My Pumpkin Roof

As part of its efforts to highlight alternative and sustainable solutions for an urban future, Auroville Green Practices has launched the colourful publication My Pumpkin Roof. This highly accessible paperback aims to inspire and guide urban dwellers to start growing their own food, whether they have access to a mere windowsill or to a whole a plot of land. The idea is that food can be grown in different spaces and in different ways: all it takes is creativity and innovation. The book guides people through the basics, such as soils, seeds, water, pesticides and containers. It addresses the issues posed by different spaces – from rooftops and backyards to vertical walls and guerilla gardens – including naysaying neighbours, sunlight and drainage. Interspersed throughout the book are inspiring ‘best practice’ examples of urban agriculture from around the world, as well as interesting tit-bits, such as French architect Le Corbusier including roof gardens as part of his designs for buildings in India.

The benefits of urban food growing (for individuals, the community, the environment) are clearly spelled out in the book’s opening, along with the book’s overarching value system of seeking to connect urban lives more closely to the production of food. The funky design and the informal tone of the content make this book very appealing and easily digestible. Made possible by generous support of Stichting de Zaaier and Auroville Consulting.

My Pumpkin Roof is available from Auroville Green Practices, Auroville shops and Amazon. Price in India Rs 395. For information contact martins@auroville.org.in