Greenroofs.com Project of the Week: 6/06/16

Brooklyn Grange Rooftop Farm #2 at Brooklyn Navy Yard, Building No. 3
Brooklyn, New York, USA
65,000 sf. Greenroof

Project of the Week Description & Details

Brooklyn Grange is a privately owned and sustainably operated enterprise, and the U.S.’ leading soil-based rooftop farming and intensive greenroofing business. Community oriented, they host weekly open houses in season and feel the green space contributes to the overall health and quality of life, bringing people together through green business and around good food with their wholesale, retail, and CSA members. Their goal is to put more farms on roofs throughout New York and beyond, and grow more food, train and employ more farmers.  Brooklyn Grange’s second farm, located atop Building No. 3 at the historic Brooklyn Navy Yard, is a massive 65,000 square foot roof towering twelve stories over the East River. Most of the financing was granted by the Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Infrastructure Stormwater Management Initiative, and Farm #2 manages over one million gallons of stormwater each year.

Installed in 2012, the farm is covered in 10-12″ of rooflite Intensive Ag blend, rooflite drain granular drainage layer, and the Carlisle Roof Garden system by Carlisle SynTec. Brooklyn Grange’s second farm increased the business’ annual yield to 50,000 pounds of fresh produce between their two locations and created many new green jobs. The farm cultivates row crops such as leafy greens, aromatic herbs, heirloom tomatoes and peppers April through November, and sows cover crops, such as clover and oats in winter months to prevent soil erosion and replenish vital nutrients. The Brooklyn Navy Yard farm is also home to many of the 30+ hives comprising Brooklyn Grange’s Apiary. They also host a robust events program here, with guests participating in yoga sessions or just enjoying a cocktail and some canapés overlooking the skyline at sunset. They partner with numerous non-profit and community organizations to extend the positive impact of the farm, including City Growers, a non-profit education program based on their rooftop farms. Brooklyn Grange’s Rooftop Farm #2 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard is a win-win-win, reducing stormwater runoff, creating local jobs, and providing access to fresh produce for the community.

Year: 2012
Owner: Lessor – Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation
Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Building Type: Commercial
Type: Intensive
System: Single Source Provider
Size: 65000 sq.ft.
Slope: 1%
Access: Accessible, By Appointment

Designers/Manufacturers of Record:

President/Head Farmer: Ben Flanner, Brooklyn Grange
Greenroof System: Carlisle Roof Garden by Carlisle SynTec
Growing Media & Drainage: rooflite intensive ag and rooflite drain granular drainage layer, rooflite®
Roofing Contractor: Marfi Contracting Corp
Pneumatic Placement: Downes Forest Products

Image: © Anastasia Cole Plakias/Brooklyn Grange

View the PROJECT PROFILE to see ALL of the Photos and Additional Information about this particular project in The International Greenroof & Greenwall Projects Database.

NOTE: “The Farm on the Roof: What Brooklyn Grange Taught Us About Entrepreneurship, Community, and Growing a Sustainable Business,” Avery, April 5, 2016 is available for purchase by Anastasia Cole Plakias, vice president and founding partner of Brooklyn Grange. Read my April 27, 2016 Recommended Readings review on Greenroofs.com.

Project of the Week Video Feature

Watch the Brooklyn Grange Rooftop Farm #2 at Brooklyn Navy Yard, Building No. 3 Project of the Week Video below or see it on our GreenroofsTV channel on YouTube:

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By Linda S. Velazquez, ASLA, LEED AP, GRP
Greenroofs.com Publisher