Michael Coleby has always been one to push the use of locally produced vegetables. And now, the Great Hall Catering assistant director and executive chef has taken that to the next level – or the next roof.
Overlooking the patio outside the 3M Centre, three garden boxes now adorn the stone-covered roof, changing what was once a sterile environment into one blossoming with tomatoes, beets, zucchini and so much more.
While there had been a rooftop garden in the past, its location was not feasible to sustain it. Coleby admits he’s always wanted to start another garden and has been on the lookout for any potential hot spots.
“I was strolling down the hallway here one day, just behind the catering office, and I looked out one of the windows and thought ‘Oh eureka, there’s a nice rooftop,’” he said. “It seems like it’s sheltered, gets a lot of sun, not too much wind with the high walls, and might be ideal for a little garden that we could grow a few things and utilize to get fresher produce into the restaurant. Once you find the location, it’s all over but the shouting.”
After gathering the necessary approvals, Coleby worked diligently to get the garden up and running. An avid gardener while not at work, he admits the garden got a late jump this year, but still managed to produce a hefty crop of vegetables that Great Hall Catering has been using the last couple months.
From basil, sage and lavender to egg plant, lettuce and eight different varieties of tomatoes, Coleby said the fresh produce has already been incorporated into a number of dishes, including bruschetta and salsas.
“Whether or not they’ll know how fresh it is, we know, and that’s what important to us,” he said. “We’re all into sustainability – buying local and using local – so we thought how much more local can you get than right outside your door.”
Waste produced from the garden is being composted, which Coleby added will give the garden “a good head start” when he starts planting again in late March. He plans on adding a fourth box to the rooftop garden including beans and potatoes, among other possible items.
“Whatever can grow in a Canadian summer, we’ll give it a go,” he said.
