Mark Liebman’s new shed with its green roof (Photo: Lis Bastian)
Inspired by Norwegian sod roofs, Blackheath engineer Mark Liebman built a green roof on his shed. This innovative design significantly reduced stormwater runoff during 2024’s heavy rains, potentially by 65 per cent, while also providing excellent insulation and attracting wildlife. The family now fondly refers to their shed as their mini Viking Long House!
Key Points:
Inspired by sod roofs in Norway, Blackheath engineer Mark Liebman built a green roof on his garden shed to manage stormwater runoff and provide insulation.
The green roof significantly reduced stormwater damage during heavy rains in 2024 (potentially by 65 per cent), attracts wildlife, and provides excellent insulation (R6), creating a comfortable space year-round.
Building a green roof requires careful planning and structural engineering due to the substantial weight of the soil, water, and even potential snow load.
On his honeymoon to Norway many years ago, Blackheath engineer Mark Liebman was inspired by the cabins he saw, built with green ‘sod’ roofs. These roofs had been providing insulation for centuries in a very cold climate.
As a civil engineer specialising in water management, Mark was particularly interested in how a green roof could also reduce the impact of heavy rains on hard surfaces and potentially reduce stormwater runoff.
When the opportunity arose to rebuild his garden shed last year, he decided to explore recreating what he’d seen in Norway. Visiting him recently it was clear that he couldn’t be happier with the result.
Mark Liebman sitting on his green roof. (Photo: Lis Bastian)
By every count the green roof has met and exceeded his hopes and expectations.
Not only did the roof survive the multiple, severe downpours that caused so much damage throughout 2024, including reducing stormwater damage to the rest of his yard (possibly by as much as 65 per cent, according to research into green roofs), it is also now teeming with life, as insects, birds, and his family, flock to spend time in this elevated garden.
The irrigation of the roof garden increases cooling in Summer (Photos: Mark Liebman)
The shed’s roof provides the equivalent of R6 insulation, and, with evaporation of the garden’s irrigated water in summer, is probably creating even more cooling. This helps save money on heating and cooling and makes spending time in the shed very comfortable, even in extreme weather.
It has now become the central feature of his family’s compact garden: “We call it the mini Viking Long House,” Mark said.
The roof has 150mm of soil (Photo: Mark Liebman)
So how do you build a green roof?
Even as a civil engineer, Mark is clear that you cannot simply add a green roof to an existing structure because its huge weight: a combination of the timbers, pond liner, soil, water when saturated, the weight of up to two people on the roof doing maintenance, and potentially even snow that could build up on the roof in winter in Blackheath.
He estimated that the 150mm depth of soil he put on the roof probably weighs between 1.3 and 1.4 tonnes per cubic metre. This could become completely saturated with 150mm depth of water as well.
Mark sought the advice of a structural engineer as he rebuilt his shed from scratch so that it would be strong enough to support the roof garden.
To increase the insulating capacity of his roof, Mark laid R4 Kingspan solid board insulation on top of (rather than under) the external marine ply layer of his ceiling. It is protected by multiple layers above.
10 steps
1. The shed’s timber framework was initially covered with 20mm marine plywood roof sheets.
2. Looking up at the marine plywood roof supported by very strong beams.
3. The plywood was covered by two sheets of builder’s plastic.
4. Kingspan solid board insulation was then added. There was a gap created between the eave and the edge of the Kingspan board, creating a trough for subsoil drainage. The builder’s plastic and insulation board were then covered by geofabric.
5. Waterproof pondliner was then pulled across the roof over the geofabric. The trough was filled with gravel for subsoil drainage. Water flows along the trough to the drainpipe at one end.
6. Atlantis drainage cells were added on top of the pondliner.
7. The roof was then partitioned into three segments and covered with another layer of geofabric. These segments acted as ribs to stop the soil washing down. Soil was then added.
8. The roof covered in top soil.
9. Drip irrigation lines were laid in place, then covered with open weave jute mesh to help hold the soil in place.
10. Immediately after the first planting.
More resources for green roof construction:
North Sydney Council Green Roof and Wall Resource Manual:
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
Plate to Planet: Blue Mountains Food Security Fair is just days away - happening this Saturday at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba.
We are excited to be joined by local, state-wide and national organisations as this weekend`s event. You`ll be able to learn from and interact with our vendors, as well as taste and purchase locally made goods.
Entry to the Fair and Markets is free but please do register in advance via the website: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-2026-food-security-fair
2026 Stallholders and Vendors: - Alchemy Farms - BMCC Bushcare team - BMCC Waste Team - Chey`s Flowers - Cool Seats / Sustainable House - Diego Bonetto - Eats Really Yummy - Fidelity Coffee - Fifi`s Bees - Good Fat Pastry - Kokomo Island Cafe - Permaculture Hawkesbury Valley - Permaculture Matters - Plant Inspired and Associates - Theory Produce - Waste Free Produce - Wildplant Rescue - WIRES - You Are The Plant...
