Rooftops in Greece go green with gardens

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ATHENS, Greece, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Renters in Athens, Greece, are increasingly cultivating vegetable and fruit gardens on apartment building rooftops, environmentalists say.

City dwellers are finding rooftop gardening a way to save money on basic food products, with the added benefit of protecting buildings from the elements and helping reverse the effects of pollution, Ekathimerini reported Friday.

"There are very few large open spaces in cities," said Grigoris Kotopoulos of Egreen, a consulting firm in the use of green roofs.

A roof garden "is an opportunity to become creative and productive," he said.

Owners of nurseries in the Greek capital say there has been an increase in sales of herbs and vegetable seeds.

Kotopoulos urged Athenians to try rooftop gardening to grow fruits and vegetables.

"This would give us all the benefits of rooftop gardening," he said, noting that "the greenery protects the building from heat, while the crop makes for an excellent roof sealant."