Family grows over 2 dozen vegetables on terrace

How about going to one’s own terrace when you need vegetables for daily needs, instead of purchasing from the vendor?

For many, it may sound absurd. However, Paddambail Krishnappa Gowda and Meenakshi couple have almost stopped buying vegetables from the market for the last several years.

A resident of Maroli Lalbahaddur layout second cross on the outskirts of Mangalore, Krishnappa has dedicated his time in making his terrace green.

He had built the house — ‘Meenakshi Kripa’ 10 years ago on five cents land and about 150 square feet of the terrace is covered with vegetable patches.

The vegetables grown in the garden not only support his family, he gives it to his friends and neighbours and finds happiness in giving vegetables to others.

Gowda had developed interest in gardening from very young age.

“The idea is to make ourselves self-sufficient using the limited space available and nurture one’s own interest,” he said with a smile on his face.

Using a simple technique, he has created wonders in his terrace garden which now give the family brinjal (three varieties), okra, yard long beans, tomato, ginger, coriander, bottle gourd, pumpkin, ridge gourd, basale (two varities green and red),’ ‘harive’ (two varieties green and red), ivy gourd, sambar cucumber, tapioca, cauliflower, water melon, bitter gourd, lemon and so on.

“We eat fresh and fertiliser-free vegetables grown on my own terrace. It is a pleasure to nurture a garden on the terrace which every one should experience,” he said. 

He finds his garden rejuvenating after a hectic schedule at Zilla Panchayat.

He along with his wife does weeding, before plucking vegetables for dinner. “Watching the plants grow and flower, watering them is a good experience,” said Meenakshi.

Even children enjoy nature’s company and spend their time fruitfully. Terrace gardens also keep the environment cool.

He said that he used to grow vegetables when he was residing in quarters at Kottara and used to give it to his neighbours. “I have never sold the vegetables that I have harvested in my terrace.”

Apart from these vegetables, there are sugarcane plants in the land available. There are medicinal plants like ‘insulin plant,’ ‘turmeric plant,’ ‘ginger, lemon grass, curry leaves, amritha balli, banana plants, ‘Aati soppu,’ ‘kirathekaddi,’ drumstick, ‘avare,’ black pepper, betel leaves, ‘kesu,’ ‘thimare,’ ‘garike’ and so on.

There is a tradition of tying thene (ear of paddy corn) in the house.

So he grows paddy in a pot for the needs of the house. In fact, one of his friends has taken ear of paddy corn grown by him to tie in his house in Madikeri.

Apart from vegetables, fruits and medicinal plants, Gowda has interest in grafting hybiscus plants. As a result, there are colourful flowers in his garden.

“I collect vegetable wastes, dry leaves and organic materials and store it in a bucket. Later, I add cow dung and water to it and prepare manure.

My wife and myself wake up at 4.30 am and listen to music before starting the day to day chores,” said Gowda.