Newest Green Roof Accessory: Bees
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 5.08
Bonnie wrote last summer about what one might call the 34 floor diet- the roof garden on the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto where Executive Chef David Garcelon grows herbs and vegetables. Now he has added bees.
"The only other place that's brought bees to such heights is the Paris opera house," Royal York spokeswoman Melanie Coates told Anthony Reinhart of the Globe and Mail. He writes that Chef Garcelon came up with the idea last summer, when he noticed a multitude of bees buzzing around the herbs, vegetables and edible flowers in the raised wooden beds of the hotel's 10-year-old rooftop garden. He evidently has "visions of fresh honey dripping into his salad dressings, soups, pastries and countless other creations." ::Globe and Mail
Fortnum and Mason in London have amazing beehives on their roof ... here's a link to what they looked like at the Chelsea Flower Show last year
http://www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea/2007/exhibitors/showgardens/fortnummason.asp
I couldn't find any "home grown" honey on their website, but perhaps it's early days
Joanna
i work in the next building and very happy to know that someone is using the building next door to do something good. Keep it up.
I love it when i see stories like these, not only does it help me restore a little bit of my faith in humanity, it helps me to come up with new ways of going greener. Great job...