Registration Eligibility
09/19/2017
Start Date
09/19/2017
End Date
09/19/2017
Description
Urban Rooftop Agriculture (URA) is an emerging trend. Numerous environmental and architectural benefits can be attributed to URA akin to those of conventional eco-roofs. These food producing rooftops also provide sociological benefits, cultivating a greater awareness and education of food production and food security while in many cases creating a new typology for outdoor dining and social interaction.1
Of particular interest are human factors that motivate development of URA, specifically, the presence of ball carriers as described in a recent study analyzing and identifying traits common in projects that restored or created a sense of community in very challenging social venues.2 For example, given the myriad constraints and policies involved in bringing a rooftop farm to fruition, most conventional projects might give up before starting, but thanks to an activist the ball carrier URA activity is encouraged and present.3
URA associated with restaurants and hotels are becoming commonplace nationally; rooftop community gardens in the Northwest, rooftop farms in the Midwest and East, once rare ten years ago, now border on the conventional. What accounts for the emergence of these food producing landscapes? What makes them successful, in fact vital to their communities? In the conclusion, we present a set of recurring features of URA practice for emulation in moving rooftop agriculture forward in public awareness and practice.
Location
Seattle
Distance Learning
No
Course Equivalency
No
Subjects
Agriculture / Local Food Production
Green Roofs
Health, Safety and Welfare
Yes
Hours
1.0
Learning Outcomes
1. Identify the elements of successful urban rooftop agriculture practices. What role do social factors and ball carriers play in the success of these urban farms?
2. Discover common challenges in the Cascadia region associated with introducing agricultural rooftop projects into urban environments.
3. Identify the sociological and educational benefits of food producing rooftops while recognizing new typologies for outdoor dining and social interaction.
Instructors
Michael Sanchez, Assistant Professor, Washington State University Dr. Yael Stav, Invivo Design"
Course Codes
CA172R
Provider
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities