Mumbai Food Forests Revolution: How Urban Green Spaces Transform Property Values and Community Living

How Vakola's Success Story is Reshaping Property Values and Community Living Across Mumbai

In 2017, a remarkable transformation began in Vakola, Santacruz East that would redefine how we think about urban spaces and property development in Mumbai. Led by resident Shridhar Sawant, a dedicated group converted a modest 150×15 sq. ft strip—originally earmarked for parking—into Mumbai's first thriving urban food forest. Today, this green oasis flourishes with lemon, breadfruit, gooseberry, and ber trees, creating a vibrant ecosystem that's attracting birds, bees, and setting new benchmarks for sustainable community living.

This isn't just an environmental success story—it's a property revolution that's influencing real estate values and community preferences across Mumbai's residential markets.

What Makes Food Forests Different from Traditional Gardens?

A food forest represents a complete shift from ornamental landscaping to productive, self-sustaining urban ecosystems. Unlike the popular Miyawaki method that focuses on dense tree plantations for rapid greening, food forests recreate nature's seven-layer forest structure:

The Seven Layers of Urban Food Forests:

• Canopy Trees – Large fruit and nut trees providing shade and produce
• Understory Trees – Dwarf fruit varieties and shade-tolerant species
• Shrub Layer – Berry bushes and medicinal plants
• Herbaceous Layer – Culinary and medicinal herbs
• Ground Cover – Soil-protecting creepers and low-growing plants
• Vine Layer – Climbing beans, gourds, and passion fruit
• Root Layer – Underground crops like ginger, turmeric, and sweet potatoes

Key Principles:

• Based on permaculture design principles
• Emphasis on native and indigenous species
• Combines biodiversity conservation with food production
• Requires minimal maintenance once established
• Creates self-regulating ecosystems

The Mumbai Property Impact: Numbers That Matter

Why Food Forests Are Game-Changers for Mumbai Real Estate

Traditional urban development has prioritized ornamental landscaping—manicured lawns, exotic plants, and decorative gardens that require constant maintenance and provide limited ecological value. This approach is rapidly becoming outdated as homebuyers increasingly value sustainable, productive green spaces.

Environmental expert Shweta Wagh has pioneered food forest projects across Juhu, Malad, and Alibag, demonstrating their potential to attract diverse wildlife including flycatchers, sunbirds, butterflies, frogs, and beneficial insects.

"Food forests aren't just about growing food—they're about healing urban soil and bringing back native ecosystems that support entire communities," explains Wagh.

Creating Your Community Food Forest: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Site Assessment and Soil Preparation

Urban plots often suffer from compacted, contaminated soil mixed with construction debris. The solution involves:

• Layering organic waste and compost materials
• Adding cow dung and natural fertilizers
• Creating healthy topsoil through decomposition
• Testing and treating soil contamination

Step 2: Strategic Plant Design

Successful food forests require careful planning to optimize:

• Sunlight distribution across all layers
• Water flow and retention patterns
• Nutrient cycling between different plants
• Seasonal growth and harvest timing

Step 3: Sustainable Maintenance

Once established, food forests become largely self-maintaining through:

• Reduced watering needs due to deep root systems
• Natural pest control through biodiversity
• Composting and mulching instead of chemical fertilizers
• Seasonal pruning and selective harvesting

Pro Tip for Property Developers: Public parks and common areas in housing societies make ideal food forest locations—they're protected from redevelopment pressures and create lasting community assets.

The Real Estate Revolution: Beyond Property Values

Food forests represent more than community gardening—they're becoming essential climate resilience infrastructure that smart property buyers actively seek. These spaces deliver:

Environmental Returns:

• Carbon sequestration reducing urban heat
• Natural air conditioning through transpiration
• Stormwater management and groundwater recharge
• Soil restoration in degraded urban areas

Community Benefits:

• Shared spaces fostering neighbor connections
• Educational opportunities for children
• Cultural preservation through indigenous plants
• Reduced food costs for participating families

Property Market Impact:

• Higher demand for eco-conscious developments
• Premium pricing for sustainable community features
• Long-term value protection through climate resilience
• Differentiation in competitive real estate markets

Investment Perspective: The Future of Green Development

Forward-thinking property developers and housing societies are recognizing food forests as valuable amenities that attract environmentally conscious buyers. Recent market trends show buyers willing to pay premiums of ₹50,000 to ₹1,50,000 for properties with established sustainable green spaces.

The cultural significance cannot be overlooked either—food forests reconnect urban communities with traditional foods, indigenous recipes, and seasonal eating patterns that resonate strongly with Mumbai's diverse population.

Policy Integration and Future Outlook

Urban planning experts advocate for integrating food forests into Mumbai's climate action frameworks and development policies. This shift moves beyond cosmetic beautification toward functional green infrastructure that delivers measurable environmental and social returns.

As George Remedios from the Turning Tide Foundation emphasizes: "Food production is a welcome bonus, but the primary goal is ecosystem restoration. When we heal the land, everything else follows—including stronger, more resilient communities."

Conclusion

The urban food forest movement starting from Vakola represents a fundamental shift in how Mumbai approaches green development. For property buyers, investors, and communities, these spaces offer a compelling combination of environmental sustainability, community building, and long-term value creation.

As Mumbai continues facing environmental challenges and space constraints, food forests provide a proven model for creating productive, beautiful, and ecologically sound urban spaces that benefit both current residents and future generations.

The question isn't whether food forests will become mainstream in Mumbai real estate—it's how quickly property developers and communities will embrace this sustainable future.