sent by Joan Mejino

It all started from an idea to beautify a dull space. Instead of the usual decorative foliage used by commercial centers, Market! Market! transformed its roof deck to a fully-functional organic garden – an oasis in the urban landscape.

Market! Market!’s organic garden hosts a variety of plants – cucumber, string beans, cabbage, mustard, lagundi and oregano – and is a fine example of green practices at work. The mall reused scrap materials, such as old tarpaulin banners for the garden’s base, discarded GI pipes as garden trellis, old paint pails as garden pots, and excavated top soil and excess sand from construction works of the mall and nearby Serendra to bring the garden to life. Natural methods are also employed to care for the garden. Fertilizers come from the mall’s solid waste management facility consisting of discarded vegetable peelings from the mall’s restaurants while pesticides are made of detergent or powdered soaps.

The Market! Market! green roof initiative is a shining example of Greenology – Ayala Malls’ commitment to an eco-friendly lifestyle and sustainable living. Greenology puts to the fore Ayala Land’s green philosophy, which is reflected in the design and operations of its malls. The green roof contributes to energy savings by reducing the solar heat gain inside that portion of the mall, thereby reducing the air-conditioning load. In addition to energy efficiency and aesthetic enhancement, the project also promotes urban agriculture through organic farming. The green roof produces green, healthy and all-natural vegetables that are sold to Market! Market! employees for a minimal fee. Proceeds of the sale are used to acquire new seeds to continuously replenish the organic garden, thus ensuring that Market! Market!’s green roof will be around for many years to come.