Potatoes on Rooftops: Farming in the City - Hardcover

Dyer, Hadley

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1554514258 ISBN 13: 9781554514250

Publisher: Annick Press, 2012

Synopsis

From high school students to high-rise dwellers, people—including Michelle Obama—are discovering innovative ways to grow fresh, healthy, and delicious fruit and vegetables at home, in community gardens, and at school. This brisk, informative overview explains how farming in the city is not only fun, but also important for the planet. There are many ways to farm in the city: a Detroit high school program teaches students to grow food and raise chickens; in Tokyo, a bank vault was converted into an underground greenhouse; in Nairobi, local youth transformed part of a slum into a garden that helps feed their families. Read about modern inventions such as futuristic pod greenhouses, food-producing wall panels, and industrial-sized composters. Short, kid-friendly descriptions and vibrant photos and illustrations keep the pace moving and the tone light. Toronto Public Health and FoodShare, two respected agencies, both have contributed to the book. Potatoes on Rooftops is the perfect book to get you thinking about how you, too, can grow food in the city.

About this title

About the Author

Hadley Dyer is the celebrated author and editor of many books for children and young adults. She is a former bookseller and library coordinator. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Reviews

Gr 3-6-Grassroots efforts at sustainable agriculture are given a global perspective in this interesting look at the many ways people grow their food. From rooftop and container gardening to school gardens and community plots, Dyer discusses changes in traditional agriculture from victory gardens of heirloom crops to modern factory farming and hybrid produce. Protein-based food sources like eggs and fish are also included. Issues related to sustainability, such as greenhouse emissions, and fair-trade practices are also discussed, as are the psychological and health benefits of growing one's own food. The writing is both engaging and interesting as the author presents some complicated topics in an easy-to-digest manner. Many ideas for thinking outside of the box are given by presenting nontraditional means of agriculture that will be unfamiliar to many readers. The photos have an upbeat, urban feel to them and complement the text nicely. There is also a kid-friendly quality about the information, which is presented in sidebars and dialogue bubbles. In the current climate of sustainability, this title is small but mighty. A lot of relevant topics are hit on in a simple but powerful way. Not to be missed or dismissed.-Rebecca Gueorguiev, New York Public Libraryα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

With its catchy title, appealing design, and casual approach, this ought to draw readers in and might even inspire them to try their own hand at gardening—or at least to become more familiar with the urban farming movement. The problems of current food production and world hunger are briefly outlined with information about small-scale solutions that are happening worldwide. Although the title and topic suggest this is only about farming and growing crops for city dwellers, plenty of advice is offered for those who live in areas with small plots of land (backyards, etc.) at their disposal. The focus of the book is more inspirational than instructional, with resources provided for those who are motivated to try their own growing of food items in populated areas. The text is fairly lengthy but not overwhelming, as each page is smartly arranged with a mix of large, colorful graphics, photos, and blocks of text carefully placed on colored pages. Timely, attractively designed, and inspirational. Dig in! Grades 4-7. --Randall Enos

Edition details

• Publisher: Annick Press
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1554514258
• ISBN 13: 9781554514250
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 84