Roof gardens: who works there and what grows
A roof garden grows plants on the top of an apartment block. Volunteers often work there. A volunteer helps for free because the work is good for everyone. In spring they plant seeds, in summer they water the plants, and later they harvest the vegetables. Many gardeners use natural fertilizer, for example old vegetable peels, because it is good for the soil. Strong chemicals can hurt small animals and the water, so we do not touch them. Go to a roof only with a grown-up, and stay away from the edge.
Who works in the garden on the roof, Mr Khaled?
Ten volunteers from our apartment block. We plant seeds in spring.
What do you do in summer?
We water the plants, and then we harvest the tomatoes.
Why do you use natural fertilizer?
It is good for the soil, and it keeps the water clean.
On the roof of our apartment block in Tanta there is a small garden. Eight volunteers look after it, and my aunt is one of them. They plant cucumbers and mint in spring. In summer they water the plants early in the morning, when it is not too hot. They put old vegetable peels in the soil as natural fertilizer. At harvest time, the neighbours share the vegetables. I only go to the roof with my aunt, and we stay away from the edge.
Bean seeds at home. Put a wet paper towel in a clear jar and press two bean seeds between the towel and the glass. Keep the towel wet and look at the jar every day. Count the days until a small root appears, and say: We plant it. We water it. We harvest it later.
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