Xeriscaped / Organic Rooftop Gardens

Gail Hunt
by Gail Hunt
3 Materials
We transformed a steeply sloped lot covered in invasive blackberries into a low-maintenance retreat with food crops.
Harvested Rainwater Feature
As we built the studio building, we installed a 2000 gallon cistern in the front yard. A pump recirculates the rainwater through the waterfall to keep it oxygenated. We use the rainwater to water the garden on the roof of the studio, and to flush our toilets.
Wood-fired pizza oven on patio
In an effort to keep maintenance to a minimum, our front yard is all flagstone and patio. We built this pizza oven ourselves.
Rooftop Organic Garden
Our roof has been built to take the weight of a garden, estimated to be 60 lbs per square foot of soil and water. We mixed our own rooftop mix, using Perlite for aeration and to reduce the weight of the soil.
Front Yard.
We planted native species and drought-tolerant plants and shrubs - ferns, Oregon Grape, thyme, Virginia creeper, Heather, Lavender. We mulch to keep evaporation to a minimum.
Lavender tolerates drought
Gravel covers the ground above the rainwater cistern.
Tireside Garden with Thyme
On the south side of the studio, against the wall, our fruit trees and raspberries, plus crops like potatoes, absorb the reflected heat.
Medicinal Garden
Theme gardens like our medicinal perennials and a dye garden for dyeing fabric for my fibre art each have their own beds.
View from studio deck
In the greenhouse, we grow tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, basil and cucumbers - all the hot weather crops.
The front yard, showing the Pizza Patio
Suggested materials:
  • Local granite
  • Organic seeds   (West Coast Seeds)
  • Shrubs and Trees   (Sunshine Coast Nursery)
Gail Hunt
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  • Shui Shui on Mar 01, 2017
    Beautiful project! What materials did you use to build the pizza oven? In general can you share a blueprint sketch of what you have done?
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