Garden-fresh vegetables are the future of urban living, even in New York City.

Leslie Hoffman, executive director of Earth Pledge, knows what the future of urban life will be like. Here’s a hint: It’s way different than it is now. "When you try to take things out of season from halfway around the world, it’s inevitable that you’re not getting the very best. It needs to be picked early and shipped. It gets banged around. Some guy drops it off the back of a truck. People in developed countries don’t pay attention to the interconnectedness of all these issues. Food and agriculture are two of the most basic ways to address sustainability. They are also areas with enormous mutual interest in the crossover. We talk to chefs about design, and they’re interested. We talk to architects about food issues, and they’re interested. Green buildings on farms or green roofs on buildings is where the two come smashing together."

"Imagine a city of green roofs." She believes that, in the future, cities will be full of farms on rooftops. Ambient air temperatures will be lower, air-conditioners won’t be burning as much energy, and carbon dioxide parts-per-million will be far less. Seventy-five percent of the precipitation that falls from the sky will be absorbed by the green roofs, and not swept away into sewer systems.

Green roofs might even appear on the Chrysler building.

New York city, for example, will save millions of dollars (somewhere upwards of $16 million) on energy costs. Every roof will grow vegetables and herbs, so that when ready, they can be harvested and eaten/cooked. The peels, cores, skin and husks will be composted and the castings can be used back on the roof -- it’s a nice complete little circle.

Imagine, fresh bell peppers, squash, eggplants and herbs, grown in the convenience of your own roof. This negates that extra trip to the grocery store, and insures that everyone will have access to the freshest vegetables they’ve ever had. For those of you who have tried them, there is nothing like fresh-picked vegetables cultivated in your own living garden.

Leslie Hoffman is the Executive Director of Earth Pledge.