Appendix D

Roof top garden Recommendations

for the South Vancouver Neighbourhood House

By The University of British Columbia LFS 350 team

2015

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1. Sensory Garden

A sensory garden is inclusive to individuals of all ages and abilities a space that can be therapeutic, educational, and inclusive of individuals with sensory response and cognitive disabilities (Phillips, Butler, & Howard-Brooks, 2011 Mapledown School, which has a successful sensory garden, offers a list of suggestions for sensory gardens that that includes, but is not limited to:

Selecting plants that are of different heights, textures, smell, and

colours Including wind chimes to listen to and activate with a light touch Selecting plants with various smells and tastes A water feature

Images retrieved from: http://www.mapledownschool.co.uk/page/?pid=42

Numerous types of plants and garden features can be used in a sensory garden. Due to limited space on the roof, we suggest that the plants be placed in individual wood, plastic, or metal flower pots, because they can be used outdoors, are available in bright colours, and can be placed in various patterns in a designated area on the roof. Terracotta pots should be avoided, as they are susceptible to cracking (Amundson et al., 2010). To avoid soil-dry out UBCs rooftop garden will use a mulch cover like straw or woodchips to help soil evaporation, we would recommend SVNH do the same (Amundson et al., 2010). As well, we would recommend colour-coding signage for the different senses that the plants engage (Worden & Moore, 2004).

A) Garden Specifics

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A) Garden Specifics (Cont.)

With regards to the plants, seasonal planting and cultivating will be required. Watering and fertilizing of the plants will also need to be done regularly. We suggest rotating volunteers to accomplish these tasks. It is important to note that through our literature review most of the sensory gardens had a much bigger allotted space than what SVNH rooftop can allow. The effectiveness of a sensory garden is heightened when community members are able to walk around a designated path (Mapledown School, 2011). The use of a water feature at the beginning of the path can work as a good reference point for those who are visually impaired, as well as the use of wind chimes along the path. That being said we believe the incorporation of a sensory garden on SVNHs rooftop would be beneficial to bringing awareness of the garden to the community, regardless of the limited space.

B) Plant Recommendations for SVNH Sensory Garden- adapted from West Coast Seeds How to Grow Guide (2013) with the inclusion of the senses that can be aroused with the specific plant.

Plant Growing Tips Sense

Sunflower To grow big plants with really big flowers, the soil should be enriched with organic fertilizer when plants are 30 cm tall dissolve 5 mL borax in 350 mL water and spread over soil.

Sight bright, bold flowers that grow tall quickly

Marigold To encourage branching, pinch the growing tips. Sight bright, orange-red flowers that are resilient

Lemon Balm

For larger and more succulent leaves, grow the plant in partial shade.

Smell has a strong lemon scent when leaves are crushed

Lavender Full sun and well drained soil are essential. Smell comforting, fragrant scent

Sage Do not plant near cucumbers, because they are sensitive to aromatic herbs.

Touch soft, wool-like leaves

Fennel Should be kept separate from other vegetables as it will inhibit their growth.

Touch feathery and delicate

Thyme Water only when necessary damp, cold soil will harm the plant

Taste earthy, slightly minty flavour

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Scabiosa Sow outdoors in early spring if there is risk of

light frost; if not, seeds can be sown in the fall. Sound seed heads make a papery noise when touched

Nigella love-in-a-mist

Grows best in a cooler area, but with full sun exposure.

Sound puffy seed heads rattle when shaken

Wild Strawberries

Grow best with a companion such as thyme see below

Taste produce small, sweet, juicy fruit

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2. Bean Teepee

To add a more playful element to the rooftop space, we also suggest the inclusion of a sweet pea teepee or wigwam. Part of the grant that SVNH is applying for indicates that the rooftop garden should include some indigenous features. A teepee was a home for Woodland and northern first nations to complement their migratory way of life (Government of Canada, 2013) a sweet pea teepee is a way of incorporating the first nations culture to the rooftop.

Sweet peas can grow to heights of 1 2 meters (West Coast Seeds, 2013). Sweet pea leaves twine around structures a teepee would provide support. Sweet peas grow best with full sun exposure; the rooftop space is an ideal growing area (West Coast Seeds, 2013).

