Carolina jessamine, there are many warnings about the plant's toxicity. The plant does contain powerful alkaloids similar to strychnine. The Cornell University plant website for instance says all parts of the plant are poisonous, depressing central nervous system function and potentially causing death.
Moreover, other institutions and research site, such as Wikipedia, state that the nectar is not only toxic to humans but to bees also, causing brood death.
The reference to brood death and toxicity to humans greatly concerned me for two reasons;
Then I realized the Wikipedia reference for toxicity to bees was lacking a citation and soon came across another more technical publication in Oecologia that actually pointed out the alkaloids in Carolina jessamine have been used by bees to kill the exotic gut protozoan Crithidia bombi that had been harming bee populations.
So apparently there is research pointing to the fact that Carolina jessamine is nature's medicinal kit for bees, providing a free source of anti-microbial benefits to the bees.
Lets take a step back now. Bumblebees and others are native to this area. The honey bees mostly commonly referred to today are considered native to Africa, having then spread to Europe before being imported to the Americas.
Carolina jessamine, a native species, provides medicine to sick bees, a species that has been imported to food and other uses. Other literature continues to support the relative safety of having Carolina jessamine around bees by recommending additional variety of other flowering plants complimentary with the jessamine.
Moderation is always key to success. Possibly, if the only nectar bees fed on was Carolina jessamine, the honey might be toxic. There actually have been reported cases of toxic honey made from azaleas, rhododendrons and oleander. However, integrating a common native into a flowering landscape may provide the bee with natural defenses to its own physical issues and provide beauty and that wonderful spring smell of blooming jessamine.
Beauty and the Beast? I think not. For if Carolina jessamine were a deadly killer to both humans and bees then, with its numerous populations across the southeastern US there would be many dead bees and sick humans lying around during spring blooming season.
Respect? Yes. Common sense dictates against the use of monocultures. Provide more than a monoculture of Carolina jessamine. Provide a host of flowering native species and food plants on green roofs and in landscapes.
Native plants are not only to be enjoyed they are also to be respected. Integrating native species into your green roofs will provide benefit to wildlife and support biodiversity, even to the non-native honeybee.
Nature's own medicine chest.
As always, email your comments and thoughts.
Happy Green Roofing!
Kevin
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| Coral Homeysuckle, Lonicera sempervires Great Native Plant for Green Roofs |
Native plant species typically grow more reliably in a given area than most imported landscape plants. Additionally, native plant species should be able to survive, once established, without any additional irrigation, fertilization or pesticide usage, so contributing less of a negative impact on the immediate environment.
On the positive side, native plant species can strongly support those insects, pollinators, birds and mammals passing through or endemic to the area. Research has shown native plant species offer more forage and nutritional value than modern plant hybrids or exotic landscape plants. So there are many good reasons to use native plant species.
What about negative aspects of native plants? Are there any?
Yes, possibly. However the negative aspects are minor in nature, but worth mentioning. First of all while many native plant species are rather common looking, others have stunning and beautiful flowers. This has led to the over-harvesting of many native plants from public lands, creating the need to add some native plants, such as wild-azalea here in Florida to the endangered and commercially exploited plant list.
Always purchase native plant species from a reputable and licensed nursery to help preserve native plants in their habitat.
Carolina jessamine or yellow jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens, is a another showy native plant here in Florida that makes an excellent green roof addition. Carolina jessamine is presently blooming, making it one of the first native species to flower in the spring. It is also the South Carolina state flower.
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| Gelsemium sempervirens, Carolina Jessamine - Green Roof Native |
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| Gelsemium sempervirens, Carolina Jessamine - Green Roof Native |
Moreover, other institutions and research site, such as Wikipedia, state that the nectar is not only toxic to humans but to bees also, causing brood death.
The reference to brood death and toxicity to humans greatly concerned me for two reasons;
- We plant to adopt bees this year and set up a colony on our green roof, and
- I don't want anyone getting sick from a plant on our greenroof.
Then I realized the Wikipedia reference for toxicity to bees was lacking a citation and soon came across another more technical publication in Oecologia that actually pointed out the alkaloids in Carolina jessamine have been used by bees to kill the exotic gut protozoan Crithidia bombi that had been harming bee populations.
So apparently there is research pointing to the fact that Carolina jessamine is nature's medicinal kit for bees, providing a free source of anti-microbial benefits to the bees.
