Numerous cities have extensive roof space, a significant portion of which is comprised of unused flat rooftops. Green roofs are used to introduce green space to cities by growing plants on otherwise barren surfaces, especially in dense urban areas. Potential benefits of green roofs include social, economic, and environmental impacts. In addition, fruits and vegetables can be grown on roofs for consumption. Using a survey, practices such as design methods, community engagement, irrigation methods, plant selection, and growing substrate types were examined on 15 green roofs. The survey responses revealed several anticipated trends, including the provisioning of additional irrigation and a minimum of six hours of sunlight daily required on nearly all rooftops. There was also a large variety of plants that were reported to do well, suggesting that rooftop farms and gardens can successfully grow several different crops. One unexpected discovery was the common use of rooftop farms and gardens for restaurants and the unique culinary production associated. Overall, the studied roofs generally followed very similar designs, with a few distinct aspects that made them unique. In the future, more of these food-producing green roofs could further promote locally sourced healthy food within communities. The evidence obtained from this study defines the strategies and feasibility of urban agricultural practices on green roofs. These practices can increase locally sourced food production and provide a template for designing rooftop edible gardens for community-wide benefits.
