Please do not block your fire escape with any of that.
mistsoalar
This looks like code violation to me, but I’m not sure
Benaholicguy
This would face west/nothwest. Zone 6 climate. The top of the fire escape is the third story of four, so there’s about 15 feet of obstruction between my hypothetical garden and the sun. Also, worth adding that it’s the primary entrance/exit for me and the tenants downstairs. Not sure if it’s technically a “fire escape.”
My experience gardening is limited to houseplants. My current plan is a pretty robust herb garden with sugar snap peas growing up the trellises. I’d love to plant shishitos and poblanos, but from what I’ve read, they prefer morning light and shade in the afternoon.
I’m planning to line the insides of the planters with coco coir sheets. To avoid the garden being too heavy, I’d bring up the coco coir layer by ~6″ so that I would only need half as much dirt. That’d keep the garden relatively lightweight (~300lbs). The central support beam is super sturdy, so anything that needs more soil I’d place in the two adjacent planters and fill them all the way–possibly another trellis there.
Also, of course, if this seems to mess with the stability of the stairs, I’d scale back. The above concept is the absolute maximum utilization of the space.
The hardware cloth is the jankiest part and definitely illegal. Unfortunately, I’m not sure how to keep out the racoons. Any ideas appreciated!
CarolChanningDoll
this seems unrealistic and your landlord will have you remove it.
you could MAYBE attach a few things to the outside railings, but as soon as it obstructs the exit, you’ll have to remove it. check with your super or landlord before investing time and money.
buildings get fined for things like this
VictoryGardener
The urban farm I manage used to have raised beds made out of crates. They are deceptively heavy even with lightweight soil, so while it’s a clever idea, it will definitely be dangerous on that stoop. Especially with the amount you have in your mock ups. Also, they drain rapidly with or without lining inside. The coconut coir might resolve that issue, but the crate is already limited space, so I’m not sure that it would be the best method.
Having said all of that, I’ve successfully grown shisitos in crates, but I have full sun all day since I grow on a rooftop farm.
NotBadSinger514
You may be underestimating how large the plants can grow. As said, that will block your fire escape.
staryjdido
My 2 cents. I’m in NYC. Code states that any obstruction of a means of egress is in violation of the Building Code rules and regulations. The owner of the building will be given a violation. Fines can be levied if the obstruction is not removed. This is just plain common sense, and presumably, the same applies in all municipalities.
WarumWasWieso
Find yourself someone who will weld you some good hangers so you can hang everything outside of the escape way and not hang it into your way. This will give you the same space for plants and will also leave room for a chair to sit in. Th tools can easily be hanged on the railing.
8 Comments
Please do not block your fire escape with any of that.
This looks like code violation to me, but I’m not sure
This would face west/nothwest. Zone 6 climate. The top of the fire escape is the third story of four, so there’s about 15 feet of obstruction between my hypothetical garden and the sun. Also, worth adding that it’s the primary entrance/exit for me and the tenants downstairs. Not sure if it’s technically a “fire escape.”
My experience gardening is limited to houseplants. My current plan is a pretty robust herb garden with sugar snap peas growing up the trellises. I’d love to plant shishitos and poblanos, but from what I’ve read, they prefer morning light and shade in the afternoon.
I’m planning to line the insides of the planters with coco coir sheets. To avoid the garden being too heavy, I’d bring up the coco coir layer by ~6″ so that I would only need half as much dirt. That’d keep the garden relatively lightweight (~300lbs). The central support beam is super sturdy, so anything that needs more soil I’d place in the two adjacent planters and fill them all the way–possibly another trellis there.
Also, of course, if this seems to mess with the stability of the stairs, I’d scale back. The above concept is the absolute maximum utilization of the space.
The hardware cloth is the jankiest part and definitely illegal. Unfortunately, I’m not sure how to keep out the racoons. Any ideas appreciated!
this seems unrealistic and your landlord will have you remove it.
you could MAYBE attach a few things to the outside railings, but as soon as it obstructs the exit, you’ll have to remove it. check with your super or landlord before investing time and money.
buildings get fined for things like this
The urban farm I manage used to have raised beds made out of crates. They are deceptively heavy even with lightweight soil, so while it’s a clever idea, it will definitely be dangerous on that stoop. Especially with the amount you have in your mock ups. Also, they drain rapidly with or without lining inside. The coconut coir might resolve that issue, but the crate is already limited space, so I’m not sure that it would be the best method.
Having said all of that, I’ve successfully grown shisitos in crates, but I have full sun all day since I grow on a rooftop farm.
You may be underestimating how large the plants can grow. As said, that will block your fire escape.
My 2 cents. I’m in NYC. Code states that any obstruction of a means of egress is in violation of the Building Code rules and regulations. The owner of the building will be given a violation. Fines can be levied if the obstruction is not removed. This is just plain common sense, and presumably, the same applies in all municipalities.
Find yourself someone who will weld you some good hangers so you can hang everything outside of the escape way and not hang it into your way. This will give you the same space for plants and will also leave room for a chair to sit in. Th tools can easily be hanged on the railing.