Weekly Recommendation, Week 18: Small Green Roofs

I have been interested in green roofs for quite some time. In fact, upon first learning about green roofs I became so obsessed that I decided to move halfway across the country to pursue a graduate degree that involved green roof research as my thesis project. And yet even after that ordeal, I remain quite interested in them. While I am not currently working in the green roof industry, I still enjoy reading/hearing about green roofs, as well as seeing them whenever I am lucky enough to have that chance.With that said, if you are at all interested in learning more about green roofs, or perhaps constructing a green roof of your own,  I would highly recommend checking out the book, Small Green Roofs: Low-Tech Options for Greener Living by Nigel Dunnett, Dusty Gedge, John Little, and Edmund C. Snodgrass. It's incredibly informative and very well-written and organized. The first part of the book offers a brief overview of green roofs, including the purposes for installing them and the myriad benefits they offer. Also included are green roof construction basics and a very informative planting primer which covers plant selection, planting methods, maintenance considerations, and designing for wildlife. The remaining part of the book is filled with the profiles of 42 small green roof projects broken up into 5 sections. Each profile includes information on the design and planning stage, the installation process, and the successes of the project, along with a personal note by one of the authors. Pictures of each of the projects are also included. These profiles are meant to inspire and encourage people to consider a green roof of their own and to offer ideas about how to go about it. Whether you are interested in putting a green roof on a rabbit hutch, a garden shed, or the roof of your house, this book is a great introduction to the fascinating world of green roof technology.