Lets take a step back now. Bumblebees and others are native to this area. The honey bees mostly commonly referred to today are considered native to Africa, having then spread to Europe before being imported to the Americas.
Carolina jessamine, a native species, provides medicine to sick bees, a species that has been imported to food and other uses. Other literature continues to support the relative safety of having Carolina jessamine around bees by recommending additional variety of other flowering plants complimentary with the jessamine.
Moderation is always key to success. Possibly, if the only nectar bees fed on was Carolina jessamine, the honey might be toxic. There actually have been reported cases of toxic honey made from azaleas, rhododendrons and oleander. However, integrating a common native into a flowering landscape may provide the bee with natural defenses to its own physical issues and provide beauty and that wonderful spring smell of blooming jessamine.
Beauty and the Beast? I think not. For if Carolina jessamine were a deadly killer to both humans and bees then, with its numerous populations across the southeastern US there would be many dead bees and sick humans lying around during spring blooming season.
Respect? Yes. Common sense dictates against the use of monocultures. Provide more than a monoculture of Carolina jessamine. Provide a host of flowering native species and food plants on green roofs and in landscapes.
Native plants are not only to be enjoyed they are also to be respected. Integrating native species into your green roofs will provide benefit to wildlife and support biodiversity, even to the non-native honeybee.
Nature's own medicine chest.
As always, email your comments and thoughts.
Happy Green Roofing!
Kevin
Monday, February 7, 2011
Mustard Greens Taking Off on the Green Roof Rooftop Garden!
Photo this afternoon of the mustard greens and parsley growing on across the green roof foodpatch area.
Growing food on a roof is different than growing the food in the ground level garden. First of all the rooftop food garden's visitors are more visible. Pollinators and insects visit the flowers by the hundreds as the vegetables bloom.
Our rooftop garden seems to grow best during the cool and rainy seasons. However, hot weather veggies also do well but their photosynthetic processes move into such high speed during the long hot days with long sun exposure that they must be harvested regularly. Okra for instance, grows extremely fast and must be picked daily or the pods become too long and tough (stringy).
Think of the summer growing season on a roof as a garden in fast forward mode because of the generally unimpeded access to the suns rays for the Calvin cycle sugar production. Think of the summer rooftop garden as your own home-based oxygen generator and carbon sequestration unit.
Think of rooftop gardens as a way to feed the Urban Core.
Happy Green Roofing, Kevin
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| Mustard Greens and Parsley Growing on the Green Roof Food Patch |
Growing food on a roof is different than growing the food in the ground level garden. First of all the rooftop food garden's visitors are more visible. Pollinators and insects visit the flowers by the hundreds as the vegetables bloom.
Our rooftop garden seems to grow best during the cool and rainy seasons. However, hot weather veggies also do well but their photosynthetic processes move into such high speed during the long hot days with long sun exposure that they must be harvested regularly. Okra for instance, grows extremely fast and must be picked daily or the pods become too long and tough (stringy).
Think of the summer growing season on a roof as a garden in fast forward mode because of the generally unimpeded access to the suns rays for the Calvin cycle sugar production. Think of the summer rooftop garden as your own home-based oxygen generator and carbon sequestration unit.
Think of rooftop gardens as a way to feed the Urban Core.
Happy Green Roofing, Kevin
Green Roof Design Typical, Sloped Standing Seam Application
Below is a typical installation design for an extensive green roof on a sloped standing seam metal roof.
I like to use mats in these applications because they can be attached at the top of the roof and provide excellent vertical shear resilience and tensile strength, depending upon the material and application.
We've used this design successfully and although the root barrier/liner says 'optional', I'd recommend its use. Having said that, if your application is a backyard shed or similar and you are on a budget, the liner may be optional, depending on the type of metal roof you are using.
This design has its basis in the sloped mat design tested at the UF Hurricane Simulator.
If you'd like a larger .pdf or .dwg file email me.
Happy Green Roofing!
Kevin
I like to use mats in these applications because they can be attached at the top of the roof and provide excellent vertical shear resilience and tensile strength, depending upon the material and application.
We've used this design successfully and although the root barrier/liner says 'optional', I'd recommend its use. Having said that, if your application is a backyard shed or similar and you are on a budget, the liner may be optional, depending on the type of metal roof you are using.
This design has its basis in the sloped mat design tested at the UF Hurricane Simulator.
