Urban Leaves

An Update on our activities - Vipul Sanghvi's "Kasturi Vatika"

2012-03-01T10:19:00.000+05:30

Dear Friends

The National Seminar gave us an opportunity to learn interact and grow!
And grow we did!

For last two years we have been making Amrut Mitti.....And so have our volunteers in their own terrace and balcony sills. This year our focus is mainly on making our community gardens flourish and our fresh ventures on terrace gardens productive.

We bring you some precious moments of collective effort which is the hallmark of Urban Leaves Team.
For those who have not read about Vipuls terrace earlier... click on the link below and then follow the thread.

Vipul Sanghvi's garden.

Vipul has been one of the most regular Volunteers at the Urban Leaves- Maharashtra Nature Park Community Farm. He observed, worked hard, took initiative and gave us lots of support in our activities.
He simultaneously worked on his own terrace garden.

Well you have already read the beginning of his venture ( link above) With loads of Amrut Mitti made, it was now time to design and create Vipul's farm! So what better opportunity could we ask for to practice what we had learnt on permaculture techniques recently learnt from Clea at the National Seminar!

Urban Leaves volunteers got together one bright

Sunday, in Vipuls vatilka and discussed, drew plans and designs and : D .......

Put their thinking caps on!

really engrossed in the exercise!

group discussions and suggestions!

Samprati, the artist among us put on

paper what we had imagined in our heads!

Then began the task of laying out the beds as per the design.

Measured the width of beds- to be easily reached from all sides.

Filled up beds with Amrut Mitti!

Planted a few saplings in drums and beds.

Whoa! After a month photos of the same garden!

1st batch of vegetables, herbs

Have focused on bio diversity! Increasing edges and curves!

A coconut in the corner! Watch it after two years or so!

Caulis.....

Beet, radish, tomatoes.....

spinach

banana

tomatoes!

I am sure you will all wish to have your own, "KASTURI GARDEN" one day!

Rather than having rows of beds or number of containers with mono crops, our focus while designing was on bio diversity and multi cropping, using every inch of space, planting in three tiers ( the tall trees, followed by shrubs and ground cover crops) ! Designing a sustainable food forest on a terrace :D in a mega city Mumbai!

Keep a tab... and watch out for more stories!

The next garden we focus on is of Purvita Kapadia, who has been tirelessly working on her own terrace and in our Community Farm at Nana Nani Pak, Chowpatty!

Love and happy gardening

Preeti and

Team Urban Leaves

Amrut Mitti Making Workshop for Your Food Garden - Feb 2012

2012-01-20T19:04:00.006+05:30

Dear Friends,

This year Urban Leaves is planning to conduct many workshops on “Natueco Farming Technique”. The first step is to make Amrut Mitti, a nutritional rich soil. The importance of the soil and technique to make and maintain shall be the key programme during these sessions.

Programme: The workshop will enable you to learn compost your Kitchen waste, prepare a nutrient rich soil called "Amrut Mitti", what herbs and vegetables can be grown in your balconies and terraces and how to take care of them.

Venue: Maharashtra Nature Park – Mahim, Opposite Dharavi Bus Depot.

Date: 26th February 2012

Duration: 9am to 3pm

Fees: Rs. 1000/- payable in advance by cash or cheque. This is inclusive of resource material and lunch.

We are happy to announce that 40 participants have registered for 29th Jan. We have closed registration now. However feel free to register for the next workshop.
Click to Register for 26th February.

Mode of Payment:

Cheque in favor of Vidya Vaaridhi Trust and courier to :
Mr. Uday Acharya
Vidya Vaaridhi Trust,
A-101 Mani Bhavan, 11th Road, Chembur
Mumbai 400071.
Tel: 98336-63108

ECS Transfer

Account Name - Vidya Vaaridhi Trust
Saving Account No. - 52009032981
PAN Number of Trust - AAATV2294B

Bank - State Bank of Hyderabad

Type of Bank A/c - Savings

Address of Bank - 1^st Road, Near M-Ward Office, Chembur Mumbai 400071

IFSC Code of Bank - SBHY0020408

Cash
Samprati Gada, 09869068281, email samcontemporary@yahoo.com

Purvita Kapadia, 09820567752, email purvita10@gmail.com

For queries:

Write to urbanleaves@gmail.com or purvita10@gmail.com

Call: Purvita 98205-67752

Concession is available to those who need it. Kindly contact us at urbanleaves@gmail.com

Warm Regards
Urban Leaves

National Seminar on Urban Gardening- A few memories

2012-01-14T20:06:00.008+05:30

Dear Friends

Christmas cheers, New Year greetings, a beautiful slight chill in the crisp Mumbai air and we sit back with fond memories of the national seminar. Grinning at our successes and a little contemplative about where and how we can improve on our work in future.

In Vinita's words from Bangalore..

"If we were to choose one event in 2011 that made the year that much more meaningful, it would probably be the National Seminar on Urban Farming hosted by Urban Leaves, Mumbai (held on 10-12 Dec 2011)."

