This past week Buffalo Rising photographer Lukia Costello made a trip over to The Broadway Market to check out the raised produce beds up on the market’s roof. If you were not aware that these raised beds existed, then you might be even more surprised to learn that there are over 100 all total. For the third year in a row, gardeners from the community have been taking to the rooftop in order to plant, till and harvest different varieties of plants and vegetables.
Each year more raised beds are added and The Broadway Market has even established rooftop gardening classes. There are also new benches and trellises designed and built by students at Erie Community College’s Green Building Technology Program. Planters attached to the trellises are intended to grow ivy for shade in order to create a place where gardeners can congregate. The students also devised ways to divert the rain runoff into rain barrels in order to water the produce. The roof was once used as a place for market-goers to park during Easter. These days the green roof is an important community asset that will hopefully set a trend for others who see the importance of these sorts of creative and forward-thinking initiatives.
To learn more about the rooftop garden, and how to get involved, click here.
Lukia Costello Photography – Studio and location photography that conveys the unique character, beauty and personality of individuals, businesses, events and editorial assignments.