Earth Pledge Foundation was* a non-profit organization promoting sustainable lifestyles in the areas of sustainable agriculture + cuisine and architecture + design. Their greenroof initiatives and activities included greenroof symposia and forums, media campaign, educational programs, and an awards and exhibition program.

The Earth Pledge Foundation completed their highly anticipated semi-intensive Rooftop Kitchen Garden greenroof atop a remodeled turn of the century townhouse in downtown Manhattan. Diana Balmori, Principal of Balmori Associates, provided landscape architectural services, American Hydrotech was selected as the greenroof provider and the 3″ to 12″ of engineered soil mix consists of PermaTill or Stalite, an expanded slate aggregate, sand, and organic components.

Herbs, such as mint, basil, tarragon, catmint, thyme, rosemary and sage, and select vegetables like squash, lettuces, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and eggplant are grown atop the Earth Pledge greenroof’s Rooftop Kitchen Garden. Interplanted flowers of lavender, bee balm, verbena, and daylilies add color to the 700 square foot garden. A cold-processed fish waste emulsion is applied monthly, and a drip irrigation system is used during periods of drought.

Photos were taken from the apparently now defunct www.earthpledge.org, and from a slide show of the landscape design firm responsible for the greenroof, Balmori Associates, as presented to the Pratt Institute Center for Community and Environmental Development (PICCED) on April 1, 2002.

On June 1, 2002, the Earth Pledge Foundation held their first greenroof symposium and inaugural lectures series entitled “Greener by Design” in New York City. Greenroofs, building green, and safeguarding New York City’s watershed were discussed in this half-day symposium, followed by a tour of their new garden roof and reception to launch their Earth Pledge Green Roof Initiative in New York.