Yes so do all of us at Urban Leaves feel.
After six months of planning and detailing, co-ordination, the seminar began with lighting of the lamp by the marshals of city farming in India.

Dr Vijaya Venkat , Nirmala and Bharati aunty, Uday Acharya & Dr Vishwanathan

Preeti introduced the Urban Leaves group activities, its aim and mission and the
need to spread awareness and knowledge to more cities in India.

Priti Turakhia and Sudha Dehadrai invoked the blessings of the Divine through Kabir Dohas and Shanti Mantra respectively. An auspicious beginning for such an important event.

First session by Clea Chandmal's on permaculture seemed like the perfect start to the seminar. She put forth the practical, scientific and spiritual aspects of permaculture in a simple and easy-to-understand manner. The session opened up different ways of seeing, observing and understanding life around us – the soil, the plants and the other creatures inhabiting the environment.

Cea Chandmal

The session on Herbs and their medicinal properties by Kusum tai Dahivelkar saw several participants take copious notes while Kusum tai named plant species, their characteristics and relevant recipes so effortlessly. Sreedevi's talk on GMO was a good wake-up call for all of us.

Dr C M Pandit

Dr Pandit's session to highlight the key principles of Natueco farming was a useful precursor to the hands-on Amrit Mitti making workshop on Day 3.

A central theme of the seminar was eating natural, healthy food and the fact that this was possible without resorting to excess oil, salt or spices was clearly evident from the delicious fare served for all the meals on all 3 days by the Health Awareness Centre.

Anju Venkat's session basically trashed all that we had so far considered as healthy food! And though everyone didnt promise to change all their food habits overnight, it certainly got them thinking more about foods in their natural state.

It was now time to visit the community farms at Maharashtra Nature Park and Nana Nani Park.

The visit to Nana-Nani park at Chowpatty and interactions with Purvita, Ubai and the team managing the effort, showcased the possibility of using a community space to garner public in the initiative.Urban Leaves team with Clea had planned a garden designing activity for all the participants. This turned out to be a very interactive and enjoyable exercise for everyone! The garden designing exercise on applying their learnings from the permaculture session saw all of participants transform into eager students, each trying to remind the other about one principle or the other that Clea had shared with us the previous day!

Participants checking out the Nana Nani Park and

introduction to volunteers working thereat

roup activity of designing a garden got every one busy discussing

Another activity of composting and harvesting produce at Nana Nani

In Vinita's words again: "The session on Amrit Mitti on day 3 was the icing on the cake for many of us. Preeti, in her trademark patient, matter-of-fact and jargon free manner explained the why and how of Amrut Mitt.This was followed by a hands-on session that all participants thoroughly enjoyed. Those who stayed back and visited the Bombay Port Trust urban farm saw the power of Amrut Mitti.

Day 3 Amrut Mitti workshop.....

Look at those smiles and fun!

A bus ride to the Mumbai Port Trust Terrace garden got everyone excited like young children!

On the MBPT terrace

Preeti Introduced the MbPT team

A sumptuous snack for all

Last but not the least...

Thanks giving to all our volunteers,
Uday Acharya ( Trustee Vidya Varidhi Trust )
Avinash Kubal
Dy Director Maharashtra Nature Park
Sion
Mumbai for all the help and co-operation in hosting the seminar

The Urban Leaves Team and my parents

Many thanks to Ravi Venkat in whom we found an excellent compere,who guided and
took care of all our last minute glitches,was the perfect host and project co-ordinator.

From left to right

Sreedevi, ( founder member Urban Leaves who came all the way from Netherlands) Sangeeta Shriram ( Chennai ) and

Vinita ( Bangalore)

Finally I quote Vinita ; participant at the National Seminar and city farmer from Bangalore:

The seminar was a great learning experience for me – not just in terms of technical know-how, facts and information but more significantly, in seeing and understanding the power of working as a community in harmony with nature. I think this was articulated beautifully when Julius Rego shared his experiences with us on day 3 and quoted Masanobu Fukuoka, “Natural farming is not just for growing crops, it is for the cultivation of better human beings”.

I think each of us who attended the seminar took back with us a little bit of the passion and energy that drives the Urban Leaves team

"I think apart from the planned sessions, what also made the seminar so much more alive and useful was the sharing of experiences from people across the country.
The sincerity with which Mr Khillar from Orissa shared his experience of terrace farming was touching. Sangeetha Sriram from Chennai shared their journey of establishing reStore not just as a store for organic produce but also as a hub for exploring alternative livelihoods.

Meeting people from all walks of life and from across the country and hearing of their efforts and passion reaffirmed one's belief in this process of working with nature.

I believe its not just memories of a good time that each of us has carried away but also a part of the energy that comes from learning together; and this I think will stay with us for a long time to come.

Now eagerly looking forward to the next seminar – with more learning, more urban spaces transformed into food forests and better human beings."