Timing - -Sow indoors in the

first half of February or sow outdoors in early Spring -If winter is mild, sweet peas can be sowed outdoors in the fall

Starting - -Sow seeds 1 cm deep -

-Seeds should germinate in 10 20 days

Growing - -Prepare the sweet pea bed the previous fall -Provide trellis for support

- -Mulch around plant to keep soil cool and water during dry weather

retrieved from: http://www.happinessishomemade.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/green-bean-frame.jpg

A)Recommendations for SVNH sweet peas -adapted from West Coast Seeds How to Grow Guide (2013).

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B) Recommendations for SVNH sweet pea teepee adapted from How to Grow a Bean Teepee

Step 1 Set up six 12 16 inch flower pots in a circle. Fill the bottom of the pots with gravel to stabilize them. Then add the soil with organic fertilizer. Step 2 - Make the frame using six 3-4 meter high plant stakes or bamboo poles by binding the tops together with twine. Step 3 - Each pole should be placed in a flower pot 3 4 inches deep. Step 4 Wrap the twine around the poles to create a framework that the sweet peas will be able to climb on. Make sure to leave a space between 2 of the poles to serve as the teepee entrance for the children. Step 5 Plant the beans in the pots, about 3 beans around each pole.

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A. Proin tristique.

A

B

C

3. Vertical Gardening

A) Infrastructure Options

In an effort to create an integrative space, we propose that the bars enclosing the South Vancouver Neighbourhood House roof top garden be utilized for vertical gardening. Some varieties of plants, such as beans, are able to produce twice as much growing vertically (Pleasant, 2010). Vertical gardening hosts a range of benefits including reduced mould problems and increased ease of harvest, it is also much easier to inspect for pests (Pleasant, 2010).

The bars used to enclose the space have the potential to act as supports for growing vines and other crawling plants. This would require that they initially be held in place with zip ties, wire, string, or a variety of other materials, until they are able to curl around the bars themselves (Pleasant, 2010). Another option is to use some sort of Lattice design, which gives the plants additional surface area to cover.

The case for using lattice, opposed to just utilizing the metal bars by themselves, would be the opportunity to incorporate some small hanging baskets, as pictured on the left, thus creating an integrative feature.

8

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B) Plant Varieties

There are two varieties of climbing plants that would thrive in a vertical garden these two varieties are twining stem and curling tendril plants. Twining stem plants would be able to fully utilize the bars on the fence, and do not require additional horizontal supports, rather they spiral around their support, growing steadily upward until they turn back on themselves (Pleasant, 2010)

Twining stem plant Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapageria

The Curling tendril variety of plant would also work on the bars of the fence, however they would require an additional horizontal support (Pleasant, 2010). This horizontal support can come in the form of string or wire woven through the bars creating a type of lattice (Pleasant, 2010). Using these horizontal supports would allow the plants to grow quite densely and could create the appearance of a living wall, however this could have implications for sun exposure for the rest of the space and would need to be taken into consideration. When planting either variety of climbing plant it is important that there be at least four inches between the base of the climbing structure and the surface level of the planter (Pleasant, 2010). One of the disadvantages of vertical gardening using structured supports is that it limits the ability of the plants to rotate, which can adversely affect the growing capabilities of plants such as peas, beans, cucumbers, etc. (Pleasant, 2010).

Curling Tendril Plant retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tendril

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A B C

D E F

4. Bamboo Fence

There are two different varieties of Bamboo that can be used in a bamboo fencing, the clumping variety, which grows slowly and is easier to contain, and the running variety, which is faster growing to the point that it is sometimes described as invasive and requires more maintenance (Do it Yourself: Live Bamboo Fencing). Based on the fact that the South Vancouver Neighborhood House expressed concern regarding maintenance level and sustainability, I would recommend that they use a clumping variety of bamboo. Since it will be grown on a rooftop garden, a short clumping variety would be most suitable. The Fargesia genus is a clumping variety, which does not typically grow higher than 15 and can tolerate low levels of sunlight and temperature (Bamboo Botanicals). Here are some types within the Fargesia genus that are popular in the Pacific North West:

Fargesia denudata

- Fargesia robusta 'Campbell' - Fargesia rufa (Dragon Head Bamboo) - Fargesia scabrida - Fargesia jiuzhaigou '1' - Fargesia jiuzhaigou '2'

(List retrieved from Bamboo Botanicals)

As mentioned above, certain varieties of bamboo have a tendency to spread below ground and become invasive. However, since the bamboo will be grown in a planter, this limits its ability to spread out underground and helps contain the perimeter. The implementation of a bamboo fence would need to be done in coordination with whatever raised gardening beds are designed for the space.