If you'd like a larger .pdf or .dwg file email me.
Happy Green Roofing!
Kevin
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| Green Roof Typical, Sloped Standing Seam Application |
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Moss Man - Grows Well On Green Roofs Too
A little humor to start the week.
We discussed how using biomimicry as a design principle to develop dew and fog catchers for green roofs. If you missed the post you may view it here.
Additionally, Spanish moss grows well on green roofs here in Florida.
In fact, look closely and you may find clumps of moss weaving itself together to form an unusual life form!
This moss man was photographed at Big Shoals State Park on the Suwanee River.
We discussed how using biomimicry as a design principle to develop dew and fog catchers for green roofs. If you missed the post you may view it here.
Additionally, Spanish moss grows well on green roofs here in Florida.
In fact, look closely and you may find clumps of moss weaving itself together to form an unusual life form!
This moss man was photographed at Big Shoals State Park on the Suwanee River.
Growing Veggies and Feeding the World from the Green Roof
Photo here of veggie transplants becoming established on cyclone mats. Once the plants are established the mats will be placed over green roof soil media and grow in to create a hurricane resistant rooftop permaculture garden.
We can feed the cities from the rooftops!
We can feed the cities from the rooftops!
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| Green Roof Permaculture Veggie Starts! |
Native Plants for Green Roofs - Exploring Potential Ecosystem Types
Native Plants can be used on Green Roofs.
Green roofs and sustainability go hand in hand and good green roof design will reflect the stewardship and incorporation of native ecosystems.
One interesting ecosystem that will hold potential for Green Roof Botanists and Enthusiasts alike is the 'Upland Glades' ecosystem. Not unlike the everglades, an Upland Glades ecosystem is typically found near limestone outcroppings - for an interesting discussion of the everglades geology-ecosystem click here (opens in a new window).
Upland Glades can be found across the Southeastern United States - and typically have shallow soils over limstone rock. The hydrology is usually rain water supplied and during the wet months the soils are saturated while months with little precipitation create hot, dry soils. These conditions are similar to those on roofs.
For an excellent Florida Natural Areas discussion of Upland Glades found in Florida click here (PDF paper download). This paper discusses the site conditions and plant species found in Florida Upland Glades.
Another excellent website discussion of Upland Glade ecosystems is 'Starkly Beautiful Cedar Glades' article on the Wildlife Garden website. This article contains many photos of a limestone glades area, including mentioning of plant species and observations of wildlife utilization. Click here for the website link.
Some of the similarities between Florida Green Roofs and Upland Glades include;
There are also many inadvertent Urban habitat recreations of Upland Glades within your surrounding Urban Core area.
Buildings made from concrete block and brick simulate the native rock out-croppings. Gutters that collect organic debris carried by winds will eventually see thin layers of a soil-like material form as the leaves decay. Seed source also carried by wind or by birds will sprout and over time, unless the gutters or cracks and crevices in the buildings are cleaned, will sprout and grow in the gutter or out of a crack in the building - much like the way plant species do in an Upland Glade.
Driving around town, always watch for plants growing on the walls of buildings, on church steeples or out of non-maintained gutters. The plants you see growing are those species that also may do well on a green roof. They are proven survivors of nature-based irrigation, infertile soil, harsh environmental conditions and other factors similar to the ecological traits of an Upland Glade or a Florida Green Roof.
Unfortunately, some of the most resilient plant species you may see in the humankind-made Urban Core Glade ecosystems could be exotic invasive species (such as some of the ferns you will often encounter).
Florida has a native fern called Wild Boston Fern, Nephrolepis exaltata, and then Florida also possesses non-native similar species such as Tuberous sword fern, Nephrolepis cordifolia.
A good reference site about the Boston Fern in Florida from the University of Florida's IFAS can be viewed by clicking here.
Yet studying natural systems with similar characteristics to those encountered on a roof can shed light on new opportunities, both with plant species and hydrology.
We will be trying many of the species mentioned in the FNAI article on trial roofs and will post results.
As always - stick with native species and email us with your questions! Happy green roofing!
Kevin
Green roofs and sustainability go hand in hand and good green roof design will reflect the stewardship and incorporation of native ecosystems.
One interesting ecosystem that will hold potential for Green Roof Botanists and Enthusiasts alike is the 'Upland Glades' ecosystem. Not unlike the everglades, an Upland Glades ecosystem is typically found near limestone outcroppings - for an interesting discussion of the everglades geology-ecosystem click here (opens in a new window).