For those who were not able to attend we share a copy of the booklet containing a gist of the lectures presented.Click on Link below to read.

Booklet - National seminar on Urban Gardening, 2011

I know we are a little late, But Better late than never... We request all of you to share your experience and feedback of the seminar. Dont forget to leave us a comment on the blog itself!

Eagerly awaiting the same.

Preeti and all of us at

Urban Leaves

Winter Harvest at Nana Nani Park

2012-01-11T14:01:00.003+05:30

Post a windy and chilled new year, we (the volunteer group) at NNP were happy to bring in 2012 by harvesting what was sowed during the pre- monsoon season.

Sajan our gardener, (pic below) is showing off Haldi (turmeric) . A small Purple Yam in the palm and Mr Joshi proudly holding Yam which was over 1kg. The group took back home a bunch of Lettuce.

This season Suran (Yam) has been our hero. Let me take you through the complete growth cycle. We have taken pictures of various stages whenever possible.
May 2011 – Sowing the Suran

When the Suran is ready for sowing it develops an “eye” . Prior to monsoon this will sprout. Cut the top potion leaving behind the flesh and sow it in the soil.

June and July 2011 – Suran bud sprouts in the soil

Once it starts raining, the plant grows vigorously.

July 2011 – Suran growing tall, small ones in the same bed

Small Suran which had root tubers were planted next to the main plant. These too have sprouted well but are small compared to the main one.

Aug 2011 – Observed further growth

The mother plant has gone tall. View from the top.

Sep and Oct 201 – plant in full glory and growing old

The plant was in its full glory in September and part of October. Later we observed that the main mother plant was drying and going limp. The strong stem was falling and finally disappeared.

Nov 2011 - Harvesting

End November, we decided to harvest the mother plant. Full of curiosity and anxiety we finally took the plunge in the soil to see what was there below.

We poured some Amrut Jal to soften the soil. With the hand feeling the peripheral growth of suran.

And what we experienced was amazing. I am not able to express the joy in words, but can show you what happened.

Excitement on holding the yield in hand

The joy of harvesting and holding the fruit in hand..... Ubai showing the density of the roots. If these can be preserved for one year, sowing the same shall give better yield.

“Reap what you sow and eat what you get”

Isn’t this amazing!

More on other harvests later....

Purvita and

Urban Leaves Team

Nani Nani Park

National Seminar on Organic Urban Gardening, 10th -12th December 2011 Mumbai

2011-10-18T09:36:00.007+05:30

Dear City Farmer friends

We are back (after sending out the pre-invite) with details of the National Seminar. Please excuse us for the delay, but we hope that our initial notification of the dates has enabled many of you to plan your trip and book your tickets.

The aim of hosting this seminar is to give faces to names, learn some amazing gardening secrets from experienced practitioners, interact and meet all those like minded people across the country with whom we have been sharing our joys of harvests, sharing tips on composting, sowing and reaping up till now on e--groups and networking sites.

We hope this seminar will act as a catalyst to the growth in urban gardens which began last year with the first ever urban farming seminar in Bangalore. The seminar has therefore been designed keeping in mind the needs of urban gardeners.

We hope to have loads of interaction and fun, group discussion and a happy heart to take back sweet memories and a song in our heart as we begin working on our urban gardens once we are back at home.

Please see the BROCHURE below for details on agenda and programme, location, fees payable.

National Seminar on Organic Urban Gardening 10th - 11th Dec Mumbai 2011

View more presentations from urbanleaves

Click on the last icon in tool bar below , to viw FULL SCREEN.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER for the event.

Hope to meet all of you in December in Mumbai.

Smiles and happiness
Team
Urban Leaves

Second National Seminar On Urban Gardening

2011-09-18T19:49:00.003+05:30

Reap What You Sow, Eat What You Grow!

Urban Leaves invites one and all to the Second National Seminar On Urban Gardening to be held in Mumbai on December 10, 11 & 12^th - 2011.

A two day seminar-cum-workshop with an optional half day workshop on preparation of Amrut Mitti (on the third day) is designed to excite and enthuse the experienced urban gardeners across the country and to whet the appetite of novice urban gardeners. We hope the workshop will also be an opportunity for urban food farmers to find and connect with fellow enthusiasts.

This is a pre-invite announcement for many of you from different parts of the country to book/block your train tickets. A detailed invite with registration forms will be sent out within a week.

We expect that our enthusiastic urban gardener friends have already marked their calendars! Now to help the fence sitters to make up their mind, some highlights of what we have planned for you!

Day One: 10^th December 2011 - Saturday

· Earthcare, Peoplecare, Fairshare- Permaculture principles!

Principles of Permaculture by Clea Chandmal

A bio-technologist and permaculture practioner who farms in Goa , Clea will have an interactive session with hands on demo of good Urban Permaculture

· Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food- Hippocrates!

