Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2012 - (Page 5)

innovation, creativeness, hard-work and sustainable driving force, owner, founder and entrepreneur Ben Flanner has discovered exactly how to ‘grow to the top’. With an Industrial Engineering Degree from Wisconsin University, Ben has used his formal education and his previous experience as the co-founder and manager of Eagle Street Rooftop farm to create an organic vegetable farm operating throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons harvesting vegetables that are sold onsite, at local farmers markets and to restaurants throughout the city. His produce is also used to create higher value delicious salsas and hot sauces. Did we mention the farm also produces honey and has developed a wide range of community outreach and engagement programs! I sat down with Ben to talk about the urban farm for this On the Roof with… interview. I should start by congratulating you on BG’s Award of Excellence at the CitiesAlive conference in Philadelphia. How does it feel to know an idea that required tonnes of planning, support and hard work has materialized into something people throughout North America are applauding? BF: It feels great to be recognized for what we’ve accomplished with starting the farm. We’ve put a lot of hard work into it and I think what we’ve accomplished is something very positive for the community, our food system and the environment. The BG is incredibly unique. Not only are you growing and harvesting numerous types of vegetables, your also producing honey, salsa, spices and hot sauces. Was production of this volume always your intention? BF: Yes. From the start we knew we’d be producing added value products such as jarred goods from the farm. We kind of experiment and experience what people like and how to create a good use of our products as well as the economics behind different products. They’re very important to the farm, they’re fun and it’s also very good to have something with our label on it on the shelf that we know tastes good, people eat and share with their friends… it’s a great way to get the word out! For clarification fresh vegetables are our core business. Our added value products make up a small portion of our business. Mid-season it’s a good way to use fresh products that may have a bruise or crack that can’t be sold and shouldn’t be wasted. Producing jarred goods is a very natural thing to do. We like to show people who come to the farm, how to pickle and jar left over vegetables. Urban agriculture is a very interesting concept. Society is pushing the need for people to eat local and focus on where their food is coming from. This is important but not always easy, especially when the garden you’re getting produce from is in Queens, New York. How exactly do you deal with the rooftop environment and encourage your customers to maintain an ethical diet? BF: We grow essentially in the same growing season as other local farms from up state or Pennsylvania which is spring/fall so we’re not really growing the same products as many of the farms that are in a southern climate, nothing tropical. Essentially we’re very similar to what a farm would be a couple miles or hours outside of the city. We grow fresh seasonal crops over the course of the spring, summer and fall. I think in many ways it’s nice for the customers because they get an opportunity to come visit the farm and see it in action and meet their farmer and learn a couple things about how the crops grow and what they look like. This way, we’re able to actually bring it to them quickly because were not driving a couple hours so on that regard, it’s actually a little easier. On the growing side there are other challenges related to being on a roof as opposed to ground level, such as wind. We have to contend with the wind and be very innovative to reduce the amount of stress the wind places on the plants. The shallow growing media depth can also be an issue at times. We’re slowly but surely figuring out what sorts of crops don’t do well with our depth. Since we are only 1 acre (hopefully 2 by next year) we don’t have to grow everything, we

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2012

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2012
Contents
From the Founder
Bookshelf
New Kid on the Green Roof
New Incentives for Green Roofs
On the Roof with Ben Flanner
Award Winning Green Roof and Wall Projects Represent!
Awards of Excellence Profiles
CitiesAlive 2012 – Building a Legacy of Outstanding Performance in Chicago!
Recognizing the Pioneer that was Malcolm Wells
Green roof and wall performance standards volunteers required!
Plant Profile: Thymus
Project Profile: Green Wall Maintenance Madness
GRP in Focus: Mary Ann Uhlmann
Project Profile: Healthy Haven for Community Members
A Positive Outlook for Urban Greening of Vacant Lots
A Green Space is a Clean Space
The Ambassador Program
Professional Calendar
New Corporate Members
GRHC Buyers Guide
Back to Planning’s Roots

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2012