VRG was developed by Srinivasan on his return from the United States, where he saw people making the most of the little sunlight they get and their sloping roofs to grow whatever vegetable they could. Srinivasan felt that we in India were wasting the abundant sunlight and flat rooftops, and carried out a yearlong experiment in VRG during 1997-98, studying the possibilities and techniques for maximum efficiency in production and maintenance. The experiment was carried out in Vellore, one of the hottest towns in India, to disprove the popular belief that roof gardens are not suitable for hot climates. He put plenty of sunlight, a barren flat roof-top and compost from organic waste on the left side of the equation, to get chemical-free vegetables, an increase in the green cover, a solution to garbage disposal and a cooler home on its right side.

There are nine different models of VRG that have been developed to meet different needs. They are variations of pandals (suspended coir nets), containers along the parapet walls placed on casuarina frames, racks which can stack four to five rows of cane baskets. VRG uses recycled/recyclable/biodegradable waste materials like used and thrown urea bags and cane baskets for containers, and coconut ropes for pandals. Using compost made from organic waste generated within the house, wastewater from the kitchen (rich in nutrients) and bio-pesticides, it was demonstrated that more than 20 different vegetables and 40 greens can be grown on the rooftops.

Photos:

Vacant Roof Top		Fully Developed Vegetable Roof Garden
Rack Plantation		Wall Pandhal
Good Time-Pass in Vegetable Roof Garden		Enjoying the Greenary
Harvest from Vegetable Roof Garden		Exnora Green Cross Volunteers Project Team
Demo Model - Vegetable Roof Garden		House wives have shown interest in Vegetable Roof Garden