Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

Apprentice Ecologist Essay

Growing up in suburban Indiana, I've watched acres and acres of farm fields being destroyed and replaced with massive industrial warehouses. I recall driving by decimated corn fields with my parents and asking why somebody would do such a thing. It felt wrong and even as a small child I knew there had to be a better way. In May of 2021, I realized I had to do something. The climate crisis continued to escalate, farm fields kept disappearing, and people were becoming more and more disconnected from their environment and food supply. But, how was a high school girl from Indiana going to contribute to solving an issue as significant as climate change?

As a child I was told that "If there's a will, there's a way". My parents taught me that no matter how big a problem was there is always a solution. So, I started brainstorming. I thought, what about a magic trash eliminator? No. A car that runs on air? No. A switch to turn off global warming? No. Then it came to me... gardens on rooftops. That's it! What if I could work with building owners to support the environment and grow fresh produce right above our heads? It was the greatest idea I had ever come up with, and I couldn't wait to get started.

Over the past year, I have been working on a project which aims to reclaim underutilized rooftop space to grow organic produce. Through this effort, we can mitigate issues like urban heat island effect, agricultural displacement and even make an impact on climate change. These issues go much deeper than a declining environmental state. The use of rooftop gardens would also help solve social and ecological problems. For example, using pre-existing rooftop space to grow food, decreases the need for people to cut down wooded areas or take over natural green space. This solution keeps wildlife such as deer and racoon in their natural habitat and provides us humans with the healthy food we need.

I have conducted extensive research on the leading causes of climate change and how rooftop gardens stand to help. What I found was shocking. The average food product in the United States travels 1,500 miles before reaching a consumer. Food is transported via trucks, planes or other forms of transportation which accounts for nearly a quarter of all global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. Rooftop gardens would grow hyper-local organic produce much closer to the consumer and in some cases right where it's needed most. This decreases the need for transportation of goods over long distances and lowers carbon dioxide emissions. By bringing nutritious food closer, we can also reduce food desserts which are areas with limited access to affordable and nutritious food. As you can see, the potential for this project is enormous.

I plan to use recycled materials like milk crates lined with gardening fabric and filled with soil to grow my plants. These allow me to structure my gardens in a way that is compatible with the load bearing capacities of the building which will support them. After designing a prototype and conducting market research I found that if I sold organic spinach from a rooftop garden it would sell for a net profit of $4.25 per square foot per growing season. With the average warehouse roof top space in my area being 50,000 sq ft, this projected profitability will allow me to continue to place gardens across the country and maximize the impact.

In January of 2022, I presented my idea to a panel of influential city leaders to see if they liked my idea, and the result was a resounding yes! Since then, I have developed a website, built my first working prototype of a modular garden, received $2,000 in seed money, and determined three potential locations for a test garden. Right now, I am working to finalize my first garden location, and plan on doing so by 2024.

As an environmental activist, and young person growing up during these challenging times, I see the opportunity for change. This project has not only given me a new purpose but has also connected me with a group of inspired and passionate people who will help me continue to push this project forward. I started this project because I was afraid of the changes I was seeing, and that fear has now shifted to determination to create the green future I see in my imagination.