It’s Earth Month and we are turning our attention to the environment – conservation, preservation, and sustainability. Our commitment to environmental stewardship is proudly displayed on the rooftops of our facilities in Brooklyn. Our green rooftop infrastructure helps to offset the impact of our operations and serves to advance ecosystem services that are critical to our habitat. As an early adopter and leader in the green roof movement, we have worked with our green partners to install and maintain more than 100,000 square feet of green infrastructure across our facilities in Brooklyn. Today, we take a look at the genesis of one of our more acclaimed garden rooftops, Kingsland Wildflowers.

A garden rooftop doesn’t just happen, it starts with a vision and a lot of passion. The genesis of Kingsland Wildflowers is credited to Marni Majorelle, founder of Alive Structures, a green roofing company. While the creation of this rooftop meadow garden required the alignment of several planets (support from various groups and individuals), Majorelle was the force behind Kingsland Wildflowers.

ALIGNING PLANETS

Majorelle can spot a green opportunity a mile away, and the Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund (GCEF) would prove to be that and more. With the possibility of garnering a grant to expand her vision of integrating nature into our city by creating green corridors in industrial zones, Majorelle set out to identify a location to create what would become one of her most successful urban gardens. And just one company came to mind.

Location

With focused determination, Majorelle approached Broadway Stages and inspired us to expand our green footprint (in 2008 we worked with Growing Chefs and others to install the 6,000 square foot Eagle Street Rooftop Farm) and broaden our investment in environmentally sustainable infrastructure.

Funding

GCEF provided the initial financing to make Kingsland Wildflowers a reality. The goal of GCEF was to fund projects that would address environmental priorities in the Greenpoint community. GCEF awarded over $1 million for the build-out of 25,000 square feet of green roof habitat and educational programming that would become Kingsland Wildflowers. An additional investment of $2.5 million came from Broadway Stages, along with a commitment to help maintain the garden into the future.

Collaboration

As they say, it takes a village, and Kingsland Wildflowers is no exception. Majorelle put together a project team that included the invaluable support of wildlife experts at New York City Audubon, Newtown Creek Alliance, and others who helped to make the vision a reality. Today, the rooftop is a habitat and respite for native pollinators and birds. This video provides insight on the extraordinary efforts of the project team to create Kingsland Wildflowers.

Design, Installation, and Maintenance

Kingsland Wildflowers consists of 25,000 square feet of green roof, of which fifty percent is wildflower meadow consisting of native grasses and wildflowers. The other half is sedum carpet. There are five roofs, three of which are accessible to the public. The accessible wildflower roofs consist of 2” of drainage and 6” of engineered soil medium creating a deep and productive substrate. Kingsland Wildflowers is maintained by Alive Structures, Newtown Creek Alliance, amazing volunteers, and by the generosity of Broadway Stages. The massive construction process can be seen in this video.

Educational and Creative Arts Programming

Kingsland Wildflowers is a creative partnership, committed to environmental sustainability and community development. A core objective of this urban garden meadow is education. Under the stewardship of Newtown Creek Alliance, educational programs are offered to the community. From eco-festivals, and native walking tours, to author lectures and outdoor classroom instruction for local schools and the public, they offer hands-on learning about the environment and the benefits of green space. Be sure to check the website for information about events.

In addition, Kingsland Wildflowers has its very own Arts Producer and Presenter, Sol Kjøk, founder and director of NOoSPHERE Arts, a 501c3 organization led by Kjøk and a team of international creatives whose backgrounds blend the arts and sciences.  Kjøk works in cooperation with Newtown Creek Alliance to supplement the educational programming with artistic productions. Together, the rooftop garden and associated programs provide ecosystem, educational, and cultural services that promote a vibrant community.

So, there you have it. One woman’s vision and passion inspired a village to take action and give something back to mother earth. Consider what you can do to protect the earth and our local environment, and remember that every little bit helps – reduce, reuse, recycle, conserve, sow, advocate, and so much more. Join us this month and throughout the year as we take action to celebrate and cherish our earth. And be sure to check out the activities and events at Kingsland Wildflowers!