My journey with gardening started about three years ago, when I brought home the Kambha from Daily Dump and started composting my kitchen waste. The feeling of empowerment that I got from doing my bit soon translated to a conscious decision to move towards organic foods. This then led to starting my own kitchen garden that first began with five containers of tomato and brinjal plants.

Brinjal grown in kitchen garden

I cannot quite describe the feeling of joy from a first harvest, but I can assure you that once you experience it you will be hooked to growing your own food! Herbs like basil and parsley, most common vegetables we might use in our kitchens such as tomatoes, brinjals, beans, okra, and even the occasional papaya or banana tree can be grown in a container, as long as you take care to provide adequate nutrition to the plant.

I hear time and again about what a challenge it is to grow everything organically, especially where pest control is concerned. I have found though, that as long as you are committed to finding a solution, you can definitely figure out a way to stick to the organic path. I honestly do not see the advantage in growing your own food if you are going to end up with the same chemical-enhanced veggies that you can buy any day in the marketplace.

When I began my gardening journey, I had a new question everyday from the right potting mix to what would grow in which season. One of my biggest resources then and now has been the Facebook group ‘Organic Terrace Gardening’(OTG). The group has a large population based in Bangalore, and now has members from all over India and even the world. It is very inspiring to see the harvests and results people achieve with just the limited space of a balcony or even a couple of windows.

The group was started with the initiative of the Garden City Farmers (GCF), an NGO that consists of individuals who are passionate about the cause of organic farming among others. In order to reach out to a larger populace, GCF is also involved in events like ‘Oota From Your Thota’ that is held every quarter in different parts of Bangalore city. You can meet the members of GCF and the OTG group at the upcoming Lalbagh Flower show where we will be showcasing our home-grown plants and produce.