Green thumbs take off the roof
The rooftop of the Klong Toey District Office in Bangkok has become a very popular place with officials who work there. The roof deck of the four-storey buliding has a small garden where cucumbers,lettuce,chillies,lemongrass and other vegetables are grown for officials to take home free charge.
The vegetable beds are part of the district's"Veggies on the roof deck" project,aimed at demonstrating to the public that even a small rooftop space can be turned into a useful area for growing vegetables.
The district's public cleansing department launched the project,using the roof deck as a demonstration plot."The district's campaign is amied at making the tenants of those bulidings realise that their roof decks could be turned into vegetable gardens,thus adding value to empty space,"said District Chief Chaithawat Yusamran.
A Growing Trend
"Plants and trees on rooftop gardens help absorb the heat from the sun,give out oxygen and also provide nourishment,"the district chief added."Psychologically,it also helps make tenants feel happier and more relaxed."
Chidjai KhemKlad,of the public cleansing department,said the project's key message is that limited space is not a problem if one wants to grow something. People living in commercial buildings,apartments and slums who chose to grow holy basil,sweet basil and celery have greeted the project with enthusiasm,Chidjai said.