Role models in organic gardening

December 2015, Jharkhand, India

With the help of organic farming experts, community leaders and volunteers, our self-reliant villages initiative is trying to help start small vegetable gardens in village homes. We are providing seeds and giving permaculture training to interested villagers that enables them to grow their own organic vegetables in their own premises.

In India, most farmers grow paddy or wheat or some cash crops on their farms, and do not bother to cultivate even a small patch of vegetables for themselves. Instead, they buy vegetables from markets, or go without. The vegetables sold in the markets are laden with harmful pesticides and fertilizers. Encouraging villagers to grow kitchen gardens can help curb the problem of malnutrition, as fresh vegetables can provide the necessary nutrition for both children and adults.

This couple from Dev Gain, our village in Jharkhand, role model the beauty of cultivating a garden. Their kitchen garden helps them not only fight the problem of malnutrition but also avoid the harmful effects of pesticides. Most of their household requirements are met from this garden thereby ensuring that they don't compromise on the quality of the food their growing children receive.