How does your garden grow?

With gardens starting to stir in Calgary, PotatoesOn Rooftops: Farming in the City by Hadley Dyer is really timely.

This book is a pitch to persuade young people about the value and do-ability of ‘urban farming’.

It gives a brief overview of growing food in the city, historical initiatives during times of crisis such as World Wars I and II, global issues about food production, costs and inequities, optimizing space, community development and benefits such as better tasting food and good exercise.

There are lots of examples (both Canadian and American) of creative projects that are already underway, such as rooftop gardens, gardens underground, small-scale community plots on school grounds, left over bits of land close to urban infrastructure and greenhouses in locales with very limited growing seasons.

There is basic information about how to go about starting a garden on a windowsill, balcony or backyard, composting, or buying local produce.

There’s also lots of positive encouragement:

 “As you've seen, you can accomplish so much when you have an appetite for change.  And the more you do, the more you can do! Use your positive experiences to inspire other people, whether they’re your friends, classmates, neighbors, or city council.” (p.74)

Recommended for middle grades.

Today is Nonfiction Monday a round up of blogs about nonfiction children's literature.  Today's event is being host by Instantly Interruptible.