Do you have a garden? Green thumb(s)? Black thumbs? I used to have a tomato plant growing in the backyard (I named it Apollo), but it was unfortunately very brutally murdered by a couple raccoons, so ever since then, I haven’t really had it in me to grow anything else. :[
…but I’ve always wanted a garden, and someday if I ever get a house, I want a backyard with fruit trees and an herb + vegetable garden. (One can dream, right?) I’m kinda hoping that I can crash the Rutgers Involvement Fair this September so that I can capitalize on some more free things (e.g. plants!!!)!
The Rooftop Growing Guide
Genre: Gardening
Pages: 246
I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned in the past that I am not a fan of living in cities, but…I fell in love with the only residency program I applied to that’s located in a city, so go figure! Thankfully, not all is lost, because this book is perfect for city dwellers who want to start their own gardens!
Whether you’re a beginner or an avid gardener, I think everyone can learn something from The Rooftop Growing Guide (although I do think this is especially helpful for newbies).
This book is super super thorough, and breaks everything down in a format that’s easy to follow. It starts off with a chapter on why you could/should use your rooftop to start a garden, and how to assess your rooftop–for instance, assessing the climate and microclimate of your rooftop, rooftop sun exposure, knowing your building code + zoning and health code so you don’t get in potential trouble for growing things on your rooftop…
You can also learn to compost and raise chickens (…did I mention that I’d love to raise chickens as well? Yay for eggs, fertilizer, and pest management!), and how to build a worm bin!
The Rooftop Growing Guide also discusses different types of containers, greenhouses, green roofs, and irrigation methods to help you optimize growth. It gives you the freedom to get as fancy or as simple (that’d be my approach) as you want with your gardening. The chapter on Rooftop Seeds and Starts discusses what seeds to start with and how to transplant them/save seeds.
There are also chapters on…
- Flowers, Herbs, Shrubs, and Trees
- Planning Your Planting
- Rooftop Pests and Problems (discusses how to attract beneficial insects, e.g. bees!)
- Taking Care of Business
The appendix provides a great “cheat sheet” of questions to ask yourself before you start on your rooftop site, and there’s also a page of resources that include websites on gardening (especially in the realms of rooftop agriculture) and seed companies.
I’d happily recommend this to anyone who’s into green/sustainable living, or has ever wanted to start their own garden (especially if they live in a small space/a city!)! Here’s to hoping I can get a little mini-garden started after I move into my new place!
- Do you have a garden? If so, what do you grow in it?
- If you don’t have a garden, what would you want to grow? (I want a forest of avocado trees!)
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This has always been a dream of mine! To have a rooftop garden, but I dont think I would last long as a city girl. The hustle and bustle would annoy me! BUT I do get to admire many rooftop gardens when I take the train over to phily :) So pretty and unique!
Also, I personally, can NOT grow a weed. I kill everything, sadly, yet my father he is pretty amazing. He can grow, save, rescue anything. You should see his tomatoes! No avocados as of yet :)
Keep us posted if you decide to grow anything again!
Author
I don’t think I’d last for too long as a city girl either, hehe. I like all the food and such, but I don’t like being surrounded by so many people all the time (and the traffic!??!).
Aw man, I’m jealous of your dad! I wish I had that sort of skill, haha. I think I’m in the can’t-even-grow-a-weed camp at the moment too (sigh). I’ll let you know if that changes!
I do garden! I have a nice raised bed that I grow different things– usually peppers, cucumber, squash, zucchini and sometimes green beans. I grow tomatoes in pots on my deck and my herb tower.
Julie @ Running in a Skirt recently posted…Magnificent Mother’s Day Giveaway
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Ahh, that’s awesome! I’d love to have something like that someday!!
If anyone can teach me how to grow anything… I could use all the help. I’ve tried many years to grow a garden, or even keep succulents in the house. Everything dies!!
Jenn – a traveling Wife recently posted…How To Correctly Use Social Media Branding
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Oh no! I think I should probably start with trying to keep a cactus of some sort alive, but we shall see!