We are just one week away from Plate to Planet: Blue Mountains Food Security Fair, taking place next Saturday, 10th October, at the Planetary Health Centre.
Whether you are interested in understanding the global food system, at-home food security, community resilience or local produce, we have talks, workshops, activities and stallholders for all.
View the full program and register your place via the website: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-2026-food-security-fair
We have limited spots remaining so don`t miss out!...
We are counting down the days to Plate to Planet: Blue Mountains Food Security Fair. Join us, and key speakers, educators and organisations at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba to explore one of the most important challenges of our time: how we grow, share and sustain food in a way that supports the health of ourselves, our communities and our planet. View the full program and reserve your space via this link: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-2026-food-security-fair...
Thank you to our food vendors catering Plate to Planet: Blue Mountains Food Security Fair 2026! 🌱
🍚 @eatsreallyyummy Eats Really Yummy is a food truck serving delicious Taiwanese-inspired fusion cuisine, bringing bold flavours and creative dishes to the Blue Mountains. Join them at Plate to Planet for a taste of their delicious street-food-style offerings while celebrating the diversity, creativity and community of our local food scene.
🌴 @kokomoislandcafe Based in Wentworth Falls, Kokomo Island Café is a female-owned food trailer bringing vibrant Caribbean flavours to the Blue Mountains. For the Blue Mountains Food Security Fair 2026, we’ll be serving a delicious menu of vegetarian snacks and dishes made with locally grown Blue Mountains produce, celebrating the region’s incredible growers. Join us for nourishing food, bold flavours, and a day dedicated to community, sustainability, and the remarkable food being grown in our region.
☕ @fidelity.coffee Fidelity curates a rotating selection of exceptional coffees from leading Australian and international roasters. From rare single-origins to innovative processing methods, every coffee is chosen for its unique character and outstanding quality.
🥐 @goodfatpastry Good Fat Pastry creates scrumptious plant based pastries for your enjoyment and donates proceeds to people in need. Do yourself good by eating tasty things. Do others good by supporting their needs.
To view the full program and register your place, visit the event website: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-2026-food-security-fair...
We’re excited to launch the 2026 program and website for PREPARE: Disaster Risk Awareness Expo, hosted by Blue Mountains Planetary Health.
Key event information: 📆Date: Saturday 7 November 🕙Time: 10am - 4pm 🌏Venue: Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre, Katoomba 🪙Cost: Entry free, some sessions ticketed. Registration essential.
Visit the website and register your place here: https://events.humanitix.com/host/blue-mountains-planetary-health
Following the success of last year’s event, this year’s Expo will once again bring together the community, emergency services, researchers, local organisations and experts to share practical knowledge and explore how we can better prepare for disasters and build safer, healthier and more resilient communities.
The 2026 program includes a range of interactive workshops, talks and activities, including:
- iFire / UNSW - iFire Immersive Bushfire Simulation - Australian Red Cross - EmergencyRedi workshop - Resilient Blue Mountains - Climate Fresk - Blue Mountains City Council - Hidden hazards before a disaster - WIRES - caring for wildlife during disasters - Blue Mountains City Council - response and recovery after the 2019 / 2020 Black Summer Bushfires
Key emergency services – NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW State Emergency Service and Fire and Rescue will also be on site with vehicles, displays and activities.
Rapid Relief Australia will be providing free food and refreshments throughout the day.
Visit the website and register your place here: https://events.humanitix.com/host/blue-mountains-planetary-health
We’re looking forward to seeing you and your families there!...
Looking for a fun, educational and sustainable day out these school holidays?
Come along to Plate to Planet: Blue Mountains Food Security Fair in Katoomba on Saturday 10 October, with a line-up of free talks, activities and entertainment for all ages!
🌿 The Importance of Bioregions in Uncertain Times Join permaculture pioneer Rowe Morrow to explore how our land, water, food, energy and communities are connected - and how we can build a more resilient Blue Mountains.
🌱 Discover Old Man Saltbush Get up close to this remarkable native plant with Anne Elliot, and discover its potential as part of a more diverse and resilient food system.
🪱 Have a go at worm farming Learn how easy it can be to turn food scraps into valuable nutrients for your garden - with a hands-on worm farm activity from BMCC.
🎶 Enjoy live music Take a break, relax and soak up the atmosphere while enjoying live music by Olivia Dustmann throughout the day.
🎨 Kids` Corner - all day! Rock painting, crafts and story time, with plenty of fruit and veggie-inspired fun for younger visitors.
Explore local stalls, food, gardens, wildlife, sustainability and practical ideas for creating a more resilient food future.
Entry to the Fair and markets is free, with a range of free and paid sessions and workshops available throughout the day. Some sessions have limited capacity, so registration is recommended.
View the full program and register your place here: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-2026-food-security-fair
📅 Saturday 10 October | 9am–4pm 📍 Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre, Katoomba...
Join Andris Heks, Yogic Psychotherapist, winner Best Actor, Blue Mountains, for his workshop to laugh as you never laughed before, as part of a movement to globalise people-bonding cheerfulness through kookaburra laughter contagion as an antidote to distressing world divisiveness.
