With increasing health awareness leading to a surge in popularity in food cultivation, Bengaluru now houses many urban farmers who have their own kitchen, terrace or plot gardens, which boast of varied produce. These city-based cultivators aim to grow enough produce to become self-sufficient and want to not depend on external sources for even manure. As 'World Food Day' approaches these food producers talk about what inspired them to take up urban farming.
Many terrace gardeners like Prerana Arvind Singh, a homemaker, say producing their own brinjal, tomatoes, 'methi', coriander, 'palak', chilli and 'amaranthas' (red and green) has been fulfilling. "These are all rotational crops but everyday I have at least one green to cook with. Though it is difficult to grow many vegetables due to problems like space constraints, pests and windy climate, one can still aim to produce enough for one's basic needs," says Prerana.
Talking about the issue of wastage, Prerana adds that she finds buying 1 kg of tomato from the store pointless now. "I get the 3-4 tomatoes we need from my crop; in fact, I grow around 70 percent of our vegetable requirements."
There were many who were inspired to create their own food garden because of eco-friendly practices like vermi-composting or bio-gas plants. Rajalakshmi Padmanabhan, who has a balcony and terrace garden, says that it was the slurry from the bio-gas plant at her home that inspired her to grow bitter gourd, 'dondakaya', beans, 'sapota' and 'papaya' at her place. "While one knows that they're eating food which is healthy, growing one's own crop also helps to cut down on expenses at supermarkets," she adds.
The space around one's house can also be utilised to create a mini vegetable patch, says B V Venkatesh, a resident of Jayanagar. "The space I have is limited but I have grown a variety of items like kohlrabi, cucumber, mint and 'doddapatre', which grows easily here. I have 11 types of crops growing now which includes four types of spinach, beans, bottle gourd and carrots," he says. Despite living in the city, Venkatesh believes that utilising space appropriately and following some guidelines are all that is needed to grow one's own crop. "The produce from this small area itself lasts us for days. If one gets more space and plans in a better manner, they can be entirely self-sufficient," he adds on a positive note.
There are many who have hired spaces or seek permission to grow crops in other's spaces. Ramamohan Parini, a resident of Hebbal, grows vegetables, greens and fruits in a neighbour's empty plot and rented site. "If one opts for rooftop or other forms of gardening, there will be a lot of food available for everyone. The tedious task of finding out vegetables that have been sprinkled with fertilisers or pesticides can be avoided too. From ladies fingers, Malabar spinach, creeper beans to fruits like grapes, guava, oranges and 'seethaphal', I grow a good variety," he says.
Ramamohan feels that in a city like Bengaluru where produce has to be brought from the outskirts, it is essential to try and be self-sufficient. "It isn't hard to maintain a kitchen or terrace garden. If one is dedicated enough, the fruits of labour will be rewarding," he says. Despite limited space, Roy D'souza, a radiologist, has fruit trees like litchi, gooseberry, mango, cashewnut, rose apple, butterfruit and oranges around his house and also grows vegetables in his neighbour's plot. "I borrowed the space because it was lying vacant. I got fruit trees planted in the periphery, like mulberry and avocado, and got raised beds done in the centre for vegetables. The soil was reworked and I am growing radish, carrots, a variety of beans (which helps fix the nitrogen levels required for other crops), asparagus, 'toor dal' and many herbs like basil, rosemary etc," details Roy.
He says that with food sufficiency being the need of the hour, Bengalureans need to look into hiring similar spaces or try community gardening. "If one is going organic, it takes a lot of effort and time. For a larger produce, one can also be a part of community projects, which should be encouraged by authorities like the BBMP. When one takes this path, they also reduce the carbon footprint in terms of cutting down on transportation of food items and other transfers required," adds Roy.
![]( "DEDICATED: Roy D'souza with his crop that includes radish.")
With increasing health awareness leading to a surge in popularity in food cultivation, Bengaluru now houses many urban farmers who have their own kitchen, terrace or plot gardens, which boast of varied produce. These city-based cultivators aim to grow enough produce to become self-sufficient and want to not depend on external sources for even manure. As 'World Food Day’ approaches these food producers talk about what inspired them to take up urban farming.
Many terrace gardeners like Prerana Arvind Singh, a homemaker, say producing their own brinjal, tomatoes, 'methi’, coriander, 'palak’, chilli and 'amaranthas’ (red and green) has been fulfilling. "These are all rotational crops but everyday I have at least one green to cook with. Though it is difficult to grow many vegetables due to problems like space constraints, pests and windy climate, one can still aim to produce enough for one’s basic needs,” says Prerana.
Talking about the issue of wastage, Prerana adds that she finds buying 1 kg of tomato from the store pointless now. "I get the 3-4 tomatoes we need from my crop; in fact, I grow around 70 percent of our vegetable requirements.”