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5. Hydroponics

Hydroponics have been used by humans since the beginning of the twentieth century, as recorded (Jones, 2005). They are gaining recognition as one of the most efficient ways to grow produce since nutrient levels can be closely monitored and the irrigation of the plants calls for much less water than traditional agriculture. Soilless agriculture requires 85% less water than soil based agriculture (Modern Sprout, 2015). When it comes to the threat of environmental risk, hydroponics is a more promising technique companies involved in sustainable agriculture can partake in for a sound future in agriculture. Professor Vikram Bhatt of McGill University in Montreal kindly responded to some questions we had regarding rooftop gardens. McGill University incorporated the use of hydroponically grown produce in greenhouses to reduce weight on the rooftop and withstand harsh winter conditions (personal communication, March 11, 2015). At the SVNH specifically, the mason jars could be hung from a wooden ceiling however it is best if they remain invulnerable to rainfall. No regular watering of the plant is required since the plants roots are constantly exposed to the nutrient rich water.

Retrieved from: http://modernsproutplanter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/NewPressHead.jpg

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A) Materials and Maintenance

The materials required for the construction of a Mason jar hydroponics kit:

1 Gallon of Water Herb seeds Jiffy pots Dry Nutrient Mix (plant food) Small mouth Mason jar- glass or plastic with just the ring band Clean plastic yogurt containers that will fit through the mason jar ring, make sure they do not fall through the ring (the Activa shaped yogurt containers are ideal for the normal mason jar size). Box Cutter

If one would like buy an already put together version of the kit I listed above, they can be found on etsy.com.

Types of plants you could grow from a jar: Arugula, basil, parsley, chives, cilantro, oregano, lemon balm, thyme, lettuce To find growing guides for each herb in a hydroponics form please see: http://nessgarden.com/arugula/

Retrieved from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gozalewis/4654877826/

How to maintain your hydroponics kits: The great news is indoor hydroponics requires absolutely minimal maintenance. Unless there is algal production, there is no need to alter the nutrient water that is supplying growth for the plant.

Retrieved from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lemon_Balm_Tea.jpg

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B) Instructions

Step 1

Paint mason jar with a dark colour paint to block excess sunlight from stimulating algae growth. If painted with black paint, children can even draw on their jars with chalk.

Step 2

Make slits in the yogurt container with the box cutter to make it look like a hydroponics net pot:

Make sure there are plenty of slits for the roots come down through the container.

Step 3

Keep the gallon container of water separate and follow the instructions for indoor plants that should be found on your fertilizer box. The likely instructions will be to add a teaspoon or less to 1 gallon of water and let thoroughly dissolve.

Step 4

Insert the yogurt container through the ring band so it sits comfortably.

Step 5

Add the nutrient water until water is of an inch above the bottom rim of the yogurt cup.

Step 6

Insert the jiffy pot with the seeds which you want to grow with compact plant as shown in the picture:

Retrieved from: http://www.hydroponics.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/jiffy-7-plants.jpg It is also possible to use porous styrofoam as the base of the plant if available.

Step 7

Make sure all light from the nutrient water is excluded and watch the plant grow! Sun can be shown on the plant itself, but sun exposure through the glass jar will promote algae growth.

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5. Seating Furniture is a critical component in the rooftop gardens success. C. Heinze (personal communication, March 2, 2015) proposed the idea of having abundant and adequate seating for community members on SVNH rooftop garden. Comfortable seating does not only provide the community members with joy but also enhances the engagement for people to come to visit the garden more often. Our contact at Concordia University with Sheena Swirlz (Personal communication, March 11, 2015) claimed that there is a community lounge space in one of the greenhouse compartments, which is used for socializing, studying, eating and eventing (personal communication, March 11, 2015). Among different types of materials of furnitures we have looked into, wood is one of the best material suitable for a rooftop garden in SVNH (Ganea, 2012). Wood furniture is more comfortable to the user than metal or concrete seating since wood is resistant to temperature change and does not conduct heat or cold (Project for Public Spaces, n.d.). There are many different factors that contribute to choose wood as the main furniture material, such as the condition of the rooftop garden, the limited structural capacity of the roof garden and the narrow stair access to the rooftop.

