By coincidence today I heard on the news something very interesting: in New York a group of young adults have started using rooftops of buildings as a place to plant vegetables and herbs. Little by little this is becoming something more common, because also other cities in other parts of the world have such rooftop farms.
My first thought was: GREAT! That is a really good idea. It has so many advantages! Let’s see if I can cite some of them:
- It will reduce our carbon footprint: as the products come from near, there is no need for transportation as trucks, trains or airplanes, all big users of nonrenewable resources. This also reduces health problems; the air quality in the city will become a LOT better.
- You know exactly where it comes from, if it is genetically modified, if it has been treated with pesticides and so on. Basically I think the product from the rooftop farms are quite healthy. And have the advantage of being very fresh when you eat them.
- The vegetal coverage of the roofs reduces heating of the building (reducing in that way extra energy consumption by air conditionings!), it protects the roof from the weather, and as plants absorb water it will reduce quantity of storm water.
- Plants produce oxygen, and filter the air. Like I said before, it will produce a mayor increase in air quality
There are many more advantages, but I think these are the most important
Maybe we should all (when possible) make our own little rooftop farms ;)
Here is a video about one of such projects: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3mLPy0ttqc
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