Home remedies & medicinal herbs in urban gardens by Smt. Kusum Dahivelkar

A retired forest officer and expert on medicinal plants in Nasik who runs a nursery called “Hirvepunya” & grows varieties of traditional herbs is also well versed in their medicinal properties.

· Eating is an agricultural Act – Wendell Berry!

Selfcare is Healthcare is Earthcare -by Anju Venkat

Dr. Vijaya Venkat and Anju Venkat run The Health Awareness Centre (THAC) which advocates a sustainable and healthy plant based diet. They practice healing through diet and correct lifestyle choices.

End of day one with a wonderful opportunity for community cooking and eating in the COMMUNITY KITCHEN!

Day Two: 11^th December 2011 - Sunday

· Plenty for All – Prof Dabholkar!

Assured calculated yields Natueco Farming - by C. M. Pandit

A structural engineer by profession, he got interested in Natueco farming and Prayog Parivar, became a close associate of Prof Dabholkar which continued for 16 years.

· Reap what u sow!

Participants share experiences –Urban farming case studies from around India

Group discussions, brain storming, games – about community farming!

· Field visit to urban farming setups

Day Three: 12^th December 2011 – Monday - Optional

· The Miracle Mitti!

Workshop on Amrut Mitti preparation

Venue: Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP), Mahim, Bombay, located in the heart of Mumbai which exemplifies the transition of a waste land into an urban oasis!

Incase you are not able to view the page clearly, download the pdf version of the file.

Team Urban Leaves

Some Memorable Moments - KGI Day Celebrations Mumbai 2011

2011-09-07T13:41:00.005+05:30

With all the excitement building up for KGI day in Mumbai and other cities, it was a little scary to see all those dark clouds building up for the famous Mumbai rains which can simply disrupt all normal life.

We had been praying for a bright sunny day on 28th August, however the rain gods had other things in mind!

Braving the flooded streets, erratic schedule of local trains and uncertainty our volunteers reached the venue in time their faces shining happily with the joy of showing off and sharing their prized harvests!As Anju Venkat later correctly observed, she was here to talk about not just a food but a special harvest which was as dear to us as were our babies!

Our group from Nana Nani Park gathered early morning at the Chowpatty, harvested the produce and joined the rest of the gang at Maharashtra Nature Park.

The community garden at MNP awaited everyone with healthy, happy harvests... Thankfully the rains had taken a breather...while we toured the garden!

Julius leading tour at the park and explaining details...

Samir harvested corn... fully grown ....

Bharati Aunty showing off Bhindi....

Generous harvest from Preeti courtesy Mumbai Port Trust Kitchen Garden...

Visitors curiously identifying the harvest displayed on the table

brought by all our volunteers.

The tables were adorned aesthetically and abundantly with ...

Leafy vegetables like colocasia, variety of spinach, Basella leaves.

Vegetables like ladies finger, onions, sword beans, cluster beans, pumpkins.

Herbs like tulsi, lemon grass, ajwain, basil, mint, aloe vera, beetle leaves.

Fruits like papaya, guava, lemon, sweet lime, passion fruit, star fruit.

Nuts and seeds like ground nut, sesame seeds.

Flowers like Hibiscus, Champa

Thanks to Gaurang, Venkat,Bharati,Samprati and others...

It looked nothing short of a greengrocer’s full-fledged cart

A brief talk by Uday Acharyaji on the basic purpose of celebrating the World Kitchen Day, dotted with his heart warming and disarming sense of humour brought laughter amongst all those present.

The love that gardeners all across the world share is the sight of their gardens, early morning. Oh! to be greeted by those beautiful blooming flowers, fruits and lush greens every morning. The joy spreads everywhere and to everyone....

So very aptly the session began with a beautiful song by Swati ; the words so befitting the emotions of fellow gardeners when they see their blooms first thing in the morning.

Edelwiess , Edelwiess

Every morning you greet me

Small and white, clean and bright

you look happy to meet me.

Blossom of snow, may you bloom and grow

bloom and grow forever

Edelwiess , Edelwiess

Bless my homeland forever....

The most awaited session by Anju Venkat from The Health Awareness Center began...
The Health Awareness center was established in 1989 by Dr Vijaya Venkat who is a pioneer in the promotion of of holistic health principles.
The idea of having this particular session on this day was for kitchen gardeners to realize that all the love and care they pour into growing their plants and harvesting the produce can be lost if they dont utilize the same wisely. Our bodies are like plants too and food is the nourishing soil says Anju Venkat. So if we grow organic, we need to cook it organically too....

A humble attempt to reach out to all fellow gardeners with this message.....
The videos are made by our volunteers, without much professional equipment. However their content and the wise words is what we wish to share with you all....Pl do watch and hear patiently.....

The highlight of the occasion were the talk and demos by ‘Anju Venkat’, a nutritionist at the Health Awareness Centre for the last 16 years. Drawing an apt and convincing analogy between ‘Amrut mitti’ and food, she explained that health is the result of healthful living or living according to the laws of nature. She spoke about the importance of consumption of organic food and ways of cooking that would preserve its nutritive value, bring out its flavours and colours to the maximum and provide optimum nourishment. This was followed by a cookery demo conducted by her, utilizing the plant yield contributed by the volunteers.

