{"id":6448,"date":"2023-10-24T14:40:54","date_gmt":"2023-10-24T13:40:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bacsac.com\/journal\/?p=6448"},"modified":"2024-09-09T16:54:06","modified_gmt":"2024-09-09T15:54:06","slug":"cultiver-les-toits-le-demonstrateur-dagriculture-urbaine-angers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bacsac.com\/journal\/en\/cultiver-les-toits-le-demonstrateur-dagriculture-urbaine-angers\/","title":{"rendered":"Cultivating rooftops: the urban agriculture demonstrator, Angers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Flexible, lightweight and ultra-resistant, BACSAC\u00ae<\/a> is designed for creating green spaces in cities, on any scale. The different projects undertaken by urban agriculture enthusiasts illustrate the wide technical range of uses for BACSAC\u00ae planters. We invited photographer Evaine Merle<\/a> \u2013 author of the book Paysages Comestibles<\/i><\/a> [Edible Landscapes] published by Ulmer \u2013 to document the urban agriculture demonstration site run by the Pays de la Loire Chamber of Agriculture in Angers.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9EvaineMerle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There have been vegetable plants growing on the rooftop terraces of the Pays de la Loire Chamber of Agriculture since 2021. Known as the \" urban agriculture demonstrator<\/a> \", this project was initiated in 2018 in response to numerous requests from local enthusiasts wanting to get involved. Measuring their responsibility in providing technical and economic solutions based on their expertise in the field, the Region's elected representatives approved an above-ground urban agriculture project, piloted and hosted by the Chamber of Agriculture. A feasibility study is planned to assess the roof's load-bearing capacity, accessibility, safety and water drainage conditions. Three years later, the rooftops of the main building were requisitioned to plant 80 square meters<\/span>\u00a0of vegetable crops, with the financial support of the Pays de la Loire Regional Council and the technical support of La Florentaise<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a9EvaineMerle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Almost 22 tonnes of substrate and equipment had to be transported by crane to the building's rooftops. One of the priorities from the outset was to reduce the load as much as possible, in order to meet the load-bearing capacity of the roof, which was not designed to take any extra weight. To achieve this, they opted for a lightweight potting soil suitable for rooftop cultivation, which was supplied by Florentaise, and BACSAC<\/span>\u00ae<\/span> planters, renowned for their lightness and durability. In addition to installing an aquaponics tank, they deployed almost 80 geotextile fabric vegetable garden planters, with a depth of 40 cm \u2013 suitable for all types of vegetable growing (berries, tomatoes, courgettes, lettuce, radishes, hops, kiwis, herbs, etc.).<\/span> Apr\u00e8s trois ann\u00e9es de culture et de suivi \u2013 recul n\u00e9cessaire afin d\u2019obtenir des donn\u00e9es crois\u00e9es, tangibles et fiables \u2013 la Chambre d\u2019agriculture pr\u00e9pare un retour d\u2019exp\u00e9rience \u00e9tay\u00e9, bas\u00e9 sur des crit\u00e8res d\u2019\u00e9valuation, tels que la qualit\u00e9 du substrat, la sant\u00e9 v\u00e9g\u00e9tale, la productivit\u00e9, la gestion de l\u2019irrigation, le compostage, la biodiversit\u00e9 ou encore le budget et mod\u00e8le \u00e9conomique.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a9EvaineMerle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This early autumn, the garden's vegetation is yellowing but still bursting with the last of the summer produce, contrasting with the blue reflections provided by the tall buildings that surround the site. As you pass through the doorway to the rooftop terrace, the red tomatoes and peppers catch your eye, along with a few spaghetti squashes that are finishing to dry in the sun. As you walk along, you come across wilted beans, purple shiso and cosmos in full bloom. On the east side of the terrace, physalis full of golden fruit, raspberry bushes in full bloom, redcurrant bushes, and a multitude of strawberry plants are spreading throughout the flowerbeds. The aubergines are starting to turn yellow; at this stage, the seeds will be harvested for replanting in February. The cabbages and winter salads are putting down roots in nearby geotextile pots, while cornflowers and Mauritanian mallows finish off the colour scheme in blues and pinks.<\/span><\/p>\n

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