“ECO FRIENDLY:ORGANIC KITCHEN GARDEN”
BY:PROF.NISHA SINGH
It gives a wonderful feeling to imagine a rich kitchen garden just outside the door of the kitchen.And what could be better than having a garden just few steps from the kitchen table? Where, even a kid could go out and grab tomatoes or carrots or brinjals.
However, there are different systems prevailing in different countries. In the United States of America normally people – if they grow food at all – have vegetable gardens- usually in the backyard and quite a distance from the house. In Europe, kitchen gardens – with vegetables, herbs and fruit – are literally right outside the kitchen door. While in India it could be anywhere round the house but not necessarily connected to the kitchen.
The first question comes in the mind is as to what are items which can be grown in the kitchen garden without much pain and with an affordable comfort level. Well to name few –you can grow:-
Various types of herbs, tomato, brinjal, carrots, leafy vegetables chilly, potato, cabbage etc. as per your choice and needs.
How to organize :(Few Technical Tips)
If you do not have the lawn space to accommodate a large vegetable garden, you can make boxes with plastic coverings, and place it at various space available .it can be designed as per the availability of the space.
Instead of fertilizer, you can make your own compost by raw vegetable, waste grass cuttings and leaves etc. This could be a good organic manure.
Recycle grass clippings can be spread out on top of the garden soil. These clippings will function as mulch, as a moisture barrier (keeping moisture in the soil and therefore allowing plants to grow better) and will help reduce weeds.
Get together with a few neighbours and plan out who will grow what crop. If you each grow something different, you can then exchange the produce throughout the season. Sometimes one crop prospers so much at one time that it becomes difficult to keep up with the eating and waste occurs. By organizing an exchange, you benefit from variety and waste less, not to mention building a sense of community.
WATER PROBLEM:
Here is a tip for your water problem if it is so .You can get a rain barrel to source the watering necessary for growing a garden. By using a rain barrel, your water bill will not be impacted as much as it would if your garden hose was the sole water source. There are inexpensive rain barrels also and you can match your suitability.
Most Important Benefits:
You are consuming everyday fresh vegetables ,herbs and fruits.It is organic,100% trustworthy and matches your affordability(ECONOMICS). Your additional time and cost of visiting grocery shop is saved.
You inculcate a healthy food habit with family which is always at your arm’s stretch. when fresh produce is literally steps from your kitchen, it becomes so much easier to make healthy choices when planning or cooking meals. The spring and summer seasons are those that facilitate the feeling of lightness – in body and spirit. Your body will thank you for filling up on carrots, snow peas, cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers, among others.
At the end of the month if you calculate- you have really saved money while your benefits multiplied. Isn’t it ECONOMICS FRIENDLY??