Imagine if instead of going to the supermarket for our veggies, we could simply visit our roof gardens.
Guest: Stuart Tyler – Fytogreen
If you’ve been following this podcast for some time, you’d by now know a couple of things.
- I’m kind of a greeny
- I’ve been trying (in vein) for over a year to get someone on the show to talk roof gardens and vertical garden solutions.
As I occasionally visit various places around the world, I’m amazed at the amount of ‘green solutions’ that I come across.
As you fly into Stockholm, Sweden, every second home had a roof garden. In Vancouver last year, I learned that development applications require a roof garden plan. (It’s also worth mentioning that both of these cities are regularly covered in snow. Or at best, they’re subjected to subzero temperatures for the better part of 6 months every year).
So why is it that here in Australia, where our climate is pretty much perfect year round (for growing seasonal fruit and veggies) no one does it?
Well…as I learned in this recording, people are doing it.
Sure it may not be to the same scale as our global cousins, however it is a fashion that is starting to gain some serious traction both residentially and commercially here in Australia.
So what is this roof garden and vertical garden hoo-ha?
As the names suggest gardens are now able to replace, or cover those empty wasted spaces that surround us in our home and work environment.
Think about how much space goes to waste on your roof alone. Imagine if you could have your entire veggie garden up there with a table and chair…and maybe a hammock.
Could there be anything better than being able to walk up a stairway to your rooftop, to freshly harvest the parsley and oregano for tonights spaghetti bolognese?
Not by my book…
About this podcast
In this podcast, I’m speaking with Stuart Tyler from Fytogreen.
Fytogreen are responsible for the amazing images you see above, along with many more I might add.
‘Ecologically Sustainable Roof and Garden Solutions’ is their thing and boy do they do it well.
I met Stuart at a trade show in Sydney not long ago and I was amazed at first by their stand. A floor to (10 meter high) ceiling mesh full of of amazing plants beamed out from beyond every other stand in the convention centre.
As we spoke more, Stuart started telling me about all of the awesome projects they had completed over the years. At that point I knew I had found my man 😉
I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as I enjoyed recording it. Stuart is a great communicator and a wealth of knowledge.
What we discuss
We talk about everything from the various products/solutions that are available and their best applications, through to many of the design and construct considerations that need to be recognised.
As well as, regulations that need to be followed; environmental advantages; the practical advantages of owning your own roof garden/ green wall and more.
In closing I have two messages for two separate sides of the fence:
- If you’re a home owner, that is excited about roof gardens and green walls as I am, or
- If you’re a builder, landscaper, or any other trade that might see this as an interesting segue/niche opportunity
I encourage you to reach out to Stuart and do your own research.
I’ll go on the record right now by saying that roof gardens and vertical garden solutions will be the future. Homes, apartments, buildings and everything in between, at some point, it will be common practice…and regulated.
It’s already happening elsewhere around the world, so the question really is, “are you going to be a part of it now, or later”?
You can reach Stuart and the Fytogreen team at the links below:
- Website – fytogreen.com.au
- Email – [email protected]
- Phone – 1300 182 341
Here’s the TED Talk video with Ron Finley I referenced in the podcast.
Ron is referred to as the ‘gangster gardener’ and he’s all about using gardens to rebuild and empower communities in Los Angeles.
You can also view it at this link.
I hope you enjoy this episode and once again, PLEASE leave us a review at iTunes | Stitcher | Soundcloud, or YouTube.
