Urban food growing is happening on a small scale green roof in Montreal, Canada. This was another successful green roof built on a shed using our original e-guide. When we first launched the guide back in 2010 Oliver spent a couple of months emailing us about his idea of for food growing on his eco-shed. .
Montreal green roof shed
The basic roof elements followed the guide. The membrane is a EDPM pond liner . This protected below and above with a geotextile. Although we suggest our new wire mesh finish for the front edge detail, Oliver came up with his own innovation – using a shower drain element to allow free passage of water off the roof. Rather than allow water to drip of the roof he also add a small ‘gutter’ element to take the water alway form the wooden walls. Of course the rainwater is harvested for reuse.
Using compost that he generated in the garden, mix with soil, rocks and sand, Oliver created his own green roof growing medium/substrate.
Urban Food on a shed by accident
The presence of squashes and tomatoes on the roof come from his compost. As he says ‘ so the veggies I ate last year are coming back to life for me to eat them again!’ This just goes to show you can grow food even on the smallest of green roofs!
The roof is quite shady due to the trees overhanging the roof. The wildflowers he has sown have not flowered thought here are some ‘discreet Golden rods in bloom.
Oliver says:
‘I’m very happy your guide helped me build this perma roof and plan to build 2 other green roofs on my house – the front balcony and back balcony.
…thanks for your generous help.’
Join the small scale green roof community and learn to build your own green roof.
