During my college days in Chandigarh—the City Beautiful—I often pedalled through its well-planned streets and leafy boulevards. Amid the blooming gulmohars and decorative hedges, a curious thought sprouted in my mind: Why not plant mango or other fruit trees alongside the flowering ones?
The idea, though juicy in imagination, was met with laughter or outright rejection by my friends. But it stuck with me, nestled in the odd corners of my reasoning. Little did I know that what once seemed eccentric is now part of a growing global movement: edible parks, gardens, and even sidewalks.
Take New Zealand, for instance, where several cities are turning sidewalks, parks, and walkways into community orchards. Local councils, with help from urban agriculture groups, are planting fruit-bearing trees—apples, plums, feijoas, citrus—not just for greenery, but for free, fresh fruit for anyone passing by.
In New York City, the High Line Park boasts a 4,000-square-foot vegetable garden that yields over 500 pounds of produce annually. Meanwhile, in Nairobi’s Kibera slum, a former dumpsite has been transformed into an edible park, complete with gardens and a bustling market that sells homegrown vegetables.
Even in North America, we’re seeing a suburban shift. Front lawns once obsessed with green perfection are now sprouting tomatoes, herbs, and grapevines. Abandoned lots are turning into thriving community gardens.
The next frontier? City sidewalks.
Sidewalks have the space and sun. Why limit them to ornamental trees when they could host fruit-bearing ones just as lovely? Why stop at cherry blossoms when you can have actual cherries too? Imagine almonds instead of only maples, pears replacing poplars, and blueberry shrubs mingling with bushes of beauty.
Edible sidewalks and parks don’t just green our cities—they clean the air, create shared public spaces, promote sustainability, and might even help tame fruit and vegetable prices.
Who knows—someday soon, an apple a day may just hang above your morning walk. And it won’t cost a cent.
By Promod Puri
Promod Puri.com 