Who We Are
Roots on the Roof (ROTR) is a student-cultivated community that manages the rooftop garden and community garden plots located on the AMS Student Nest at the University of British Columbia.
Founded in 2014, ROTR creates opportunities for students and community members to engage with food systems through hands-on gardening, educational programming, and community-led initiatives. As an entirely student-run organization, we are committed to creating spaces where people can connect with food, place, and one another.
Through our garden, workshops, events, and advocacy initiatives, we explore the many ways food shapes our relationships with culture, health, sustainability, and community. We believe that food is not only something we consume—it is a way to build connections, share knowledge, and understand the systems that shape our lives.
At Roots on the Roof, everyone is welcome. Whether you have years of gardening experience or are stepping into a garden for the first time, our community provides opportunities to learn, contribute, and grow together.
Mission
Roots on the Roof uses food as a way to connect people with each other, the environment, and the systems that shape our food. Through sustainable growing, education, and community initiatives, we aim to support food sovereignty, strengthen relationships with place, and create opportunities for people to learn, participate, and contribute to more equitable food systems.
Vision
- Manage the rooftop garden and adjacent community garden plots on the AMS Nest by growing and harvesting food sustainably
- Create a culture of food sovereignty and dignity by working to supply the community with food from the garden and partners
- Develop and conduct food literacy workshops to facilitate conversations around food, culture, health, and sustainability
- Promote community building through storytelling, art, skillshare, facilitation, and activities about food and place.
- To create an inclusive space for social engagement and opportunities to explore, learn, and actively take part in food system initiatives.
Our Story
Roots on the Roof’s story began with the Orchard Garden, a student-run teaching and production garden located beside the H.R. MacMillan Building at UBC. After operating for nearly a decade, the Orchard Garden faced relocation due to planned development on the site.
While the Orchard Garden was relocated to Totem Field, the AMS offered a new opportunity: a rooftop garden space on the newly constructed AMS Student Nest. To bring this vision to life, a group of students came together to create a new student organization focused on managing this space and building a community around food.
In 2014, Roots on the Roof was founded with the vision of transforming the rooftop into a hub for food, learning, and connection. Students imagined a space where people could grow food, exchange knowledge, host workshops, and explore the relationship between food and community.
In April 2015, students began developing the rooftop garden, and by June 2015, the AMS Student Nest and Rooftop Garden officially opened to the UBC community.
Since then, Roots on the Roof has continued to grow alongside the students and community members who contribute to it. From garden drop-ins and workshops to larger community events and advocacy initiatives, ROTR remains committed to creating welcoming spaces rooted in food, sustainability, and connection.
Our story continues with every volunteer, participant, and community member who helps shape the rooftop garden.
Land Acknowledgement
Roots on the Roof acknowledges that we are situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people.
We recognize that we greatly benefit from the past, current, and future stewardship of this land by the Musqueam people. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn, grow, and build community on these lands.
As an organization centred around food and land, we recognize the importance of reflecting on the relationships between people, place, and food systems. We are committed to continuing conversations around Indigenous knowledge, stewardship, food sovereignty, and our responsibilities as members of this community.
What We Do
At Roots on the Roof, there’s always something growing. Literally and figuratively. Our team tends to the garden, harvesting fresh veggies and herbs, planting new crops each season, and experimenting with creative ways to use what we grow. We also host fun, hands-on events like workshops, socials, and our signature end-of-semester concerts.
Garden Drop-In Times
Want to get your hands dirty?
Our rooftop garden is open for student drop-ins:
Summer 2026 Term 2
- Monday, 4-5PM
- Friday, 10-11AM
Come plant, harvest, and enjoy the view! Whether you’re a green thumb or a total beginner, everyone is welcome.
Tours and Group Visits
Curious to see the garden up close? We love giving tours to students, classes, and community groups! To schedule a tour, email us at rootsontheroof@gmail.com, we’re happy to show you around and share how the garden grows.
About this Website
This website was created with Hugo, and features a modified version of the Walden theme.