A Culinary Banquet.. Rooftop Garden, Vancouver's Fairmont Waterfront Hotel

Fairmont Waterfront Hotel – Vancouver, British Columbia

Fairmont Waterfront, Vancouver - In the Garden Facing Hotel

On a long-awaited visit to Vancouver, British Columbia, I reveled in a blissful stay at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel. The room’s comfortable, contemporary decor and great views were a welcome prequel to my tour of the Fairmont’s rooftop culinary garden. Installed around 1991, the hotel’s rooftop array had been on my radar for some time. At 2,100 square feet,  the 3rd floor green oasis holds a place as one of the first living roofs in a city that now boasts the largest green roof in Canada, the nearby 6-acre Vancouver Convention Centre.

Executive Chef Patrick Dore at the Herb Garden Gates Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, Vancouver, B.C.

The plantings were refreshed in 2006, and fifteen cubic yards of compost later, the garden layout boasts box hedging that effectively defines the planting beds. Espaliered apples and bay trees add beauty and structure to the design. Not surprisingly, organic gardening practices are employed in these productive gardens, where the Fairmont chefs harvest such delicacies as alpine strawberries, rose blossoms, lovage and calendulas, for the tasty fare at Herons Restaurant. May through September you can tour the garden, or book to see Bee Hive demonstrations: the honeybees are the latest addition to the gardens. Phone or check the web site for tour times. Tours of the Herb Garden can also be arranged along with a lunch reservation in Herons.

Garden Plan - Fairmont Waterfront Hotel Roof Garden Vancouver, B.C.

As you might imagine, these organic gardens are a haven for many species of birds. Here’s a gardening tip revealed on my tour of the garden: Orange pekoe tea with a little bit of soap added is used at times for aphid control.

A Birds Eye View .. Fairmont Waterfront Hotel Roof Garden Plan: The hotel offers guest rooms with views of the garden’s herbs and flowers; also Terrace Rooms featuring private patios that lead to the garden.

June 17th, 2010 | Tags: , , | Category: Culinary Gardens, Foodie Havens, Green Roofs/Vertical Gardens, Hotels & Inns | One comment - (Comments are closed)

Green Roofs Thrive in Eco-Friendly Portland

Multnomah County Building Green Roof (Alice Joyce photo)

Multnomah County Green Roof (Alice Joyce photo)

Portland, Oregon is on top of the Green Scene. Visitors to ‘PDX’  (that’s how most Portlanders refer to their city) discover wildflowers and organic veggies cultivated on the Multnomah County Building: Covering 12,000 square feet, this landmark demonstration eco-roof features amenities such as a stone terrace and educational signage, while the produce grown here is donated.

Multnomah County Roof Garden/Stone Bench (Alice Joyce)

Roof Garden Detail (Alice Joyce)

Enjoy your own up-close look at the Multnomah Building’s eco-roof at 501 S.E. Hawthorne Boulevard in Portland: Open to the public during regular business hours – take the elevator to the 5th floor.

For an overview of the project, link to Carlton Hart Architecture.

Portland Central Library Eco-Roof (ALICE JOYCE photo)

Portland’s Central Library, the Multnomah County Library Eco-Roof is located downtown at 801 S.W. 10th Avenue. A high point of my Portland foray was touring the garden with John Cabrera, Facilities Supervisor.

Completed in September, 2008, the structure utilizes 24″ x 24″ pallets, which added to the ease of installation. The 4″ deep soil blends organic and inorganic materials, mixed with Zebra, a water-retentive product made from natural cornstarch.

Portland Library Roof Detail

The benefits of the roof are numerous. Plantings help to capture the majority of stormwater runoff, cut down on the cost of electricity for heating and cooling, and absorb UV rays.

The roof features some 17,000 plants; drought-tolerant sedums and grasses that create a wildlife habitat, and reduce air pollution. An eco-roof is believed to filter the air, actually removing airborne particles, as it absorbs carbon dioxide. The roof’s aesthetic allure comprises a rich textural carpet knit of an abstract pattern that changes with the seasons. The summer scene pictured features peachy pink tones melded with brick red & mahogany hues alongside pale blue-grey & shades of green, with yellow blooms and feathery inflorescences!

