by Rebecca Davis Scott
This year, our green roof garden grew beyond expectations, proving once again that a little soil and a lot of care can produce big results! Among the many successes, the star crop of the season was our record-breaking tomato harvest, which kept us picking right into November. This garden is cultivated on an extensive green roof, originally covered in sedums and grown on only 5 inches of soil.
While we didn’t expand the garden’s footprint this year, we focused on maintaining the space and maximizing its potential. With around 160 pounds of produce harvested, the lush yields reaffirmed our decision to focus on nurturing what we’ve built. We attribute much of this success to the generous use of worm casting extract and comfrey tea, which enriched our soil beautifully.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. Challenges like a slug infestation and the persistent presence of invasive jumping worms tested our resilience. We tackled these pests with diatomaceous earth and diligent manual removal—progress is slow but steady.
In a delightful new collaboration, our edible flowers—sweet alyssum, nasturtium, and calendula, among many others—found a second life as vibrant garnishes for a local cocktail bar. It’s exciting to see our efforts in urban gardening contribute to such creative culinary endeavors.
Looking ahead to next year, we’re gearing up for even more growth—literally and figuratively. We plan to enrich our pollinator patches to support urban biodiversity and establish a dedicated tea and medicine garden. This initiative will be guided by the invaluable insights and leadership of our Indigenous staff, whose expertise and ideas will shape these transformative spaces.
Currently, we’re working on securing funding to install a perimeter safety fence. Once in place, this will allow us to welcome the public into this extraordinary rooftop garden. Imagine a farm with workshops, community events, and fresh produce harvests all happening in the heart of Regent Park.
We’re excited about the future of our green roof and the opportunities it holds for urban agriculture, community connection, and garden education. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to grow, together!
Have questions about our green roof or ideas for collaboration? We’d love to hear from you!
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