A) Condition of the roof

In Vancouver, the rooftops experience heavy rain exposure during winter and high exposure to sunlight during summer (Turner, 1970). Therefore it is crucial to consider features with waterproof coating to avoid the damage from rainwater. For this reason there must be waterproofing of exceptional longevity to prevent damage and to reduce the possibility of long-term expensive reconstruction (McCarenDesign, Inc, n.d.). In addition, the direct glare and heat can make a rooftop garden quite uncomfortable. Aside from the confirmed sun worshiper, few people prefer to be in the sun for more than a few minutes on a hot day. Shade relief should be provided for people in the areas where plants cannot adequately provide shade. As R.M. Daley suggested in his booklet Guide to Rooftop Gardening (2011), the inclusion of awnings or parasols as an alternative artificial shade. Providing adequate shade maybe the single most important design consideration in relation to the use of the roof garden. If adequate shade is not provided, the garden will receive little or very limited use during hot summer session.

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B) Structure of the Roof

The structural capacity of the roof will determine the types and quality of features that can be included in the rooftop re-design. Due to the limited space on the rooftop, SVNH must first determine if the roof can support the additional weight of furniture and features. In order to determine the weight baring capacity a structural analysis must be done by a licensed structural engineer who will be able to calculate the amount of weight the roof can support (Delay, 2011).

In addition, the furniture must be as compact as possible without compromising comfort. Our contact at Concordia University states that their rooftop garden has a variety of furniture and that weight capacity is not a concern for their building (personal communication, March 11, 2015). Having various different types of furniture such as low, or convertible, benches, dining tables or a patio swing may increase the community members interests in the rooftop garden.

C) Access to the Rooftop

One of the most important considerations is the access to the rooftop. In addition to access for the people who will be constructing and enjoying the garden, workers and volunteers will need to transport materials for construction and maintenance (McCarenDesign, Inc, n.d.). At the SVNH rooftop garden, the only access to the rooftop is a narrow staircase. Therefore, the height of the furniture needs to be taken into consideration in order to make installation easier. One of the opinions is using furniture that can be dismantled into smaller pieces and assemble together at the rooftop (Delay, 2011).

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6. Fish Pond

As suggested by our community partner, a fish pond would be an excellent addition to the rooftop space (C. Heinze, personal communication, February 5, 2015). For convenience and easy maintenance, our group suggests the installation of a barrel water garden pond. A barrel water garden pond is a creative way to include an easy to maintain, sustainable water feature (Landscape and Garden Today, 2010). Most of the material needed to create and maintain this fish pond is available at home improvement and garden centres. If using an oak barrel as the pond receptacle, polyvinyl chloride must be installed to line the interior to prevent chemical leaching into the pond water. Another option would be to use floating plants to absorb the chemical residues (Landscape and Garden Today, 2010).

A) Recommendations for SVNH fish pond construction adapted from Better Homes and Gardens Pond in a Bucket (2013)

Material Step Instructions

Tub- like container, e.g. oak barrel, old sink, bathtub

1 - If using an oak barrel, line it with PVC

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) flexible liner in 20 mm thickness (only if using an oak barrel)

Large stone and terra-cotta pots 2 - Place stone and pots at the bottom of the pond - Fill the pond with water and treat with de-chlorinator as per package directions

Dechlorinator

retrieved from: http://www.landscapeandgardentoday.com/How_To/BuildHalfBarrelPond.php

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B) Pond Flora and Fauna

Like any pond, water must be kept fresh with the use of plants and fish (Better Homes and Gardens, 2013). For every square foot of water surface there should be one fish and one snail (Better Homes and Gardens, 2013). Except for true floating plants, plants should be submerged in pots for easier management water plants can easily invade a small barrel pond. Submerged plants provide a natural filtration system for the pond and provide hiding and spawning areas for small fish (Landscape and Garden Today, 2010). During cold weather, plant pots should be removed and kept sheltered until it is warm enough to return them to the pond for plants submerged 10 to 18 inches deep, this is not necessary ( Landscape and Garden Today, 2010). If fish are included in the pond water garden, there are a few factors to consider. The fish should be small. Koi for example are too large and produce an excessive amount of waste for a small pond (Landscape and Garden Today, 2010). Goldfish may grow too large it is best to choose a species that stays relatively small. The inclusion of mosquitofish will reduce the chances of mosquitoes breeding in the water, because mosquitofish consume their larvae.

