I became aware of a magnificent green roof project in Chicago yesterday. A restaurant, Uncommon Ground, bought a building with the immediate intent of putting a garden up on the roof. They have gone so far as to be certified as an Organic Rooftop Farm! Mayor Daley attended a dedication ceremony and recognized the coexistence of nature and urban settings. In addition to the Mayor’s comments, Uncommon Ground’s husband and wife owners, Mike and Helen Cameron, were presented with a check for $20,000 from the City of Chicago to cover a portion of the rooftop farm’s construction costs.
Natalie Pfister, Uncommon Ground’s organic rooftop farm director, says the farm is tended with great care by a group of interns.
“There are a lot of green roofs in Chicago, but none are a full production farm,” she adds. “It’s hard to find reliable books on gardening because they don’t apply when you are 30 feet above the ground. The growing experience is completely different, and I think we could benefit from a little shade.”
Construction of the farm took about six months to complete, four of which focused on revamping infrastructure in the restaurant to accommodate the rooftop facility, Mike comments. A rooftop deck made of a recycled plastic and wood material composite and solar thermal panels to heat the restaurant’s water and reduce the gas consumption are some of the many ways the Camerons’ keep their business centered around an environmentally-friendly focus.
I am impressed!
Greenscaped Buildings 