I had my garden before and I loved it. Now that I moved out of the house I don’t have it but maybe someday…
Author
That’s what I tell myself too–I want one after I finally settle down somewhere!
I love rooftop gardens and I have a balcony garden myself… not a fan of urban chicken farming. It is smelly and noisy and most people don’t think enough about what the chickens really need either… they cannot be left ina little coop all the time. They are living beings that need room to roam and fresh air to breathe!
Elle recently posted…5 Reasons to Take Your Workout Outdoors
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That’s true–my friend has chickens on her farm and I love em’, but I definitely wouldn’t want to raise them in the city either. Good thing I don’t want to live in a city in the future!
I saw this book! I really want to pick up a copy now! It sounds so helpful, esp if you live in an apartment like me! thanks for this Farrah ♥
tianna recently posted…Kahina Beldi Soap Review
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Yes indeed! I’m gonna be living in an apartment again in a couple months, so I’m hoping I’ll be able to implement this! :D
I have a black thumb, but I keep trying. Our new apartment has 2 balconies, and I am determined to grow some herbs! I need this book, thank you for sharing!
Susie @ Suzlyfe recently posted…The 80 20 Diet for Runners (80 Fresh Review + Giveaway)
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I’m sending you my best wishes! I have a feeling that I have a black thumb as well. :/
I would LOVE to have a garden but I can’t keep anything alive. Seriously, nothing lives when I’m in charge. If I could, I’d grow lots of herbs and flowers because I love fresh flowers in my house :)
Meme recently posted…Bacon Grilled Cheese
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Aww, darn! I would love to do the same, but I’ll need to be in a place for more than a couple weeks first. Jury’s still out on whether or not I can keep anything alive! :o
I NEED WANT HAVE-TO learn to garden!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Spicy Garden Carrot Hummus
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I wish you the best of luck! I’m definitely going to have to refer to this book a bunch of times, hehehe.
I’m really good at killing plants. I either over-water or under-water. I did have a small, elevated bed garden last year that did okay. If I lived in a city without a yard, I’d definitely do the rooftop thing, I always think it’s fun to spot them out hotel windows :)
Author
Oh noes! Honestly, I worry that even if the raccoons hadn’t gotten to my tomato plant, it may not have lived long under my care. ;_; One can hope/dream though! *-*
Plants and me are like oil and water. My aunt sub-leased her place to me last year and she left some plants behind I guess as a house warming gift. She’s mad at me now because all three of them died and I told her to begin with that I have a hard time keeping plants alive. It’s not so much that it’s hard, but rather I forget they’re there and then it’s too late. I’ve always wanted a herb and vegetable garden, but this will only be a dream because we all know what would happen if they’re survival was left up to me lol
Author
Oh no! :[ Well, you gave her fair warning, so I like to think she has no right to be mad at you, aha. My cousin gave me a bamboo plant for my apartment when I was in med school, but the cat I was fostering killed it! ;_; I think I have a problem with animals getting a little too friendly with my plants. I hope I’ll be able to keep a garden alive someday!
love this idea if there is no where to grow out then grow up. What a great idea for all those that live in apartments and in big cities
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Author
Agreed! I’m gonna have to see if my future apartment complex will allow this! :P
Apollo? What a neat name for a tomato plant! I’m glad I’m not the only one who names plants. Our lemon tree, Marco, is sprouting so many baby lemons right now and it’s freaking adorable!
Kaylin@EnticingHealthyEating recently posted…Whole Wheat Peanut Butter and Jelly Pancakes
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haha, I’m so glad I’m not the only one either! And yay for baby lemons! <3 Go Marco!
I’m with you, I’d love a forest of avocado trees!
We have two veggie patches that are currently bare as our last crop was devoured by a mystery pest. We’re thinking it was a rat or mouse – or possibly a possum – as it ate every last one of our juicy corn cobs and didn’t touch anything else!
Kristy @ Southern In Law recently posted…Recipe: Baked Chocolate and Peanut Butter Protein Bars (Gluten Free!)
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Bring on the avocados! :D!!
Aww, I’m sorry to hear about the mystery pest! They’re so talented at destroying the things we work so hard to keep alive! ;_;