Back to resources

Uncommon Ground – Tilling The Urban Soil

Uncommon Ground | Jun 19, 2009

Urban farming enthusiasts believe it is the best way to green the city, while providing a little food security too.
It is remarkable how much you can grow in a small space with very little fuss. My colleague Vishwanath, who himself has demonstrated the viability of growing paddy on his small rooftop garden, taught me to grow vegetables in the boxes in which truck batteries are sold! Sitting pretty on the terrace, they provide an environment safe from bandicoots to grow consumables.
And the joy of having something that is grown around us, and plucked fresh for the kitchen, is indescribable, the experience priceless. And of course, the food tastes much better, too.

View PDF

More like this

Uncommon Ground

Uncommon Ground - Rediscovering Wonder

Most species are individually stupid but collectively smart. Humans are the opposite. It is remarkable what happens when you suspend judgement and disbelief for a while. You rediscover wonder. A little bit of this rediscovery happens every weekend in cinema halls across the country. But I was very lucky to have my own awakening of […]
Feb 13, 2009 | Conversation

Uncommon Ground

Uncommon Ground | YC Deveshwar and Sunita Narain on Sustainable Development

This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s Uncommon Ground, where she brings together titans of industry and leaders of civil society to explore eight themes that are highly relevant for our future development. In this episode, she moderates a discussion on business and sustainability with Yogesh Deveshwar, the chairman of ITC, and Sunita Narain, […]
Dec 12, 2008 | Conversation

Uncommon Ground

Uncommon Ground - For The Children Of India

The debate has shifted to higher studies, but we I cannot afford to take the foot off the pedal on early education. In this, the final column in this series, I turn to a core area of my work over the past decade—the education and development of young children. Some sights and sounds remain sharply […]
Jul 17, 2009 | Article

Uncommon Ground

Uncommon Ground | Anand Mahindra and Medha Patkar on Equitable Development

This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s Uncommon Ground, where she brings together titans of industry and leaders of civil society to explore eight themes that are highly relevant for our future development. In this episode, she moderates a discussion on equitable development, with Medha Patkar, the face of the Narmada Bachao Andolan and […]
Dec 12, 2008 | Conversation