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Rooftop Farming, A Hit During COVID-19. Grow your own!

If nothing else, balcony gardening has proved to be the most positive thing that happened during the lockdown. Many cities across India witnessed a surge of interest in growing flowers and vegetable plants of different kinds. From aloe vera and basil to ginger, onion, cucumber, potato and chilli, people planted all kinds of essentials.
This sudden interest was probably a result of an increase in time spent at home but also an attempt to rethink what we consume and from where especially during COVID-19. It is pretty cool to see how these urban farmers have learnt the art of farming to get the best product to the table.

Growing vegetables and fruits at homes mean keeping the nutritional value and freshness intact. It also means easy access to seasonal produce free of chemicals.
Though balcony gardening first became popular among individual flats in gated communities, now, realising the endless scope rooftop farming can have, many housing societies are pondering over the possibility of converting their terraces or rooftops into farming zones – an attempt to sustain this practice for the larger good.

Many gardening experts have even set examples to show that concepts of hydroponics (a method of growing plants, usually crops, without soil) and use of greywater (wastewater generated in households from sources such as sinks, showers, baths, washing machines or dishwashers excluding wastewater from toilets) are feasible ways to manage water usage for rooftop farming. These are excellent concepts, especially, in a place with water shortage issue.

Why is it important?

The concept of rooftop farming is fairly new, but it is quickly getting popular among city-dwellers. Apart from fulfilling the growing demand of fresh, organic and highly nutritious vegetables, rooftop farming is important as it makes the surrounding greener, cooler, eco-friendly, lessen the environmental impact of food transportation and makes a person aware of what he/she is consuming on daily. Moreover, various studies have found that living around green spaces can have a positive impact on one’s well-being – decreases stress-related issues, anxiety, mood disorders and increases productivity.

Benefits of Rooftop Farming

There are innumerable benefits of the concept of rooftop farming. We are listing out a few of them:

• Environmental benefits: Rooftop farming improves air quality by reducing and filtering polluted air particles like dust and smog. Having a rooftop farm means no impact on food transportation which ultimately reduces carbon footprint. One of the amazing things about rooftop farming is that it significantly helps reduce ambient temperature making the space and the building cooler. If there is one of the most effective ways to use rainwater, it is through rooftop farming.
• Optimum use of vacant space: Through rooftop farming, you can make use of spaces you generally don’t utilize often such as your apartment’s terrace. While you have the resource, why not put that to optimum use!
• Availability of local and organic products: There is nothing healthier than consuming homegrown produce. Living in the city, we have perhaps forgotten the taste of fresh, chemical-free vegetables that are filled with nutrients. Well, it is not too late, you can still grow a terrace garden and make the most of it.
• Community engagement: Having a terrace kitchen garden is a wonderful thing, but what can make it better is turning it into a community engagement activity. This way, residents of a housing society can reconnect with nature while taking care of their plants. The best part is they can eventually harvest the produce and consume it.

• A way to destress from city life: One of the days when you feel overwhelmed by the busy city life, you can now fetch your getaway right in your rooftop. How cool is that! There is nothing more soothing than sitting amidst green plants and watch them grow. Another benefit is it helps reduce stress and increases positivity.
• Increases property value: Who doesn’t like greenery! And if someone gets a chance to live in a place that screams nothing but that, especially, in a city, it will be counted as a blessing. With rooftop gardens, you can transform your boring and plain building into an attractive green landscape – this will only increase the building and your society’s aesthetic value and in turn increase its property value.

Plants Suitable for Rooftop Farming:

• Coriander
• Chilli
• Tomato
• Brinjal
• Spinach
• Beans

• Carrot
• Cauliflower
• Green peas
• Lettuces
• Kale
• Arugula

If not rooftop farming, you can also convert your society compound into an edible landscape. It has the potential to transform your residential community into space that is aesthetically pleasing and beautiful. Moreover, it can make the space green, functional and productive.

Comment below if you would like your residential community to start a rooftop farm. You can also visit www.nobrokerhood.com to book a gardener for your society.