By Rajakumar Bhavasar

The vegetable vendors of Rajarajeshwari Nagar are angry at this gentleman because he has not purchased a single vegetable or a bunch of greens since many months from them.

Meet K.M. Venkatareddy, an employee of Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and an avid home gardener. Hailing from a agriculture family of Kolar, he has raised a beautiful garden on the terrace of his house where he has grown a variety of plants. Last year’s lockdown kept citizens indoors for many weeks. Many became restless by staying inside homes with absolutely no work to do. It hit the regular income of many. But the lockdown came as a boon for Venkatareddy who created a terrace garden to nurture his passion of gardening. He grows vegetables, flowers and greens which are sufficient for his family. The entire terrace is reserved for plants such as  ladies finger, beans, double beans, tomato, chilli, cucumber,  sunflower and a variety of greens.

Since last five years he was growing plants by arranging bricks, filling mud between them and planting saplings. But realising that it may damage the balcony tiles and wall through  seepage of water, he uses the grow bags to grow vegetables and greens.  He has purchased grow bags through online and has made a canopy kind of protection to avoid the direct sunlight falling  on plants. 

Venkatareddy uses only organic manure for plants. Initially, he was growing only greens and subsequently he started growing vegetables and flowers too. After harvesting the crop, the soil is loosened and a little organic manure is added for the lush growth of another crop. What started as a passion for Venkatareddy, has now become a hobby for him. A visit daily is a must to interact with plants through eyes.

His passion and hobby is supported by his wife Pratibha  Reddy and daughter Harshitha, who also take care of the plants by watering them and removing weeds.

Apart from growing plants, a lawn measuring 11 feet x 20 feet has been created on the roof top after taking all precautions. This has added an additional beauty to the terrace garden.

I don’t know how time goes by when I am taking care of the plants. Everyone in our family is interested in this terrace garden. More than anything it gives a sense of satisfaction that we are consuming chemical-free food. — Harshitha, daughter of Venkatareddy 

Make use of WhatsApp : ‘Green dreams’ and ‘Baale’ WhatsApp groups exchange information 

At a time when WhatsApp is being used for unproductive purposes, here are some groups which are very useful. Among them are ‘Green Dreams,’ ‘Baale’ and ‘Krishika.’ 

These groups are recommended for people who are interested in terrace garden.

In ‘Green Dreams’, most of them are into terrace gardening, kitchen gardening and those who grow ornamental plants. It has 140 members, who daily share information about plants. The group is created by Ruchika and is functioning well. 

They exchange every information pertaining to plants with pictures and other inputs. It is a dedicated group for plants and nothing else. The members include Government employees, home-makers and nature lovers.

Another useful WhatsApp group has been ‘Baale’ that gives information of growing a variety of Banana crops. K.S. Mallesh, group admin, shares information with members. Even rate list of bananas is given. Though one does not know anything about banana, but still has interest in growing can become a grower with valuable inputs and help from this group.