Green Initiatives: Riverdale Hub’s Eco-Friendly Projects
Discover Riverdale Hub’s Green Initiatives: Rooftop, Rainwater, and Edible Gardens
The Riverdale Hub offers an innovative and affordable green work environment to progressive organizations and individuals.
Our green initiatives provide healthier, more natural options for everything from water usage and insulation, to food production and personal health.
Our gardens
The Riverdale Hub has undertaken a three-part garden initiative to aid in greening this east end landmark. A green roof, a rooftop vegetable garden and a rainwater garden all act as important players in providing healthier, more natural options for everything from water usage and insulation, to food production and personal health.
These projects support each other to create a self-sustaining, environmentally conscious system. There are a number of opportunities for community involvement through the garden programs, helping to foster increased sustainability, social justice and food security in east Toronto.
ROOFTOP & rAINWATER gardens
The Riverdale Hub offers an innovative and affordable green work environment to progressive organizations and individuals.
At the same time, the Hub provides placement opportunities and training to women through its social enterprises – creating a bridge between minority groups and mainstream communities through shared space, kindred spirit and common vision.
EDIBLE garden
The edible garden is the bread and butter of our rooftop garden project. There are two main goals for the garden. Its primary function is to grow organic vegetables and herbs for Free Spirit @ Riverdale Hub, our local restaurant. In doing so, we provide ultra fresh, all organic produce to our loyal customers. By working in conjunction with the Ontario growing season, Free Spirit @ Riverdale Hub maintains relevance and environmental consciousness.
Second, this garden provides an invaluable opportunity for the Riverdale Immigrant Women’s Centre. Using the rooftop garden as an educational space, women are invited to learn about growing food, with the intention of generating increased food security within our community. The garden also presents a safe space for volunteering, learning and building new friendships.
TORONTO Seed Library
GREENEST BUILDING in East Toronto
You won’t believe what you’ll see and learn on our seasonal tour (May – Sep only)! *
The Hub boasts:
- a geothermal system – reduces energy consumption while creating an environmentally sustainable building
- an extensive green roof – relieves pressure on local storm water systems with water restoration project
- rooftop solar panels – creates a revenue base and reduces costs while providing shading for the garden
- solar panels as canopies above the building entrance – heats water supply whie providing shelter
- daylighting technology – strategically placed reflective surfaces, windows and sun-lighting equipment maximize the use of sunlight which further reduces costs while creating aesthetic appeal
- accessibility – access stairway from the ground, access features at entrance, elevator and special lift to our rooftop gardens allows outreach/education and gardening projects for the whole community
GARDENING TIPS @ RIVERDALE hub
Rooftop Garden – Stage 2
Rooftop Gardens utilize rooftop space for growing plants. There are several possible advantages. The gardens can be beneficial to the environment, as well as the rooftop and building themselves.
Rooftop Garden – Stage 1
The roofop garden captures rain events, and manages water through several processes. Plants capture and store water for use in dry periods. Plants capture and store water for use in dry periods.