retrieved from: http://www.bhg.com/gardening/landscaping-projects/water-gardens/pond-in-a-bucket/

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Better Homes and Gardens. (2013). Pond in a bucket. Retrieved from:

Location - Be as near to a fresh water source as possible, e.g. a water hose

- Choose a spot that offers at least 4 hours of sun/day, is firm surfaced and leveled

Water - Part of the pond water should be exchanged every week; un-chlorinated water should be available for this

- For fast de-chlorination, tablets or drops may be purchased or tap water can be left open several days prior to adding to pond

Plants - Plants should be potted in pea gravel, not soil

Submerged plants -e.g. baby pondweed, eelgrass, elodea, and water star grass

Floating plants e.g. bladderwort, giant duckweed, and frogs bit

Emergent plants e.g. water lilies and water primrose

Maintenance - Remove dead leaves, debris, and spent blooms regularly

- Water plants should be thinned out regularly

- If fish are present when pond freezes over, drill a hole in the ice

References

Amundson, B., Ghani, J., Szeto, P., Ho, N., Shi, X., Tang, X.,... Wang, H., (2010). Business

Proposal for the New SUB Rooftop Garden. UBC Social, Ecological Economic Development Studies

(SEEDS) Student Reports. Retrieved from: https://circle.ubc.ca/

Better Homes and Gardens. (2013). Pond in a bucket.

Retrieved from: http://www.bhg.com/gardening/landscaping-projects/water-gardens/pond-in-a-

bucket/

Choosing Bamboo. Bamboo Botanicals

retrieved from: http://www.bamboobotanicals.ca/html/bamboo-species/choosing-bamboo.html

Connell, Smithers and Joseph (2008). Farmers' markets and the "good food" value chain: A preliminary study,

Local Environment 13 (3), 169-185.

Daley. R.M.(2011). A Guide to Rooftop Gardening. Chicago Department of Environment. Retrieved from:

http://www.artic.edu/webspaces/greeninitiatives/greenroofs/images/GuidetoRooftopGardening_v2.pdf

Ganea, S. (2012, November 23). Exquisite Outdoor Spaces Featuring Wood as a Primary Material. Retrieved

from http://www.homedit.com/exquisite-outdoor-spaces-featuring-wood-as-a-primary-material/

Government of Canada. (2013). First Nations in Canada. Retrieved from https://www.aadnc-

aandc.gc.ca/eng/1307460755710/1307460872523

Holland, D. (2008). Bamboo. (cover story). Horticulture Week, 18-19.

Jones, J. (2005). Hydroponics. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

Landscape and Garden Today. (2010). How to make a sustainable water garden pond

from a wooden half barrel. Retrieved from

http://www.landscapeandgardentoday.com/How_To/BuildHalfBarrelPond.php

Live Bamboo Fencing. Do it Yourself

retrieved from: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/live-bamboo-fencing#b

Mapledown School. (2011). Sensory Garden. Retrieved from

http://www.mapledownschool.co.uk/page/?pid=42

McCarenDesign, Inc. (n.d.). Design and Development of a Roof Garden- Design Parameters. Retrieved

March 20, 2015 from http://www.mccaren.com/roofgardenmanualdesign3.html

Modern Sprout,. (2015). Page Not Found - Modern Sprout. Retrieved from: http://modernsproutplanter.com/

Nevius, R., & McClam, E. (2010, July 28). How to grow a bean teepee [Video File]. Retrieved

from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ausKEls_-U

Phillips, C., Butler, P., & Howard-Brooks, M. (2011). The healing circle a sensory garden for

all abilities. Barwon Community Leadership Programme. Retrieved from

www.commiteeforeelong.com.au/

Pleasant, B. (2010). Vertical gardening techniques for maximum returns. Topeka: Ogden Publications, Inc. Project for Public Spaces. (n.d.). Have a Seat: Movable Chairs or Benches? Retrieved from:

http://www.pps.org/reference/movable-seating/

Turner. J.A. (1970). Hours of Sunshine and Fire Season Severity Over the Vancouver Forest District. The

Forestry Chronicle. 46 (2): 106-111.

UBC Botanical Garden Forum

retrieved from: http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=46647

West Coast Seeds. (2013). How to Grow. Retrieved from http://www.westcoastseeds.com/how-

to-grow/

Worden, E.C., & Moore, K.A. (2004). Sensory Gardens. Environmental Horticulture

Department. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/EP/EP11700.pdf