9 months ago
Chennai Baker Turns City Into Garden
Shefalii Dadabhoy, a baker in Chennai, started a project to make her city more beautiful with sunflowers.
She began by planting sunflowers on her rooftop and soon shared seeds with others.
Now, many people, schools, and even a petrol pump are growing sunflowers.
These flowers bring happiness, attract bees and butterflies, and make the city greener.
Shefalii wants everyone in Chennai to enjoy the beauty and joy of sunflowers, turning the city into a garden.
She shares seeds and tips for free, and people are excited to join in.
It's a fun way to make the city a better place!
Shefalii Dadabhoy, a Chennai-based baker and urban gardener, initiated the #SunflowerCity movement to transform Chennai into India's first Sunflower City.
The project started with a rooftop garden experiment in 2024 and has since grown to include over 150 participants, including residents, schools, and offices.
Over 10,000 sunflower seeds have been distributed for free, with Shefalii personally growing over 5,000 sunflowers in three cycles.
Sunflowers are chosen for their ability to attract pollinators, boost biodiversity, and thrive in Chennai's climate, making them ideal for urban gardening.
The initiative has spread to various locations, including schools like KC High International and a petrol pump in Dindivanam, bringing joy and beauty to unexpected places.
- Who
- Shefalii Dadabhoy, a 51-year-old banker-turned-chef and urban gardener
- What
- A citywide initiative to turn Chennai into India's first Sunflower City by distributing sunflower seeds and promoting urban gardening
- Where
- Chennai, India, with participants from various locations including schools, offices, and petrol pumps
- When
- The initiative began in 2024 with a rooftop garden experiment
- Why
- To bring joy, boost biodiversity, and create a sense of community through urban greenery
Key facts
- Name
- Shefalii Dadabhoy
- Age
- 51
- Occupation
- Banker-turned-chef, photographer, founder of 'Shefs' bakery
- Initiative
- #SunflowerCity
- Seeds Distributed
- 10,000
- Sunflowers Grown
- 5,000 in three cycles
- Participants
- 150+ residents, schools, and offices
- Climate Suitability
- Chennai's climate is ideal for sunflowers
Quotes
Shefalii Dadabhoy
Founder of 'Shefs', a boutique Chennai bakery, and the initiator of the #SunflowerCity movement.
“I never thought associating Chennai with flowers was strange. But people would tell me, 'We’ve never thought of Chennai and flowers in the same sentence.' That only pushed me further.”
thebetterindia.com
“The joy was infectious. That’s when it hit me — what if the whole city could feel this immense joy?”
thebetterindia.com
Valli Subbiah
Director of KC High International School, Chennai.
“It was a beautiful interdisciplinary project. We called our students 'Little Gardeners'.”
thebetterindia.com
“I’d like to credit Angel Roshika Alice, our secondary science teacher, and Nancy Ninan, our primary teacher, for their constant effort in involving the children and helping create this beautiful garden of sunflowers.”
thebetterindia.com
Girish Pandian
Entrepreneur and owner of a petrol bunk in Dindivanam.
“Customers come in, they see the flowers, and there’s an instant spark of joy. I’ve seen kids run in to take selfies, people smile as they refuel — something as simple as a flower brightens their day. It’s not just a petrol bunk anymore, it feels like a garden.”
thebetterindia.com
“Initially, I didn’t know much about growing sunflowers, but Shefalii's instructions were easy to follow. You just have to be careful with watering. In the beginning, sprinkle lightly — too much water can kill the plant before it gets strong.”
thebetterindia.com
Sources
Related news
Vijay Announces Major Desalination Plant and Urban Infrastructure Projects
Inside Aditi Rao Hydari and Siddharth’s Chennai Home
IndiGo Plans Itanagar Flights to Six Major Indian Cities
AI Salaries Rise 23% as Traditional Tech Pay Stagnates
Tamil Nadu Assembly Debates Snake Curses and Rationalism
