University College Dublin roof garden fosters sense of community

Who doesn’t love some freshly picked rocket or scallions to spice up a sandwich or salad?

The Tierney Building roof garden in University College Dublin has come to fruition with an abundance of salad and herbs now being picked, eaten and enjoyed by those involved in the project.

“We have salad leaves, spinach and radishes already. Very tasty,” confirms Nessa O’Shaughnessy, of UCD Registry’s Workplace Management Group, which led the project.

They got the idea from a similar garden in the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine - and launched their own version in February.

“We have basil, thyme, spring onions, parsley, rocket leaves, spinach leaves,” says Nessa. “It has definitely built a sense of community in the Tierney building. It's been a fun project to get involved in and everybody's got stuck in.”

Among its many sustainability benefits, growing your own food reduces carbon emissions, fosters a connection with nature and provides better nutrition. It tastes better too!