There were many who were inspired to create their own food garden because of eco-friendly practices like vermi-composting or bio-gas plants. Rajalakshmi Padmanabhan, who has a balcony and terrace garden, says that it was the slurry from the bio-gas plant at her home that inspired her to grow bitter gourd, 'dondakaya’, beans, 'sapota’ and 'papaya’ at her place. "While one knows that they’re eating food which is healthy, growing one’s own crop also helps to cut down on expenses at supermarkets,” she adds.
The space around one’s house can also be utilised to create a mini vegetable patch, says B V Venkatesh, a resident of Jayanagar. "The space I have is limited but I have grown a variety of items like kohlrabi, cucumber, mint and 'doddapatre’, which grows easily here. I have 11 types of crops growing now which includes four types of spinach, beans, bottle gourd and carrots,” he says. Despite living in the city, Venkatesh believes that utilising space appropriately and following some guidelines are all that is needed to grow one’s own crop. "The produce from this small area itself lasts us for days. If one gets more space and plans in a better manner, they can be entirely self-sufficient,” he adds on a positive note.
There are many who have hired spaces or seek permission to grow crops in other’s spaces. Ramamohan Parini, a resident of Hebbal, grows vegetables, greens and fruits in a neighbour’s empty plot and rented site. "If one opts for rooftop or other forms of gardening, there will be a lot of food available for everyone. The tedious task of finding out vegetables that have been sprinkled with fertilisers or pesticides can be avoided too. From ladies fingers, Malabar spinach, creeper beans to fruits like grapes, guava, oranges and 'seethaphal’, I grow a good variety,” he says.
Ramamohan feels that in a city like Bengaluru where produce has to be brought from the outskirts, it is essential to try and be self-sufficient. "It isn’t hard to maintain a kitchen or terrace garden. If one is dedicated enough, the fruits of labour will be rewarding,” he says. Despite limited space, Roy D’souza, a radiologist, has fruit trees like litchi, gooseberry, mango, cashewnut, rose apple, butterfruit and oranges around his house and also grows vegetables in his neighbour’s plot. "I borrowed the space because it was lying vacant. I got fruit trees planted in the periphery, like mulberry and avocado, and got raised beds done in the centre for vegetables. The soil was reworked and I am growing radish, carrots, a variety of beans (which helps fix the nitrogen levels required for other crops), asparagus, 'toor dal’ and many herbs like basil, rosemary etc,” details Roy.
He says that with food sufficiency being the need of the hour, Bengalureans need to look into hiring similar spaces or try community gardening. "If one is going organic, it takes a lot of effort and time. For a larger produce, one can also be a part of community projects, which should be encouraged by authorities like the BBMP. When one takes this path, they also reduce the carbon footprint in terms of cutting down on transportation of food items and other transfers required,” adds Roy.
Many terrace gardeners like Prerana Arvind Singh, a homemaker, say producing their own brinjal, tomatoes, 'methi', coriander, 'palak', chilli and 'amaranthas' (red and green) has been fulfilling. "These are all rotational crops but everyday I have at least one green to cook with. Though it is difficult to grow many vegetables due to problems like space constraints, pests and windy climate, one can still aim to produce enough for one's basic needs," says Prerana.
Talking about the issue of wastage, Prerana adds that she finds buying 1 kg of tomato from the store pointless now. "I get the 3-4 tomatoes we need from my crop; in fact, I grow around 70 percent of our vegetable requirements."
There were many who were inspired to create their own food garden because of eco-friendly practices like vermi-composting or bio-gas plants. Rajalakshmi Padmanabhan, who has a balcony and terrace garden, says that it was the slurry from the bio-gas plant at her home that inspired her to grow bitter gourd, 'dondakaya', beans, 'sapota' and 'papaya' at her place. "While one knows that they're eating food which is healthy, growing one's own crop also helps to cut down on expenses at supermarkets," she adds.
The space around one's house can also be utilised to create a mini vegetable patch, says B V Venkatesh, a resident of Jayanagar. "The space I have is limited but I have grown a variety of items like kohlrabi, cucumber, mint and 'doddapatre', which grows easily here. I have 11 types of crops growing now which includes four types of spinach, beans, bottle gourd and carrots," he says. Despite living in the city, Venkatesh believes that utilising space appropriately and following some guidelines are all that is needed to grow one's own crop. "The produce from this small area itself lasts us for days. If one gets more space and plans in a better manner, they can be entirely self-sufficient," he adds on a positive note.
There are many who have hired spaces or seek permission to grow crops in other's spaces. Ramamohan Parini, a resident of Hebbal, grows vegetables, greens and fruits in a neighbour's empty plot and rented site. "If one opts for rooftop or other forms of gardening, there will be a lot of food available for everyone. The tedious task of finding out vegetables that have been sprinkled with fertilisers or pesticides can be avoided too. From ladies fingers, Malabar spinach, creeper beans to fruits like grapes, guava, oranges and 'seethaphal', I grow a good variety," he says.
