This is Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English AgricultureReport.
Who says people need land to grow vegetables? All you need is aroof that is strong enough, and flat enough, to support a garden.
We are going to describe one way to build a rooftop garden thatdoes not even require soil. The advice is based on a methoddeveloped by the Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization, orEcho, in the early nineteen eighties. Echo is a Christian non-profitgroup that has a demonstration farm in Florida. The idea was to helppeople living in cities to grow their own vegetables.
Four things are needed to follow this design for a small rooftopgarden. One thing, as we said, is a roof that can support theweight. Another is grass cuttings. The third thing is a sheet ofplastic on which to spread the cut grass. And the last thing is abox about eight centimeters deep and made out of four pieces ofwood.
Once you are sure the roof is good, cut and collect some grass.Then lay down the plastic where the garden box will go. Thefour-sided box can be as long and as wide as needed. Place the boxon 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 forplanting. Put the seeds directly into the wet grass cuttings. Thisgarden is a good place to grow peas, tomatoes, beans, onions andlettuce. If the box is deep enough, potatoes and carrots will alsogrow.
It is important to keep the grass wet until the plants begin togrow. When the plants are growing, they will need watering everyday, unless there is rain. And they will need some liquidfertilizer. If you can get chicken waste, you can make your ownliquid fertilizer. Put the chicken manure in a cloth bag. Then, putthe bag in a big container of water. After about one week, the waterbecomes a good liquid fertilizer.
Rooftop gardens need a lot of water. Also, seeds and new plantsmust be protected from insects and birds.
Rooftop gardens are increasingly popular, and not just to growvegetables. They keep buildings cooler in the sun, so they saveenergy. They can also extend the useful life of a roof. Rooftopgardens also reduce the runoff of stormwater and help clean the air.Plus they add beauty, and give birds and insects in the city a niceplace to live.
This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by BobBowen. This is Gwen Outen.