Watch the demo.... Raw Papaya Salad

Bhindi ( Okra/lady finger ) Salad

A complete meal with.. Papaya salad, Bhindi salad, Dhokla, Raw banana cutlets, Date and tamarind chutney, herbal tea....Yummy beetlenut leaves laddos.... Never thought we can have such a dish!

The afternoon session left everyone awe-struck by the premier screening of the documentary on the ‘Urban leaves’- "Reap what you sow, eat what you grow" filmed by Suma Josson , that would not fail to inspire anyone who watched it.

The celebration ended with a fervent group discussion eliciting from the participants not only their ideas but also assurance to carry the movement forward by spreading awareness and educating minds about the merits of urban farming.

All in all, a highly enjoyable, gratifying, inspiring and fulfilling experience that made everyone depart in a sunny spirit despite it being one of the wettest days of the season.

To know how our friends across India celebrated the day pl visit:

Bangalore

Udaipur

Bhubaneshwar

Still awaiting reports from friends in Bhopal, Nasik, Chennai and Kolkatta. Watch out for them!

Till we meet again..

Smiles and happy harvests

Team

Urban Leaves

Urban Leaves organizes the first ever Urban Permaculture Course in Mumbai

2011-08-31T09:01:00.003+05:30

Hello Friends

Urban Leaves is proud to host the first ever of its kind in India, a permaculture course-cum-workshop for urban citizens. This is an announcement that registrations are on for the Urban Permaculture course-cum-workshop from 1st -5th October 2011 at the Maharashtra Nature Park in Dharavi, Mumbai.

Permaculture or (Permanent Culture) is about designing ecological human habitats and production systems. It is about using land and building a community system, which will live in a sustainable way with the natural world around it.

This course has been designed with Mumbai in mind and how one can learn from nature and create changes in and around our urban dwellings so we can live sustainably. The course is being conducted by international permaculture teacher Richard 'Rico' Zook.

Keeping in mind that many Urban Leaves members might not be able to give 5 days for this workshop there are two options provided for attending the course. Read more about the same and about permaculture, what will be covered in the course, registration and course fees etc. in this presentation below. You can also download this presentation and send it to anyone you think, is interested in sustainable urban living.

Urban Permaculture Course in Mumbai - Brochure
To view the brochure click on "View in Full Screen" the first left icon in tool bar below.

Regards and Best Wishes
Team
Urban Leaves

A tribute to Kitchen Gardeners all over the world from Urban Leaves in Mumbai

2011-08-28T21:41:00.002+05:30

"Reap what you sow and eat what you grow" a short film about urban community gardens in Mumbai dedicated to the kitchen gardeners around the world on the occasion of

World Kitchen Gardeners Day.

click here to view the documentory.

Happy viewing

Team Urban Leaves

World Kitchen Garden Day

2011-08-20T12:16:00.003+05:30

Hello friends

Its time to rejoice and celebrate all the hard work we have put together for the last two years at our two community farms. We invite you to join us in this celebration, of " Reap what you sow, eat what you grow" World Kitchen Garden Day festival with Urban Leaves.

Our two community farms, and numerous green balcony spaces are a testimony to the fact that cities (even like MUMBAI ) and farms can co-exist! That little spaces of your window sill and balconies too can be productive.That even you can take charge of your food. That you dont get fooled by the scary talks of those in power about food security. That nature gives abundant fruit when you work in harmony! That you and your children can yet connect to nature and learn to live in sustainable cities.

Without 'you' our celebration is not complete. To all those who have been our supporters, have contributed in our successes and been with us while we struggled with our baby steps, who share our vision and wish to contribute in their own little way.... join us for a get together and an interactive friendly Sunday morning.The programme is as detailed below...

Click on image to view Programme

For those who live in other parts of India and wish to participate with the rest of the world....check out the list below to see activities in your city. Contact kitchen gardeners in your city, join them OR contact us and host an event yourself.

Mail us mailto:urbanleaves@gmail.comfor guidance or help.

