Originally we had guinea-pig families living up on our green roof. They were safe from cats and they really liked it (often they would line up on the ridge and watch the sunset together), but eventually hooded crows learned how delicious they are and now they are all gone.

So, since then, there have been no grazers and no mowers at all. An interesting and unusual situation for grassland anywhere. And eight years on, this is what it looks like. Any seeds have arrived naturally. This seems to be a good year for daisies, but other species have been dominant in other years. Trees and shrubs only last a couple of years before they die of drought, though a gorse bush lasted four years..

There’s a dimpled nylon membrane under the sod — though now we would just use pond liner. Under that there’s ply and that’s on 9×2″ rafters — the roof weighs a bit more than a conventional one and you’re supposed to allow for snow too. We designed and built the house ourselves — and everyone said you can’t put grass onto a roof that steep (45 degrees in places) – but it’s still there.

TAGS: grass-roofed, house, grass roof, ridge, sunset, nylon, membrane, sod, pond liner, steep, pitch, wildflowers, earth, soil, fertility, self-sufficiency, organic, smallholding, homesteading, permaculture, sustainability, how to, blow-in, blog, way out west, DIY, GIY, vlog, west, cork, Ireland, Irish, garden, gardening, growing,

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Grass Roofed House — A View From The Top

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