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St. Louis FOOD Roof Farm
Since 2012, Urban Harvest STL has grown food in downtown St. Louis, helping to combat food insecurity
in the area. When the nonprofit wanted to expand in order to serve more people, there was just one
problem: lack of space. So the organization looked upward, and with the help of grant money from MSD,
built a rooftop farm and rain garden downtown at 1335 Convention Plaza. “There is an abundance of
underutilized rooftops in the city,” said Mary Ostafi, Urban Harvest executive director. “Putting them to
good use can go a long way in helping the environment and feeding local families.”
The agricultural green roof was proposed to retain 2.5 inches or 17,000 gallons of rainwater per storm
event – the maximum amount that can be supported by the existing building’s structure. Besides
retaining water, the completed project is also a productive farm, offering more than 200 varieties of
edible plants and green space for the community to enjoy.
Rainscaping type: Agricultural green roof
Challenges: The complexity of the project required careful coordination of the food roof’s components
that were eligible for rainscaping grants. In addition, the project had to be designed under strict weight
restrictions in order to maintain the roof’s structural integrity – only 55 pounds of dead load was
allowed.
Solution: Urban Harvest hired Hanging Gardens to develop a complete roof garden system that was
eligible for MSD’s rainscaping grant money. “Collaborating with MSD to build the first rooftop farm in St.
Louis was a great experience and a great partnership,” said Hanging Gardens CEO Anthony Mayer. To
work around the weight limitations, Hanging Gardens specified, designed, and manufactured lightweight
growing media and compartmentalized the roof into different zones. In addition, the roof is designed to
prevent pooling and stormwater is directed via drainage to plants that absorb the water.
What makes this project unique: The FOOD Roof Farm is the first rooftop farm in St. Louis and this
rainscaping project is being used as a model for urban agriculture, sustainable building, stormwater
management, and community development.
In addition, the FOOD Roof Farm is an effective way to teach urban youth about gardening and promote
a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. “We host dozens of tours and field trips each year and showcase a
sample of the green roof, describing the rainwater retention and its benefits,” Ostafi said. “Since the
project’s completion in 2015, the rooftop farm has produced more than 6,000 pounds of food and has
hosted more than 4,000 people through tours, field trips, and dozens of events throughout the farming
season.”
About MSD’s Rainscaping Large-Scale Grant Program: This rainscaping grant program (previously called
the Early Action Program) seeks to engage partners to identify joint opportunities to incorporate
rainscaping into ongoing programs and future redevelopment projects. Each grant awarded allows MSD
to create a public-private partnership that contributes to the environmental, social, and economic
health of the St. Louis region. For more information or to learn how to apply for your organization, visit
projectclearstl.org.