City	Contact Person	E mail ID
Bangalore	Dr Vishwanathan	vishykadurbang@gmail.com
	Geek Gardener	admin@geekgardener.in
Pune	Samir Kulkarni	samier@gmail.com
Chennai	Malathi	malathi.gogreen@gmail.com
Kolkatta	Anshuman Das	asanshuman@yahoo.com
		bharatmansata@yahoo.com
Hyderabad		will be updated soon
Nasik	Sandeep	sumiba_ r@yahoo.com mindblowingsandeep@yahoo.co.in
Satara	Vaishali Athavle	athavale.vaishali20@gmail.com
Dehradun	Manju Bagga	manju_bagga@hotmail.com
Bhopal	Manisha Kavthekar	satyamani03@yahoo.com
Nagpur	Sudha Dehadrai	anildehadrai@gmail.com
Bhubaneshwar	Mr Khillar	mkhillar@gmail.com
Malegaon	Jeetubha Kutmutia	jkutmutia@yahoo.com
Delhi		will be updated soon
Udaipur	Manish Jain	m.jain@rocketmail.com

With cheers and smiles
Team Urban Leaves

Garden by the Bay - Purvita's terrace garden

2011-08-09T22:02:00.003+05:30

Walking along beach road at Chowpatty, I looked out for Bachelor’s Ice Cream Parlour, which I hadn’t been to in a long while. Locating the building I was supposed to go to, I looked up and tried to spot the house, seeing if I could get a glimpse of the terrace garden. Nothing much was visible from where I stood, and I decided to enter the building instead of standing on the road staring. Who knows, I may have been mistaken for someone staking out the place!!! Little did I know that the house itself was on the terrace of the building, and I had to climb five floors to get there! It had been a long time since I had climbed five sets of stairs, but as I huffed and puffed my way up, I couldn’t help admiring the old wooden staircase and the beautiful entrances that adorned the houses. I was welcomed by Purvita with a big smile, and we at once hit it off, even though this was the first time we had met!
Purvita has been volunteering with the Urban Leaves team for more than a year now. She not only has a beautiful terrace garden but also is leading the Community Food garden at Nana Nani Park.

I was eager to see her garden, and as she took me through her beautiful house, I wondered if I should ask her permission, to shoot her house instead, and write a post on it! However, I decided to respect her privacy, and settle with her wonderful terrace garden, which is what I had come to see in the first place!!

Purvita’s talent for aesthetics is apparent even in her terrace garden. The creepers have crept over her walls, and while that by itself can be a beautiful sight, she has managed to add another dimension simply by enhancing the spaces between the creepers with the dry seeds from her collection!

Her terrace is covered with pots and plants…..

There are plants in plastic containers and wicker basket....

There are creepers supported by wire meshes. It is a kitchen garden, growing vegetables and herbs to be used in the kitchen…

You will find Mint, varieties of Basil and Tulsi galore…

There are Aavla and Curry Leaves (kadipatta)

There is ladyfinger standing up straight, almost ready to

be picked and green chilies, which we harvested.

An insulin plant, one leaf to be eaten everyday by

diabetic individuals, which I had never heard of, before!

Amidst all this greenery, there was a riot of colour… The blue and white of the shanka pushpi plant (butterfly pea).. The beautiful yellow flowers of the ladyfinger...This beautiful white flower of the guava…

There is a guava tree with a guava on the way… and a chickoo tree, Purvita prays for fruit next year!

There were also some other interesting things, which reminded me of Samhith, whom I had left behind… Some friendly, some not so friendly….like this caterpillar… the bee….and the lizard… the bug!

Purvita also showed us some dried basil flowers, which had to be sieved through thoroughly to get the seeds…. And when we saw the size of the seeds, we were amazed at her patience that made her sit down and separate all that dried matter to get the seeds, which were practically invisible at first!!!

Purvita’s garden is like an oasis in the middle of this bustling city, and it was a wonderful experience to sit and listen to her talk about how she took a sabbatical from work, got interested in terrace farming, and didn’t go back to her job even after two years! Her dedication to the garden is not just amazing, it is also infective. You can’t just listen to her without catching some of her enthusiasm! She is all agog with her plans, helping out enthusiastically at the Nana Nani Park (which I couldn’t visit due to lack of time!), and trying to get more people to actually use their terraces for city farming. She has already made quite a few converts to the cause of healthy growing and eating, and also conducts workshops to help people get started with the concepts.

Meeting Purvita and seeing her terrace kitchen garden was an unforgettable experience, and I am looking forward to taking Samhith there someday!

Anuradha Shankar
Urban Leaves Volunteer

5 tips on Daily Care

2011-08-02T08:36:00.003+05:30

If you have always desired to own the thumb green,

Here is the key to fulfill your long cherished dream....

Just as you are wished every morning by the golden sun,

Wish your plants a good morning, as you would your little one.

Check the underside of leaves, for aphids and mealybugs,

Save your plants by nipping those pests off the buds.

Check for moisture in the soil, it should be moist not wet,

Water plants only when necessary, excess water could be a threat.

Check for excessive growth, have your plants timely pruned,

A cut here and a trim there will render them festooned.

Always keep the soil covered with straw or leaves dried,

Then see your green family turn into, your prized possession and pride!

-- Swati Barve

1. Say a very good morning to your plants

Purvita in her terrace garden

Plants grow in the moonlight and look fresh and green early in the morning. An early morning loving touch, rejuvenates the plant as well our soul.

2. Look out for any signs of aphids, mealy bugs in the underside of leaves and fresh new nodes.

Aphids

Red spider mite

The problem when detected and nipped in the bud can go a long way in saving your plant.If you observe any of the above, wash and rub them away with a spray of water, and prune off affected parts.

