Rooftop Gardens: A Breath of Fresh Air in a City of Concrete

Md. Imtiaz Zahin Nafi

24101316

Section: 06

The bricks and concrete of the city can often make us feel claustrophobic. A sea of concrete endlessly stretching as far as the eyes can see is the conventional image of a modern city where nature seems like a distant memory. But look up, you might find a splash of greenery from above the concrete jungle. These are rooftop gardens, breathing fresh air into the city.

Rooftop gardens act as lungs for the city. They improve air quality and release oxygen and take out carbon-di-oxide, reducing global warming in the process. They also help minimize the urban heat island effect. Additionally, rooftop gardens act as sponges during storms by absorbing rainwater, reducing the burden on drainage systems.

Rooftop gardens are more than just aesthetics. The hustle and bustle of life in a metro can often tire us. Rooftop gardens provide us with a much-needed escape from the city life, a place to relax and connect with nature. Young people can also reduce their screen time by spending some time amidst nature. Rooftop gardens can be your happy place where you can spend time with your thoughts or read a book. This can be your hub for creative outbursts. In a rooftop garden, with every season, you can see the transition of trees from buds to bloom and from dormant to vibrant. These observations can change our perspective on life.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, rooftop gardens started emerging in urban areas. It was a tough time for everyone. So, they tried to find healing in nature and so did I. I, with my father, started planting trees in containers on our rooftop. Soon it became a garden. Now it is my favorite place to escape from the stresses of daily life.

My Rooftop Garden

Rooftop Gardening is a clever way to utilize unused small spaces to create biodiversity within the concrete grid. A touch of nature doesn’t always have to be a rooftop garden, it can also be a mini garden in the balcony or air-plants on the study table. Anyone can start their very own garden. It is a healthy habit and can be therapeutic. Moreover, a rooftop garden can be used to grow preservatives free fruits and vegetables. There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube (ex: Epic Gardening) and apps that give you instructions on taking care of your plant. Gardening has never been easier.

So, the next time you find yourself lost in the concrete maze, look up. You might just find a heaven above your home.