India: Increased interest in organic urban farming amongst Bangalor residents

An increasing number of Bangaloreans have been turning organic farmers and are growing almost everything in their balconies, backyards and terraces. Urban farming is even so increasingly popular in India, that the Oota From Your Thota Event that is being organized this Sunday is helping local farmers by setting up their organic urban farms.

“Oota From Your Thota (OFYT), which literally means ‘food from your garden’ in Kannada, is a quarterly event held by Garden City Farmers (GFC), an NGO, at different locations in the city. The purpose of the event is to encourage Bangaloreans to grow their own food organically,” said Elizabeth S, one of its organisers, who grows herbs and vegetables in her kitchen garden.

The city, she says, is teeming with inspiration that proves anyone can be a gardener. Citing examples, she said that Vijay Satish of Jayanagar grows 90% of all his vegetables on his terrace. Ananya Mehta has been growing her own vegetables for 12 years now and Aparna George grows on land taken on a lease.

Vishwanath K Narayan, author, Organic Terrace Gardening, said the one thing that is keeping people from taking up organic gardening is the difficulty in procuring materials.

Seeds and natural pesticides will be available at the fair, helping people get over the logistical difficulties and giving vegetable gardening a try.

As this Sunday’s OFYT coincides with World Kitchen Garden Day, there are many events to pique one’s farming interest, such as potluck salad party, where gardeners bring salad vegetables and fruits grown in their homes organically.

At the fair, people can learn about soil, saplings and insects.

Games, mural-making, painting and learning all about lesser known fruits and vegetables are other activities lined up for children.

“We’ve grown a model kitchen garden just for the event. The GCF team planted vegetables a few months ago and these containers will be transported to the event location to demonstrate that growing what you eat is possible,” said Elizabeth.

Source: dnaindia

Publication date: Tue 3 Sep 2013