Rooftop garden work plan

return to Rooftop garden

Work Plan

Regulations

Zoning and codes

• Does zoning allow this activity?
• What health codes might apply?
• Is Earth Central's tax ID sufficient for doing this kind of business?
• How could we work with the city and other entities to ensure success?
• Certified Organic?

Menu Planning

Specialty menus

• Three month rotations
• Start with Winter 2012-2013
• Featured items
• Cost, price, quantity needed
• Menu description and story

Growing Environment

Structural impact

• Water harvest, storage, and use
• Media and containers
• Covering(s)/season extension measures/shade/ventilation

Crop management

• Fertility
• Integrated pest management/crop health
• Production schedules
• Energy needed (labor, power)
• Could it ever be more than just plants? Bees? Chickens? Fish? Worms? Black Soldier Fly larvae?

Pilot one smaller area for first season before deploying larger scale operations

Economic

• Value of supporting local good food movement
• True costs of food (nutritional, energy, environmental, social, political)
• Costs to produce food vs. dollar value of crops
• Must be profitable for all three: MCBW, Green Garage, Earth Central
• Life cycle of all materials and systems

Community

• Demonstrates next generation of "farm-to-plate" relationship. Special recipes.
• Conduct demonstration tours..showing sustainable urban agriculture
• Allow sitting area for Green Garage ... Businesses in Residence...and ways they can participate
• Next generation partnering with MCBW...symbiotic interdependence...compost cycle...spent grain?
• Next generation works on the farm...students

Education

• MCBW customers learn about foods and how their food is grown
• GG visitors, volunteers and regulars see what it takes to grow sustainably
• Hands on learning for those who learn best by doing
• Connection to natural seasons and cycles
• Students learn how to work with nature and with communities