The rooftop garden at Umbrella House is an 820 square foot intensive green roof that serves as a source of fresh produce for building residents, as a means to assist in storm water management, and as a model for other New York City buildings.
The garden was initially conceived in early 2012 and construction was completed in December 2014. Spring 2015 is the garden’s first growing season.
Umbrella’s Rooftop Garden involved extensive construction: structural steel framing and concrete planking were required to build the raised 8” planting bed. Construction cost was $150,000. Area architect Paul Castrucci was the project architect.
Umbrella House members believe that this project is a worthy example for other co-ops and property owners to emulate. Umbrella House Garden Committee and Co-op Board Member Parker Pracjek states: “Access to healthy food through Farmer’s Markets, Green Food Carts, and Farm to Table initiatives have made some improvements to food health literacy in New York City, but more must be done. Food justice should be expanded to urban farming to transform underused spaces into productive environments. The benefits of urban farming are far-reaching and include decreased carbon footprint, responsible use of natural and human resources and community health.”