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06/22/2007: "A New Take on Urban Farming"

The BBC reports on an interesting variant of urban farming--skyscraper-greenhouses, powered by solar energy and biomass combustion, in center cities. Read their report on Vertical Farming in the Big Apple.

But why limit yourself to such specialized applications? There are thousands of acres of unused (or rarely-used) rooftop in most cities, that could (if the live-load limits of the roof structure permits) be used for urban farming, with the side benefit of providing habitat for birds and for work-weary humans. And they provide insulation for the building, reducing its energy use for both heating and cooling.

Green roofs have been in use for millenia; why do we keep forgetting what works to devote ourselves to cheap futilities?

Richard Risemberg, on 06.22.07 @ 04:51PST