The Hindu : Kerala News : All the terrace is a field

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Monday, Jan 21, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala

All the terrace is a field

At Convent Road in Kochi, there is one such field. The ‘harvest’ includes coconuts, vegetables
and plantains

Photo: H. Vibhu

Fruits of labour: A.R.S. Vadhyar at his terrace garden.

City residents usually complain that their houses lack space even to grow a vegetable garden. Little do they realise that the terrace can be used to cultivate everything, from vegetables to coconut trees – provided there is adequate facility for excess water to drain off.

Many people have derived inspiration from the managing trustee of the Yasoram Charitable Trust, A.R.S. Vadhyar, who has made good use of the terrace of his office-cum-residence at Convent Road.

Home to a variety of vegetables, plantains and two coconut trees, the green corner amidst high-rises has become an eye-catcher.

The centre of attraction is a three-year-old ‘pathinettam patta’ coconut tree, which is around 10 feet high.

“We reinforced the roof with a 3 cm layer of cement, sand and baby metal mixture in the ratio 1:1.5:3. There has to be adequate slope for the water to drain off. A plastic sheet could be used at the base of the planter bed, to prevent leakage. We use only bio-fertilizers,” says Mr. Vadhyar.

Green benefits

The vegetable garden on the terrace of the 20-year-old building was set up in 2000. The prime benefit is that when vegetable prices skyrocket during lorry strikes or festive seasons, the Vadhyar household is least affected. There are other advantages too – the garden becomes a rich oxygen reserve and also an excellent mode to dispose of kitchen waste. It also reduces heat within the house since the leaves form a green canopy. “Tending to plants soothes your mind. It is good exercise as well,” he says.

Garden contest

The Trust has for long been encouraging setting up of vegetable gardens in schools. Now, it has come up with a project to help school students set up vegetable gardens in homes as well. “We will identify students of 25 schools in Ernakulam district for the contest, so that there will be at least 25,000 new vegetable gardens in the district. The Trust will help in procuring materials and also provide technical guidance. Only bio-fertilisers will be allowed,” Mr. Vadhyar says.

In February

The student who wins the first prize in the garden contest will get Rs. 5,000. There will be other prizes as well, including for schools. The project will start in February. Officials will carry out frequent inspections to assess the progress of work. For details, contact the Trust at its Convent Road office in Kochi (phone: 0484-2352437)

John L. Paul

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