|
Victory Roof Top Garden
Located at: The Churchill Retirement Community, 3rd Floor Rooftop, 10015 - 103 Avenue, Edmonton
Plot Number: over 100 containers
Total Garden Size: range in size to 3’diameter
Gardening Style: containers on rooftop
Number of Participants: 30 residents (2007 Season)
Fee: None
Description
Research has shown that staying connected with activities that bring you joy and satisfaction is as important as good food and exercise. For seniors who have been avid gardeners for years, leaving their gardens behind can be heart breaking.
The Victory Roof Top Gardens situated at The Churchill Retirement Community in downtown Edmonton allows our residents to stay connected with nature and the continued joy and satisfaction of growing the things they love whether that’s a rose or a tomato. Each member has an opportunity and is encouraged to contribute to the design and care of the roof top patio garden on the third floor as well as some decorative pots at the entrance to the residence.
The roof top patio garden, situated on the east side of the tower, is the perfect place for container gardening. Gardeners bring and tend to their own plants as well as contribute their ideas and time to the common pots. Gardeners meet at the beginning of the season to plan the garden but don’t meet throughout the season. When away, others help out with watering and fertilizing. Gardeners appreciate the chance to share their knowledge with fellow gardeners, new neighbours, and to cultivate new friendships. When the work is done, Victory Roof Top Gardens is a lovely place to sit back, relax and “watch the flowers grow”.
In the first season (2001), flowers were grown. Roof top gardening presents unique growing challenges including high wind and strong sun. As well, all of the planting is done in containers. Barriers have been erected to reduce the wind. Although many gardeners have more than fifty years experience in farming and horticulture, rooftop and container gardening is a new experience and different skills will have to be learned.
A Recreational Therapist and several staff members of the Churchill Retirement Community contribute their time and resources to this project. All bedding plants are purchased from local greenhouses. Soil (“Pro Mix” Soil-less), stones, containers, and topsoil are hauled to the root top garden. Each container is lined with rocks for drainage, filled with Pro Mix and then 1” of topsoil is put on top. This last layer of topsoil seems to help reduce erosion and aids moisture control. We are presently exploring our options to expand the roof top garden to include vegetables and herbs. We have great ideas for shading, trellising, and garden boxes and hope to incorporate these as we learn more about roof top gardening.
Challenges, Needs, and Barriers:
1. We need information and wonder if there is local expertise on roof top gardening.
2. We welcome individuals to our residence to speak to our gardeners about roof top gardening.
|
| 
