Rapid urbanisation has transformed many cities into concrete jungles and Madurai is no exception as buildings have gobbled up green and open spaces.
With no beach or a river with water, there is nothing much to go out and spend quality time for city people ensconced within the four walls of their houses. For such people, terrace gardening provides a relief in the form of a useful hobby. Realising this, the State government has extended its promotion of terrace garden through Urban Horticulture Development Scheme.
“It will be a healthy hobby for elders and homemakers as they can keep themselves engaged and also get chemical fertilizer-free vegetables and greens in the bargain,” says Go. Poopathi, Deputy Director-Horticulture.
His department has been distributing terrace garden kits that come with six grow-bags, 1 kg of compressed coir pith, fertilizer, neem-based pesticide, seeds and seedlings — all at a subsidised price of Rs. 500. An encouraging sign is that the concept has been a huge hit in Madurai — of the 2,700 terrace garden kits made available, only a few are yet to be sold.
From father to son
Maria Sargunam of Surya Nagar, a retired official of the Highways Department, who passed away in January this year, is fondly remembered by his neighbours for his active involvement in terrace gardening. “My father was doing this for at least five years. I am continuing the gardening but without his finesse,” says his son S.M. Jose Jeyasimman. His father took much pains to collect the basic inputs for terrace gardening such as plastic drums, coir pith, soil and seeds in the initial days.
“Our kit comes handy, especially for the starters,” Mr. Poopathi said.
Sargunam also benefited from the horticulture department’s kits and expanded his terrace gardening.
With the kit, it is a lot easier to set up the terrace garden. All one needs is some space with good sunlight to place the bags.
Mr. Jose, a graduate in aeronautical science, has picked up several techniques which he observed while helping his father in maintaining the garden. The terrace of the two-storey building has a variety of vegetables, fruits and greens. What started with lemon, pomegranate and chillies, has grown into a full-fledged terrace garden with greens, climbers and many other plants.
They have planted on different containers such as drums, grow-bags and plastic buckets.
New entrant
But for L. Rajeswari of Lourdu Nagar, her interest in terrace gardening started with the kits she bought from the Horticulture department. However, over the last three months she has expanded her garden with additional pots to grow mostly greens and herbal plants.
“It is easier to handle greens. We pick them once a week. Besides, the herbal plants help me to make ‘kashayam’ to keep the common cold away,” says the 46-year-old teacher.
The garden keeps her busy in the evenings in watering. With her little knowledge in gardening, the woman has set up a facility for making vermi-compost manure. The woman has been putting all kitchen waste in a plastic container filled with soil to turn them into a nutritious manure.
“Even a sprout and fresh leaves from my garden makes me feel happy,” she says. She is confident that the greens and the herbal plants are totally free from chemical pesticides.
““The very charm of terrace garden lies in growing organic vegetables and greens. There is no point in using chemicals. So, we always prefer vermin-compost manure available in local shops,” says Mr. Jose.
Apart from watering the plants, these people weed them daily. “Once a week, I spray neem-based pesticide on the leaves,” says Mr. Jose. He proudly recalls that his father used to bring some vegetable or greens every other day to their kitchen. “Often, the greens will travel to Chennai to my aunt’s kitchen,” he says. The garden easily provides for the family of three.
“Sighting each sprout or leaf, even if it is just one or two, will give a great sense of satisfaction,” says Mr. Poopathi. Raising a terrace garden need not be exerting. “Pouring a mug of water for each bag is enough,” he says.
Comes with CD
The seeds or seedlings given by the department are those that suit Madurai’s climatic conditions.
The kit also comes with a compact disc that gives a demonstration on usage of the kit and maintenance of the plants.
The garden will also help the children have hands-on experience that could teach them the pains of farmers who feed the world.
For, many of the urban children do not know whether rice comes from a plant or a tree, the officer says.
For details, contact his office on 0452 2532351.
