Sky Garden
Nashville's Urban Retreat with a Rooftop Garden
Tucked away in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee lies a secret oasis unlike any other—Sky Garden. From the outside, it may seem like just another house, but step inside, and you'll discover a world of wonder.
Located on a quiet street in hip East Nashville, the star of this vacation rental is its rooftop patio garden: an enchanting escape blooming with wildflowers, succulents, wisteria canopies and a willow tree growing through the roof. Originally built in the 1950s, Sky Garden underwent a remarkable transformation in 2017, expanding the space to include ingenious moveable walls, cozy office nooks and its signature garden in the sky, perfect for all types of Nashville getaways.
But Sky Garden is so much more than a stunning place to stay. Its a vibrant part of the community, on a mission to share its bounty with neighbors in need and encourage people to connect with nature. The home’s yard includes an urban farm with food crops that are cultivated by Sky Garden’s owners and friends and donated to local nonprofits and neighbors. And for music lovers, Sky Garden offers a special treat: the rooftop doubles as a stage for the Sky Garden Sessions, where local artists serenade guests against the backdrop of Nashville's skyline.
We talked with one of the owners of Sky Garden, Rico, about the home’s history, how he maintains the gardens, the importance of community and why he believes anyone, regardless of experience, can grow their own food. Step into the unforgettable world of Sky Garden and find inspiration—for your garden, your next trip or both.
Text : Annika Bielig-Bussmann
Imagery by Sky Garden Nashville
Can you share where Sky Garden is located and what is special and unique about the house? Sky Garden is located in Nashville, Tennessee. We are the only house in town with a willow tree growing out of the roof!
The house has a 2,000+ square-foot layout with a tiered rooftop garden. Can you share more about the build out of the garden? Did you build the house or did you buy it and add the rooftop garden later? What inspired you to add the gardens to the house? This home was built in the 1950s as a small, one-story house. In 2017, Eddie Carpenter completed the remodel that is now known as "Sky Garden," including adding the upstairs and the tiered rooftop patio. Impressively, Eddie did the majority of the planning and building alone. I found it hard to believe at first but, as I got to know the neighbors, Eddie's story was proven true! They watched him work on the house alone for several years until completion. Sky Garden is truly one of a kind!
What type of plants do you grow on the roof? When did you start planting crops in the yard? We currently grow flowers and succulents in the rooftop garden beds. The rooftop is bursting with colorful wildflowers, roses, irises and azaleas when everything is in bloom. I'm especially excited about the "Lavender Falls Wisteria" vines that we planted last year. They will grow to cover the pergola, creating a beautiful purple canopy! I've been at Sky Garden for three years now and started planting crops from the start. There were already some mature plants on-site, like asparagus and blackberries. Every year, we plant some new items, but we have found that peppers and tomatoes do very well in Tennessee. We're very excited to be experimenting with new chard varieties and strawberries this summer. We also have a new section in the garden for sunflowers and pumpkins!
One of your missions is to grow food for the community. You partner with the Heimerdinger Foundation, for example, which provides healthy meals for cancer patients. Can you share more about your vision to grow food for the community and your values behind that? The house operates as a rental, but all of the surrounding gardens provide free food for the community. 100% of our produce is given away. We share fruits and veggies with our neighbors, and they are welcome to pick tomatoes right from our fence as they are on a stroll (which happens often)!
The Heimerdinger Foundation here in Nashville has a program called "Meals 4 Health and Healing." Their mission is to provide nourishing meals for individuals undergoing treatment for cancer. Volunteers grow crops, donate food, cook healthy meals and deliver them to those in need. At Sky Garden, we were quickly growing large amounts of produce and needed someone to share it with. My little sister, Risa, connected me with the people at Heimerdinger, and it has been a wonderful partnership ever since! They receive the majority of our produce.
My parents were both field workers in central California. They started working when they were about five years old, picking all types of produce. My parents worked very hard and they have always been very kind, generous people. I like to think that they passed their work ethic and values on to me. They planted and picked to survive. They worked hard so that my siblings and I could have a better future. I am happy to plant and pick not to survive, but instead to help my community!
How often do you plant per year? And can people volunteer and help you at the garden? Typically, we start planting crops in late April. We continue to grow well into fall. All of the gardeners that help out with Sky Garden are Nashville neighbors. If you like plants, working outside and live in East Nash, then reach out to me!
How much gardening experience did you have before Sky Garden? What are some things you’ve learned along the way? When I moved into Sky Garden, I knew absolutely nothing about plants. I had never even grown one plant in my entire life! Suddenly, I was in charge of an urban farm. I had to learn FAST. What I’ve found is that plants tend to grow and flourish with or without our help. Anybody can do it! All of our ancestors worked the land and produced their own food. Reconnecting with these traditions has been very fulfilling. I hope to show others that you do not have to be an expert to successfully grow healthy plants.
The interior of the house also has some special details, from moving walls that transform a space to remote work office spaces. Can you share more about the vision of the interior layout? Sky Garden is a shapeshifter! Downstairs, we have a pocket wall that slides into a hallway to create a "master bedroom" feel. Upstairs, we have a large void located low in a wall so that a bed can be slid into the wall. This creates more room in the bedroom to be used as an office space or to practice Karate!
I used to travel for work so I was inspired to create a comfortable work space. Sky Garden has a work desk set up in one of the bedrooms with a second monitor, office chair and computer accessories.
The kitchen, dining room and living room all flow into one another without any walls or barriers. I was careful with furniture choices and placement to keep this open feeling in the space.
Community is a huge factor in your life. You and Sol work in the music industry, and you also created the Sky Garden Sessions. Can you share more about that? My neighbor, Houston Mathews, is a fantastic videographer and drummer. He had this great idea to start filming local artists playing acoustic sessions on the roof of Sky Garden. I loved the idea! I'm a drummer and my brother, Sol, is a (amazing) guitar player. It only made sense to invite the local music community to be a part of Sky Garden!
Search "Sky Garden Sessions" on YouTube!
Where can people go to book a stay at Sky Garden, and what would you say is the best time of year to visit Nashville?
Head on over to skygardennashville.com to get connected. In early fall, the heat subsides and the plants are still green. Come visit us!