As we believe in the philosophy, " treat the soil and not the plant" check the soil for too much compaction or water.

Add a fistful of wood ash to supplement nutritional deficiency and neutralise acidity of the soil.

Do not use any kind of pesticide. Pests develop resistance to all pesticides, even the so called organic pesticides.

3. Check for moisture and water only when necessary

Soil should be moist and not wet. While watering sprinkle water away from the main stem, under the canopy.Too much water creates anaerobic conditions in the soil, kills microbes and causes disease and pests.

4. Check for too much vegetative growth

a variety of spinach

tiny plant has grown

Prune branches and do not allow to grow straight

Pruning encourages the stem to branch out
and results in bushier plant

Prune regularly to encourage bushy growth.There are different ways to pruning different plants. Observe their physiology, study their growth, flowering and fruiting patterns to prune effectively.

As a thumb rule cut off the branches growing towards the ground. Cut off the smaller dead stems/branches jutting out from main stem.Try to prune and maintain an umbrella shape of the plant.

Pruned material can be shredded, dried and recycled back to the container/pot itself where the plant is growing.

5. Always keep soil mulched.

spinach in tub, mulched with sugarcane bagasse

Mulch with dried twigs, leaves, sugarcane bagasse, shredded paper, wasted jute bags etc..Mulching keeps the microbes happy, prevents evaporation of water and adds carbon to your soil. All these factors benefit in terms of higher yields and healthy growth of plants.

A little care and discipline will go a long way in fulfilling your dream of a healthy home kitchen garden.

Get started Now!

Thanks to my dear little sister Swati (swatibarve@rediffmail.com)

for churning out some amazing poems!

Smiles and best wishes
Preeti
&
Team
Urban Leaves

5 herbs on your Windowsill, Balcony

2011-07-26T22:41:00.004+05:30

Tulsi, (Holy Basil)

If you have fever

If you have cough

Come to me, I am full of holy stuff

I am worshipped for over decades now

I'll serve you through thick and thin

Use me, I'am simply WOW!

The age old wisdom of growing Tulsi,where it was once upon a time seen in every front yard. Most of us wish to grow Tulsi in our homes, but just as it is very easy to grow, it also doesn't grow so easily.I have heard many a complaints that Tulsi gets 'burnt' up!To stop feeling sorry, always harvest a good dose of seeds, handy for sowing for a new plant!

Fill a nursery pot with good potting soil covered with coco peat.Lightly scatter seeds on the surface and lightly cover them with soil.Pat it down gently and give it gentle misting of water.

Set your seeded pot in an area which receives maximum amount of sunlight everyday. Keep it moist.

Thin seedlings 1 inch apart when they are 1 inch tall.Transplant seedlings when they are 3 inches tall. Keep in area with maximum sunlight.

Pinch off flowering tops when they appear.(You can use them in making tea.) This will encourage your plant to bush out and flower which are the best part of the plant in making tea or tinctures.

Dry or freeze flowering tops at the end of growing season.

Haldi/Amba Haldi

I am yellow,I am antiseptic

Flavouring your food,saving you from being sick

I am a native herb

All your wounds I can curb

When the root of Haldi develops an "eye" from where a small root emerges, it is time to sow it for propagation. You may source it from your local vegetable supplier/grocer.It takes about nine months to grow Haldi.

At the end of the cycle,the leaves start to dry , turning yellow. Allow them to dry completely and then harvest the Haldi. This enhances its flavour. Always save part of produce for next crop.In fact as you wait for next planting season, this 'eye' of the stored Haldi develops a root, perfectly when its time to sow it!

Lemon Grass

I am used in your Herbal Tea, in your Thai food you will see

Also found in creams to keep mosquitoes away

And so can I keep headaches at bay.

A staple of Thai and Asian cuisine, lemongrass has a refreshing citrus scent and yet a delicate tangy flavour.This versatile herb can be cut, crushed or sliced and used in soups, stews, salads and teas.Lemon grass is not difficult to grow indoors, outdoors.By following some simple guidelines you can grow pots of lemon grass brightening your window sill.

Place end of lemon grass in cup full of water.Set it in warm sunny place. Roots will begin to emerge within 10 days.

Trim or peel exterior leaves from lemon grass stalk,leaving behind the central stalk and white rhizome.

Fill a pot with rich potting mixture.Plant the lemon grass in the pot with root completely covered.Keep soil moist but not completely wet.Keep on windowsill, in good sunlight. Harvest by cutting leaves from outside.

Italian Basil

You will find me in salads and soups

In places where there isn't much 'dhoop'

You can use me in pastas and pesto

Once in your home, you won't let me go!

Basil is an annual warm season herb
Its is relatively easy to grow and makes a great addition to your vegetable garden.Grow Basil next to your tomatoes,peppers.Basil is said to improve flavours of its neighbouring plants.It also repels flies and mosquitoes.

