THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: “Isn’t it so gratifying to pluck fresh, organic vegetables from your own surroundings?” K Chandrika, was more the woman of the house than the Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation on Tuesday morning, reaping the first harvest of healthy amaranthus from her terrace garden. The Mayor has been maintaining a vegetable garden on the roof of her house in Gandhi Smaraka Lane on T K Divakaran Road, Marappalam, for over one year now. “I wanted to promote home gardens as a way of making available pesticide-free vegetables for our people, especially the children. The first step, ideally, was to grow one in my own home. I am happy that this year the yield was much better than last time,” she said. This year, Chandrika had sought the help of ‘Karshika Karma Sena’, a team that offers door-to-door agricultural services, fielded by the Kudappanakkunnu Krishi Bhavan, to set up her vegetable garden. The Mayor was especially satisfied with the biodegradable grow bags in which the plants were grown. “Last year, I had plastic bags which I was not very happy about. But these grow bags are large and roomy for the plants to thrive in and are quite strong too.” The Corporation Krishi Bhavan also lent their assistance in the setting up and maintenance of the garden. Saplings of ladies finger, amaranthus, tomato, brinjal, snake gourd and a few other vegetables were planted in 50 grow bags. Since amaranthus gives a quick yield, it could be harvested in one month, while the other plants are growing up robust on the bigwig roof. The Mayor shared her first yield from the new garden with all her neighbours, and said her own home will have a ‘cheera-special’ meal for the day.
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