Ramamohan feels that in a city like Bengaluru where produce has to be brought from the outskirts, it is essential to try and be self-sufficient. "It isn't hard to maintain a kitchen or terrace garden. If one is dedicated enough, the fruits of labour will be rewarding," he says. Despite limited space, Roy D'souza, a radiologist, has fruit trees like litchi, gooseberry, mango, cashewnut, rose apple, butterfruit and oranges around his house and also grows vegetables in his neighbour's plot. "I borrowed the space because it was lying vacant. I got fruit trees planted in the periphery, like mulberry and avocado, and got raised beds done in the centre for vegetables. The soil was reworked and I am growing radish, carrots, a variety of beans (which helps fix the nitrogen levels required for other crops), asparagus, 'toor dal' and many herbs like basil, rosemary etc," details Roy.
He says that with food sufficiency being the need of the hour, Bengalureans need to look into hiring similar spaces or try community gardening. "If one is going organic, it takes a lot of effort and time. For a larger produce, one can also be a part of community projects, which should be encouraged by authorities like the BBMP. When one takes this path, they also reduce the carbon footprint in terms of cutting down on transportation of food items and other transfers required," adds Roy.
With increasing health awareness leading to a surge in popularity in food cultivation, Bengaluru now houses many urban farmers who have their own kitchen, terrace or plot gardens, which boast of varied produce. These city-based cultivators aim to grow enough produce to become self-sufficient and want to not depend on external sources for even manure. As 'World Food Day’ approaches these food producers talk about what inspired them to take up urban farming.Many terrace gardeners like Prerana Arvind Singh, a homemaker, say producing their own brinjal, tomatoes, 'methi’, coriander, 'palak’, chilli and 'amaranthas’ (red and green) has been fulfilling. "These are all rotational crops but everyday I have at least one green to cook with. Though it is difficult to grow many vegetables due to problems like space constraints, pests and windy climate, one can still aim to produce enough for one’s basic needs,” says Prerana.
Talking about the issue of wastage, Prerana adds that she finds buying 1 kg of tomato from the store pointless now. "I get the 3-4 tomatoes we need from my crop; in fact, I grow around 70 percent of our vegetable requirements.”
There were many who were inspired to create their own food garden because of eco-friendly practices like vermi-composting or bio-gas plants. Rajalakshmi Padmanabhan, who has a balcony and terrace garden, says that it was the slurry from the bio-gas plant at her home that inspired her to grow bitter gourd, 'dondakaya’, beans, 'sapota’ and 'papaya’ at her place. "While one knows that they’re eating food which is healthy, growing one’s own crop also helps to cut down on expenses at supermarkets,” she adds.
The space around one’s house can also be utilised to create a mini vegetable patch, says B V Venkatesh, a resident of Jayanagar. "The space I have is limited but I have grown a variety of items like kohlrabi, cucumber, mint and 'doddapatre’, which grows easily here. I have 11 types of crops growing now which includes four types of spinach, beans, bottle gourd and carrots,” he says. Despite living in the city, Venkatesh believes that utilising space appropriately and following some guidelines are all that is needed to grow one’s own crop. "The produce from this small area itself lasts us for days. If one gets more space and plans in a better manner, they can be entirely self-sufficient,” he adds on a positive note.
There are many who have hired spaces or seek permission to grow crops in other’s spaces. Ramamohan Parini, a resident of Hebbal, grows vegetables, greens and fruits in a neighbour’s empty plot and rented site. "If one opts for rooftop or other forms of gardening, there will be a lot of food available for everyone. The tedious task of finding out vegetables that have been sprinkled with fertilisers or pesticides can be avoided too. From ladies fingers, Malabar spinach, creeper beans to fruits like grapes, guava, oranges and 'seethaphal’, I grow a good variety,” he says.
Ramamohan feels that in a city like Bengaluru where produce has to be brought from the outskirts, it is essential to try and be self-sufficient. "It isn’t hard to maintain a kitchen or terrace garden. If one is dedicated enough, the fruits of labour will be rewarding,” he says. Despite limited space, Roy D’souza, a radiologist, has fruit trees like litchi, gooseberry, mango, cashewnut, rose apple, butterfruit and oranges around his house and also grows vegetables in his neighbour’s plot. "I borrowed the space because it was lying vacant. I got fruit trees planted in the periphery, like mulberry and avocado, and got raised beds done in the centre for vegetables. The soil was reworked and I am growing radish, carrots, a variety of beans (which helps fix the nitrogen levels required for other crops), asparagus, 'toor dal’ and many herbs like basil, rosemary etc,” details Roy.
He says that with food sufficiency being the need of the hour, Bengalureans need to look into hiring similar spaces or try community gardening. "If one is going organic, it takes a lot of effort and time. For a larger produce, one can also be a part of community projects, which should be encouraged by authorities like the BBMP. When one takes this path, they also reduce the carbon footprint in terms of cutting down on transportation of food items and other transfers required,” adds Roy.