1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
The Vegetable Roof Garden project aims to provide patients and staff therapeutic relief and the means for wellbeing (Ref. 4, 5). It also aims to support raising the awareness of the loss of biodiversity, (Ref. 3) provide food for sustainable consumption with the reduction of external food costs as part of the circular economy, (Ref. 9, 13) and inspire eco-conscious citizens with regular gardening lessons (Ref. 11, 16). "...the goal is not to become self-sufficient. "We want to invent, create a link between the team and the patients. The majority of them very quickly joined the project," says Olivier Collet, technical director of the clinic. "It is also a support for raising awareness of the loss of biodiversity, through old species, around forty varieties of tomatoes and edible flowers..." (Ref. 3).
Quantitative targets
- will provide 150kg of tomatoes and approximately 60kg of green beans in the summer of 2014 (Ref. 1, 3)
- the garden is expected to save between €5,000 and €7,000 annually (Ref. 18)
-"However, Jean-François Bellois, the chef at the Pasteur clinic, can, once a month, cook a meal entirely made up of "local" products. Each year the clinic hopes to harvest a ton of vegetables" (Ref. 1).
- the garden is expected to save between €5,000 and €7,000 annually (Ref. 18)
-"However, Jean-François Bellois, the chef at the Pasteur clinic, can, once a month, cook a meal entirely made up of "local" products. Each year the clinic hopes to harvest a ton of vegetables" (Ref. 1).
Monitoring indicators defined
-annual kg of tomatoes and of kg green beans (Ref. 1, 3)
-annual cost savings (€) (Ref. 18)
-Annual harvest of vegetables (tons) (Ref. 1)
-annual cost savings (€) (Ref. 18)
-Annual harvest of vegetables (tons) (Ref. 1)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Please specify "other Type of NBS project"
food production (Ref 1,3, 12) ; therapeutic relief-- The Vegetable Roof Garden project aims to provide patients and staff therapeutic relief and the means for wellbeing (Ref. 4, 5)
Implementation activities
The team of Macadam Gardens began the project by re-purposing the unused surfaces and unoccupied terrace of the clinic (Ref. 4). The project began merely focused on restoration, but after three months of works soon caught the attention of patients that wanted to participate in the design and maintenance of it (Ref. 16). The project thus began creating the urban farm, that took a total of 3 weeks (Ref. 12). During this time 4 tons of earth and geotextile plants with ultra-light potting soil were distributed in four irrigation areas (Ref. 12). The plants are now cultivated by disabled workers, employees of the clinic and also by patients (Ref. 1).
-"In all, 150 planters filled with 36,000 liters of ultralight potting soil made up of 50% textile material recycled by an Ariege company house flat beans, tomatoes, zucchini, strawberries, raspberries and a whole collection of aromatic plants" (Ref. 18).
-The Pasteur Clinic project will benefit from a partnership with a local agricultural engineering school to study the vegetable garden in an urban environment, notably on the issue of insect biodiversity and, alongside a sociologist, also research on the impact of the garden on the relationships within the clinic (Ref. 4) The company Nommée Jeune Entreprise Innovante is also said to have worked to measure the environmental impact of this garden in 2015 (Ref. 12).
-"In all, 150 planters filled with 36,000 liters of ultralight potting soil made up of 50% textile material recycled by an Ariege company house flat beans, tomatoes, zucchini, strawberries, raspberries and a whole collection of aromatic plants" (Ref. 18).
-The Pasteur Clinic project will benefit from a partnership with a local agricultural engineering school to study the vegetable garden in an urban environment, notably on the issue of insect biodiversity and, alongside a sociologist, also research on the impact of the garden on the relationships within the clinic (Ref. 4) The company Nommée Jeune Entreprise Innovante is also said to have worked to measure the environmental impact of this garden in 2015 (Ref. 12).
Type of NBS project
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Please specify technological innovation
The garden provides educational purposes by supporting the raising of awareness of the loss of biodiversity, (3) and provides the means for sustainable consumption with the reduction of external food costs as part of the site's circular economy, (9, 13).
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Co-founder of the landscape Macadam Gardens company responsible for guiding the rooftop garden project Alex Belin suggests that similar innovations by the agricultural and technological company Lufa Farms in Canada, Montreal, provided the basis for the start-ups' urban farming intervention. (12)
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Béatrice Bonzom Dedieu worked on the clinic's terrace re-conversion into a roof top garden alongside Macadam Gardens on the basis of her landscaping work into therapeutic gardens at Auzeville. Another trainee from Auzeville is currently working on another version ("version 2") of the therapeutic garden project undertaken at the clinic. Other clinics are known to be interested of the work, but are not equipped with the necessary budget to fund them. (5)
After the Pasteur clinic, the Macadam Gardens also embarked on a similar project in Muret but the associated business filed for bankruptcy during the implementation of the project. (12)
After the Pasteur clinic, the Macadam Gardens also embarked on a similar project in Muret but the associated business filed for bankruptcy during the implementation of the project. (12)
