11th Street Green Roof

Green Roof in Brooklyn – Haven and Harvest

For the resident plant lovers, fresh food lovers, gardeners-without-a-garden – the barren roof outside the kitchen was an affront. Now it is a haven to enjoy every day, every season, every meal.

By designing paths, seating areas and retaining walls on the diagonal, we were able to create a different view from each of the spaces. There are areas to rest quietly, sunbathe, dine and – very important to these clients – entertain generously. And the separate areas are also specific for different horticultural purposes.

For example, an acid soil bed allows them to grow blueberries, lingonberries, pines and heathers. In another areabamboos (non-running) screen out the city below – and this creates a shady area where mint becomes an edible groundcover. Deep soil in the sunny bed just outside the kitchen gives a place for perennial, evergreen herbs such as Rosemary and Sage, fragrant Lavender and a Concord grape growing on an arbor – dappled shade while dining and sweet dessert afterward.

Even the dedicated vegetable garden next to the greenhouse is framed with evergreen shrubs for year-round interest and seeded with sun-loving summer flowers. Creeping raspberries trail over stone walls; strawberries are also a groundcover; grasses sway in every breeze. Everything is bounty and beauty combined