Central Library Eco-Roof (Alice Joyce)

Click for information on touring:  Portland’s Central Library Eco-Roof

Portlanders know how to enjoy life!

PDX is not only a most hospitable city, it’s a haven for foodies, wine lovers, and beer connoisseurs. Open 7 nights a week, Noble Rot is a popular wine bar with its own rooftop Culinary garden. The restaurant on East Burnside occupies the 4th floor of an LEED platinum building with an underground aquifer for pure water; the eco-roof factors into the rating.

The 3000-square-foot  kitchen garden is presided over by Chef Leather Storrs. The Chef allowed me to nibble my way through the aisles, and explore the various planting methods, including 50 shallow kiddie pools, with 3 inches of soil and a layer of perlite on the bottom. Chef Leather grows peppers, horseradish, various basils, as well as lettuces, herbs & flowers for his ‘roof greens salad.’ I sampled strawberries, sweet tender cucumbers, a lemony form of cilantro, nasturtium bloom, and the delectable Tromboncino squash.

Noble Rot roof garden (Alice Joyce photo)

It’s a chemical free garden, with a system for composting, and raised planters. Patrons enjoy a great view of the downtown skyline from Noble Rot’s outdoor terrace, situated below the corner of the garden where the eco-roof is planted with herbs and Mediterranean low-water species.

Noble Rot kiddie pool planters (Alice Joyce)

Noble Rot Wine Bar Roof Garden (Alice Joyce)

Noble Rot - View PDX skyline (Alice Joyce photo)

April 27th, 2010 | Tags: , , | Category: Culinary Gardens, Foodie Havens, Green Roofs/Vertical Gardens, Portland | 4 comments - (Comments are closed)

Benziger Winery's Bio-Dynamic Gardens

Benziger Winery Bio-Dynamic Discovery Trail (Photo: Alice Joyce)

The Bio-Dynamic gardens of Benziger Winery offer a perfect day in Wine Country, with a self-guided Biodynamic Discovery Trail that takes its inspiration from biodynamic agriculture: a movement associated with philosopher and founder of anthroposophy, Rudolf Steiner.  The Trail melds ornamentals, edibles and insectary plants, with demonstration stations describing the farming practices Benziger employs on its 85-acre Sonoma Mountain ranch land.

Benziger Winery 'Vista' (ALICE JOYCE photo)

Especially eye-catching – a flow form water feature exhibits an aerating, recirculating vortex pattern.

Benziger Winery Flow Form (Alice Joyce photo)

Soon after the new demonstration area opened, I toured the estate with Colby Eierman, director of sustainability. It was a chance to see first-hand the integration of sheep, cows, and chickens in the vineyards. In the complex topography of the site, sheep do a great job of mowing under the vines, and on the steeper slopes.

Benziger Winery Biodynamic gardens (Photo: Alice Joyce)

On the east facing slope of Sonoma Mountain, a lovely arrangement is revealed in the terraced construction, creating a variety of habitats amid plantings of lavender, echiums, bottlebrush, and groves of olive trees.

There is land set aside for insectary habitats to attract the ‘good bugs,’ and edible gardens teeming with herbs, veggies, and fruit trees; providing fresh organic ingredients to the chefs at El Dorado Kitchen – a Sonoma destination restaurant.

All of which contributes to the health of the organism that is the larger farm system. Grounded in holistic methods, the Biodynamic farming at Benziger affects the soil in distinctive ways, coloring the flavor of the grapes and the quality of the wines. Book the Vineyard’s Tram Tour to enjoy wine-tasting, and get an up-close look at the landscape and gardens, barrel caves, and more.

April 15th, 2010 | Tags: , , | Category: Culinary Gardens, Foodie Havens, Wine Country | 5 comments - (Comments are closed)
 
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