Purchase your ticket here: https://events.humanitix.com/kookaburra-laughter-workshop
View the trailer and the GoFundMe page here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/globalise-unconditional-love-through-kookaburra-laughter
Key event information: - When? 10:15AM - 2:30PM, Sunday 4 October 2026 (1st day of Daylight Saving - 1 hour forward) - Where? Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre, 33-39 Acacia St, Katoomba, NSW, 2780 - Fee? $60 or what you can afford - Note: please bring your own lunch
What to expect: - Learn how to stay cheerful for good - Learning the funny, human emulated, communal kookaburra laughter and meditation - How communal kookaburra laughter promotes bonding even amongst strangers - The awesome native treasure of the laughing kookaburra phenomenon - Why Kookaburra Yoga is the ‘most excellent of Yogas` - How communal kookaburra laughter contagion boosts the subtle and gross national product - How you could contribute to the kookaburra laughter contagion
This event is supported by Blue Mountains Planetary Health.
Purchase your ticket here: https://events.humanitix.com/kookaburra-laughter-workshop...
Come along to the Planetary Health Centre this Saturday for the next Skill Share Saturdays event!
This weekend`s agenda:
8:30AM - 10AM | Learn how to use your sewing machine class with Sherlie McMillan
8:30AM | Planetary Health Cafe open, serving Good Fat Pastry and Whisk and Pin
9AM - 10AM | Tai Chi and Qigong class with Virginia Field
10AM - 12PM | Learn how to grow WITH the Upper Blue Mountain permaculture workshop with Leni from Alchemy Farms
10AM - 3PM | Fashion Upcycling Workshop with Sherlie McMillan
10:30AM - 12PM | Learn to make focaccia from scratch with Laura Zucchetti (no experience needed)
1:30PM - 4:30PM | Planetary Health Bushcare with Karen Hising
For more information and to purchase a ticket, please visit the website: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre...
Plate to Planet: Blue Mountains Food Security Fair 2026
📣HEADLINE SPEAKER📣
Our headline speaker is Julian Cribb AM – a renowned Australian science writer, journalist and author who has spent more than 50 years communicating science, agriculture, climate and global sustainability issues. He is the author of several influential books, including The Coming Famine (2010), Food or War (2019) and How to Fix a Broken Planet (2023), which explore the future of food systems, planetary health and humanity`s long-term survival.
He is widely recognised as one of Australia`s leading voices on global food security and sustainable development.
To register for his talk, and view the rest of the program, visit the website: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-2026-food-security-fair...
At our next Skill Share Saturdays event on Saturday 5th September, join Laura Zucchetti at 10:30am to learn how to make focaccia from scratch!
Come along for a 90 min class where you`ll mix, rest and stretch your own focaccia dough from start to finish, guided every step of the way. You’ll take home your dough to bake on the day in your own oven.
Sign up to this session, and view the other offerings on the day via this link: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre...
Plate to Planet: Blue Mountains Food Security Fair 2026
We are pleased to announce that the program and registration for Plate to Planet: Blue Mountains Food Security Fair 2026 is now live!
Follow this link to view the program and register your place: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-2026-food-security-fair
Key information:
When? Saturday 10 October, 9AM - 4PM
Where? Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre, Katoomba
Who is it for? Families, gardeners, enthusiasts, community groups and businesses, anyone looking to learn about how to be more resilient through local and sustainable food systems.
What to expect? Talks, workshops, demos, market stalls, family activities, music, food
Is there a cost? Entry to the Fair and Markets is free. Talks and workshops are ticketed (both free and paid) and have limited capacity, so please register in advance.
Program highlights:
🌏Headline talk: The age of renewable Food – Julian Cribb AM 🎋Wild edibles foraging workshops – Diego Bonetto, Eat More Weeds 🏞️The importance of bioregions in uncertain times – Rowe Morrow, Permaculture Matters 🥒Home canning and food preservation workshop – Kirsty Berté, Permaculture Hawkesbury Valley 🏡Designing your own Permaculture Property – Leni Nyssen, Alchemy Farms 🍃Utilising what’s in front of you – Uncle Lex, The Ganya Shed 🪱How to worm farm - BMCC 🎸Live music by Olivia Dustmann 🌾Community crop and seed swap
Tickets are limited so please register your place now: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-2026-food-security-fair
We are also seeking stallholders for the event. If you are a grower, retailer, community organisation or business that would like to get involved, please reach out to [email protected]!...
Lis Bastian is the Senior Lead for Blue Mountains City Council’s Planetary Health Initiative. She is the editor of the Local News Platforms and has been a writer, editor, news presenter and teacher/lecturer covering both cultural and environmental issues for over 30 years. She has been pioneering Solutions/Constructive Journalism in Australia since 2012.
The concept of planetary health is rapidly gaining attention globally, as the world increasingly confronts the interconnected challenges of environmental degradation, climate change, and public health crises. But what does the term 'planetary health' really mean, and why does it matter?
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