Peace and quiet on Paris rooftops

A team is assembling various plants on the roof of 6 Rue d'Aboukir. Wearing a yellow jacket and a ravishing smile, Emilie welcomes the day’s volunteers. She’s been in charge of this roof garden in the heart of Paris for the past three years. Among her this morning are students, young people retraining and retirees – and they’ve all come here gardening for a couple of hours.

The kitchen garden was created three years ago from a collaboration between the Paris Town Hall (site owner) and Enedis, its tenant. Today, the planted area covers over 200 square metres.

Aromatic herbs, strawberries and raspberries, aubergines, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, onions, beans, squash... everything is grown here! Every Thursday, Emilie sets up a sale of all the harvested products for local residents and employees working in the building, held at the building’s entrance.

Emilie comes to the site twice a week with a team of volunteers. She’s responsible for briefing them and explaining the day’s objectives. That morning, it was putting in stakes and picking strawberries. Veni Verdi looks after 5 vegetable rooftop gardens in Paris, most of them in schools.

Annie joined Emilie’s team straight away following her retirement. From standing up for agriculture to fighting against global warming, people’s motivations for coming are numerous. “It clears my head,” Annie smiles, “and here we all mix students with retirees. It’s really rewarding.”

A sky-high meeting with a snail, championing biodiversity in the city is one of the main aims and advantages of these urban gardens. Veni Verdi not only unites different types of people but also reconnects Parisians with nature – it’s a vital lifeline.