Upland Glades can be found across the Southeastern United States - and typically have shallow soils over limstone rock. The hydrology is usually rain water supplied and during the wet months the soils are saturated while months with little precipitation create hot, dry soils. These conditions are similar to those on roofs.
For an excellent Florida Natural Areas discussion of Upland Glades found in Florida click here (PDF paper download). This paper discusses the site conditions and plant species found in Florida Upland Glades.
Another excellent website discussion of Upland Glade ecosystems is 'Starkly Beautiful Cedar Glades' article on the Wildlife Garden website. This article contains many photos of a limestone glades area, including mentioning of plant species and observations of wildlife utilization. Click here for the website link.
Some of the similarities between Florida Green Roofs and Upland Glades include;
- potential for lengthy innundation and quickly thereafter long periods of drought
- shallow soil depths
- lack of organic matter in the soil
- open areas subject to harsh winds
- intense sunlight exposure
- high heat retention and thermal radiation from surrounding solid mass
- and more
There are also many inadvertent Urban habitat recreations of Upland Glades within your surrounding Urban Core area.
Buildings made from concrete block and brick simulate the native rock out-croppings. Gutters that collect organic debris carried by winds will eventually see thin layers of a soil-like material form as the leaves decay. Seed source also carried by wind or by birds will sprout and over time, unless the gutters or cracks and crevices in the buildings are cleaned, will sprout and grow in the gutter or out of a crack in the building - much like the way plant species do in an Upland Glade.
Driving around town, always watch for plants growing on the walls of buildings, on church steeples or out of non-maintained gutters. The plants you see growing are those species that also may do well on a green roof. They are proven survivors of nature-based irrigation, infertile soil, harsh environmental conditions and other factors similar to the ecological traits of an Upland Glade or a Florida Green Roof.
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| Urban Core Green Roof Potential or Exotic Invasive? - Glade Ecosystem Type Plant |
Unfortunately, some of the most resilient plant species you may see in the humankind-made Urban Core Glade ecosystems could be exotic invasive species (such as some of the ferns you will often encounter).
Florida has a native fern called Wild Boston Fern, Nephrolepis exaltata, and then Florida also possesses non-native similar species such as Tuberous sword fern, Nephrolepis cordifolia.
A good reference site about the Boston Fern in Florida from the University of Florida's IFAS can be viewed by clicking here.
Yet studying natural systems with similar characteristics to those encountered on a roof can shed light on new opportunities, both with plant species and hydrology.
We will be trying many of the species mentioned in the FNAI article on trial roofs and will post results.
As always - stick with native species and email us with your questions! Happy green roofing!
Kevin
Extensive Green Roof Cost - How much should a living roof cost?
How much do we need?
Mercedes or Volkswagen? Cadillac or Ford?
I'm not referring to quality because, in my opinion there is quality in each.
I'm referring to the 'custom extras' (including the value in the brand name).
Same way with a living roof. One of my close roofing contractor friends a couple of years ago became really excited about getting into the green roof business because he saw a huge profit margin. At the time a satisfactory green roof system, not including the underlayment or TPO layer was selling for around $20 to $25 per square foot.
Of course, the system he was considering was not basic, rather more mid-level in complexity and components. There was a frame, a drainage mat, a water adsorption pad, another woven mat, the soil and potted plants. But still, he felt he could make $12 or so per square foot even with the labot to install, insurance and his overhead.
That adds up to a profit margin of about $240,000.00 on a 20,000 SF roof.
Considering the other extremes;
Green roofs have come along ways since the first sod roofs. Some systems today are engineered to control almost every environmental variable.
But how much of all the technology and plastics and plastic trays and plastic liners and adsorbent mats and plastic weave and ground up rubber tire crumb anti-pollution media, and all else that goes into a green roof do we really need?
When do we start creating GMO plants specifically designed for green roofs and rooftop garden environments? When do we start growing roboplants?
How about back to basics.
A simple extensive green roof should cost no more than the following:
Sure, many sales reps will try and sell you the high end system.
Yet how much do we really need?
There are some beautiful vegetated roofs that have lasted for centuries across Europe without layers and layers of high tech plastics.
On a side note, the 60 square foot rabbit hutch roof I built this weekend at $25 per square foot would have cost $1,500.
