Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Ecco Stays on Top of Conservation Goals with Rooftop Garden and Condensation Irrigation



Sophisticated yet casual Ecco in Midtown has always been ahead of the restaurant industry's conservation efforts. Georgia's first dumpster-free restaurant was also the state's first to receive Green Foodservice Alliance (GFA) certification. The Fifth Group Restaurant continues to grow in sustainability and environmental consciousness by adding eight new cedar beds with "cold frame" structures to its rooftop garden, all of which are covered with Agribon protective material. Farmer D Organics custom-built the beds and also installed a new irrigation system with a 250-gallon food-grade tote capable of containing 195 more gallons than the previous rain barrel. All of the water filling the tote is collected from air conditioning condensation and pumped through drip irrigation into the beds. City water and a timer also kick in when needed for optimal moisture. When dining at Ecco be sure to ask what's in season on the roof. Right now, Tuscan kale, broccoli rabe and Southern giant curly mustard are growing for the restaurant's seasonally inspired menu.

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