Keeping it Green

Hubby and I took a tour this past spring.  This was an important tour, and that is why I am sharing it.  No monuments, insides of cathedrals, or massive flower gardens on this tour.  This was a tour about challenge and change.  Recently, the Washington D.C. government began encouraging property owners to make "green roofs" a part of their building plans.  New commercial construction is required to have a certain percentage of roof space either solar or green.  This growing plants keeps buildings cooler in the summer and reduces heat loss in the winter, it reduces stormwater run-off which is a prime reason for water pollution, and green roofs reduce noxious organic compounds as well as can provide food!  Go here if you want more information on all of this.

Buildings have to insure structural support for such a project and many buildings cannot afford the change over, but a good number can!

Our first stop was the University of District of Columbia that began their project refurbishing an old greenhouse that had been used to teach botany and agriculture.  They also were studying food security...how long could their neighborhood/campus go without access to food in an emergency, for instance?

Their rooftop grew flowers, herbs and succulents and emphasized that pollinators do climb several stories to feed and pollinate!

Then we moved on to a condo building near the Potomac River and right across from the Kennedy Center.  (Rich people do not live here as there are some subsidies...but it is way out of my price range!)

Their change to providing a buffer of succulents also added a nice patio for the owners who lived here.

So many of these projects used succulents because they require virtually no maintenance...just the occasional weeding.

And, of course, the view of the Kennedy Center and river added to these features.

Next we went on to visit the American University program which has worked for years on a program of recycling, greening and environmental living with their students.

The above slows runoff from sidewalks and patios before it goes into the storm drains.

They had their own bee hive on one of the rooftop gardens.

This used to be a flat and hot parking lot above.

They admitted that getting students to partipate could sometimes be a challenge!!

Our final stop was at a Latin restaurant that had its own herb and "decorative greens" roof garden.  The chef gave us a personal tour after our delicious lunch.

This growing plants on roofs has been done for centuries, of course.  But it is nice to see cities renewing this effort.  Every little thing to keep us healthier and cooler.