What is “Plant Chicago” and “Redefining Roots” You Ask?
The rehab of a former meat-processing plant on Chicago’s South-side may seem a strange place to start a project documenting green change in food systems across the American Midwest, yet that is precisely where the web-series “Redefining Roots” begins. A fortunate meeting led me to get acquainted with Michael Silberman, the brains behind Great Eye in the Sky Productions, the company spearheading the project. Michael has shared some tremendous insight with me to give our followers a glimpse into his big dream documentary series ~ A Sustainable Reality – Redefining Roots. Michael is currently doing a documentary on an apt place then, to start a series focused on innovative local food solutions. From urban markets and production, to local organic farms, Redefining Roots profiles the projects of local growers and entrepreneurs re-shaping America’s food system, one seed at a time.
Now why is that of interest to us at RoofTopGarden.com, you ask? Well according to Michael, Plant Chicago will have multiple green roofs and vertical building growth! Plant Chicago led by John Edel will have a rooftop garden and apiary along with vertical growth along the sides of the building. Hops will be grown on the side of the building which will be harvested and used by The New Chicago Brewing Company (a sustainable brewing operation) within The Plant. Also, Bubbly Dynamics, John’s previous success story, also Chicago’s first sustainable manufacturing center already has a fully flourishing rooftop garden which Michael has provided pictures of. According to Michael, a really cool thing about this particular rooftop garden is that it actually creates a picture of John’s daughter when you view it from space! Michael has provided photos of that as well for us to enjoy!
As far as “Plant Chicago”, this former meat-processing facility, is a zero-
energy sustainable green business incubator, and it will house an aquaponic farm, fish hatchery, micro-brewery, and 40,000 square foot shared kitchen, all powered by an anaerobic digester.
Part documentary series, part how-to, part “Mr. Rogers goes to the crayon factory,” Redefining Roots traces the interconnections in “green” food systems. Its main highlights being innovative and sustainable techniques that bring food from farm to fork, meeting plenty of insightful characters along the way. More than just an online show, Redefining Roots focuses on empowering its viewers by means of information, connection, and instruction. Redefining Roots encourages viewers to get involved by sharing content and ideas for new projects. It also hopes to inspire viewers to work with, or on, projects profiled in the show. As an online media channel, Redefining Roots connects problem solvers from differing fields and regions while encouraging DIY experimentation and providing an outlet for otherwise less visible, but no less essential, “green” projects.
There are plenty of food related problems out there: from the epidemics of diabetes and obesity, to urban food deserts, to unsustainable resource use in farming, to greenhouse gas emissions from food production. Thankfully, there are plenty of clever people working to address these problems. There’s no single solution, and the projects profiled on the show, even the show itself, are only small parts of a sustainable future; but the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We need each other’s help. Let’s unite and find our voice, so that together we can manifest our sustainable reality and do what is needed to redefine our roots.