My cost breakdown was:
How much do we really need?
Mercedes or Volkswagen? Cadillac or Ford?
I'm not referring to quality because, in my opinion there is quality in each.
I'm referring to the 'custom extras' (including the value in the brand name).
Same way with a living roof. One of my close roofing contractor friends a couple of years ago became really excited about getting into the green roof business because he saw a huge profit margin. At the time a satisfactory green roof system, not including the underlayment or TPO layer was selling for around $20 to $25 per square foot.
Of course, the system he was considering was not basic, rather more mid-level in complexity and components. There was a frame, a drainage mat, a water adsorption pad, another woven mat, the soil and potted plants. But still, he felt he could make $12 or so per square foot even with the labot to install, insurance and his overhead.
That adds up to a profit margin of about $240,000.00 on a 20,000 SF roof.
Considering the other extremes;
- A complicated green roof system with multiple layers, or trays where the profit margin may be only $2 per foot for a total margin of $40,000.00 or
- A very simple system with a root barrier/liner, mat, soil and seeds where the profit margin could be $16 per square foot for a profit of $320,000.00
Green roofs have come along ways since the first sod roofs. Some systems today are engineered to control almost every environmental variable.
But how much of all the technology and plastics and plastic trays and plastic liners and adsorbent mats and plastic weave and ground up rubber tire crumb anti-pollution media, and all else that goes into a green roof do we really need?
When do we start creating GMO plants specifically designed for green roofs and rooftop garden environments? When do we start growing roboplants?
How about back to basics.
A simple extensive green roof should cost no more than the following:
- A strong root barrier/liner - 20, 40 or 60 mil depending upon application Cost: $ 0.60 per square foot
- Adhesive $0.30 per square foot
- A woven mat or honeycomb type fabric system, something to hold the soil in place (if you really want to be sustainable and cost-effective use hemp or burlap instead of a polyethylene weave) typical mat cost $ 0.60 per square foot
- Best Gro-Drainage Soil Mixture $ 1.00 per square foot
- Seeds (C3,C4 and CAM native & food plants) cost $ 0.60 per square foot
- Labor to install $2.00 per square foot (probably high)
- Overhead, insurance, etc cost $ 1.00 per square foot
Sure, many sales reps will try and sell you the high end system.
Yet how much do we really need?
There are some beautiful vegetated roofs that have lasted for centuries across Europe without layers and layers of high tech plastics.
On a side note, the 60 square foot rabbit hutch roof I built this weekend at $25 per square foot would have cost $1,500.
My cost breakdown was:
- Root barrier/liner 60 sf @ $0.50 sf $30.00
- Grow mat 60 sf @ 0.50 sf $ 30.00
- DIY Soil Mix 60 sf @ 2" $5.00
- Seeds - Lots of Veggies! $ 5.00
- Labor - mine
How much do we really need?
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Root Architecture and Green Roofs SimRoot Model by PennState
SimRoot has been out for a couple years now. Developed by Penn State, PSU is a leader in understanding root architecture.
In the SimRoot video shown below, Nitrogen uptake is modeled. Note how the root hairs closest to the surface take in the most available nitrogen.
When designing nature irrigate, native plant green roofs it is essential to capture as much rainwater and water vapor as possible, for irrigation and for scavenging dissolved nutrients.
Check out the following SimRoot Video by PennState!
In the SimRoot video shown below, Nitrogen uptake is modeled. Note how the root hairs closest to the surface take in the most available nitrogen.
When designing nature irrigate, native plant green roofs it is essential to capture as much rainwater and water vapor as possible, for irrigation and for scavenging dissolved nutrients.
Check out the following SimRoot Video by PennState!
NonGMO seeds Planted! Soil Installed! Rabbit Green Roof Expansion Completed!
Now to just sit back and watch the seeds sprout! And it has started to drizzle! And the moon is right! What a rush :) ! Now - let's cover your roof in Veggies and Native Plants!
Fully saturated this roof will weigh about 34 kg/sm or 6-8 lbs/sf. You can grow alot of produce in 40mm soil!
Fully saturated this roof will weigh about 34 kg/sm or 6-8 lbs/sf. You can grow alot of produce in 40mm soil!
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| Soil in Place, Seeds Planted, Rooftop Permaculture~! |
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| New Green Roof is an Extensive Flat Roof |
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| Sloped, Nature Irrigated Extensive Green Roof |
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