Basil prefers warm weather, less water and can be planted in pots or in garden.Should be propagated by seed.Basil must be pinched as it starts to flower, as once it starts to flower it loses its flavour.Pruning flowers will also help to make it bushier.

Start seeds inside and transplant when few inches taller.Leaves should be cut in morning after dew has dried.
Basil leaves ,loose their flavour when washed.

Celery

This aromatic herb is unbelievably 3000 years old

Seeds, stem and leaves, many a benefit they hold

In soups, salads and other recipes I am used

Overweight and obese, be happy for many a kilos I will help you loose!

Celery requires good amount of sun. Plant it in a container 8 inches deep. Apply lots of mulch.Celery is a water lover.

While growing from seeds, sprinkle seeds over soil/coco peat in a seed container and cover with cling wrap to keep it moist. Once the seeds sprout and leaves emerge, remove the wrap. Thin seedlings out and plant the strongest ones in a container.
While it grows stronger, keep harvesting the stalks to use as flavoring for your soups and salads!

Pudina

I am used in your pani puri

For curing gas in tummy I am the key

In chutneys,chicken and teas you will find my flavour

Even my juice you will savour!

Mint likes to grow in shade.
Mint has shallow creeping roots which can be broken off,and planted directly in potting soil.
Mulching mint will keep it very happy.Remove flowers as they appear.There is very little else to do except enjoy it.

For ref : Garden Action

Hope you all can enjoy these herbs in your kitchen gardens soon.

Smiles and best wishes

Preeti
Team
Urban Leaves

Learn to 'Grow your own Kitchen Garden'

2011-07-22T18:19:00.005+05:30

Fill up this registration form if interested to attend this workshop. Thanks

5 types of containers to begin with

2011-07-19T09:34:00.004+05:30

A bottle cast away, makes an ardent plea
"Make a self watering can devise out of me"

"I may have cracked and to hold water may fail,
But I can still hold plants well", says the battered pail.

"Donot discard me as useless, Oh dear man!
Sow seeds of joy in me" urges the disposed can!

"I've been used enough for washing!" cries the weathered tub,
"Now make me a part of the Urban Leaves Club!"

Earthen pots and thermocol cups and plastic throw-aways are we,
Use us judiciously and some amazing results you will see!

Swati Barve ( my dearest little sis )

To start off a kitchen garden, you dont really have to go out, buy expensive pots and containers.
Have fun with your creativity, give a thought to reusing and recycling stuff around you and you will be surprised at what can be achieved!

Self watering can!

These can be made from recycled Bisleri 1 liter bottles or slightly larger jars.

Take any plastic bottle.
Cut it into half
Drill a hole in the cork
Pass a coir rope or nadi (used to tie pajamas, petticoats)/ rope cut out from old hosiery material through the cork
Invert and place the top half of bottle into the lower half and fill the lower one with water
One end of the rope should come out from top and one end immersed in water.
Fill up the upper part with good nutrient soil and plant saplings like Basil, Tulsi, ginger, garlic, mint ….

Why are these bottles useful?

Plants need moisture and not water. Most of the pests’ attacks on plants, even after using good soil are due to excess watering. When we put too much water it fills up all the air gaps in soil, making it difficult for microbes and soil organisms to breathe and they die. This affects the health of soil and plant as most nutrients from soil are made available to plants by microbes.

Using self watering cans helps us in many ways.

· It enables the plant to take in only as much moisture that it needs.

· It helps conserve water, otherwise wasted due to over watering.

Observe the difference between plants in regular pots and those in self watering cans. Draw your observations and share with friends!

What can be planted in such bottles?

To name a few.

· Basil

· Lemon grass

· Chillies

· Garlic

· Ginger

· Kadipatta

· Mint

· Celery

· Spinach

Experiment with what you like and use in your food.

Take any plastic bottle

Cut it into half

drill a hole in the cork

Pass a coir rope or nadi (used to tie pajamas, petticoats)/

rope cut out from old hosiery material through the cork

Pass a chord or nadi or coir rope through it

Invert and place the top half of bottle into the lower
half and fill the lower one with water

One end of the rope should come out from top and one end immersed in water

Fill up the upper part with good nutrient soil and plant saplings

like Basil, Tulsi, ginger, garlic, mint ….

Other recycled containers

Old buckets are best for larger plant varieties like Brinjal, raddish.

Radish in a bucket gets good depth required

Brinjal in a bucket

Spinach in a biscuit tin. You can also grow Pudina and Mint in it.

Pudina sticks bought from the market can be

grown again after harvesting leaves.

And last but not least.. here is something I found very fascinating...

A pallet Garden.

From the blog: Life on a Balcony

Read on about how to make a pallet garden HERE.

There are always ways to learn and share. Not having place to garden is no more true. If one watches and observes in nature there are plants everywhere... in nooks and corners, in between rocks and bricks.

So lets get started and green our surroundings!

Preeti

Team

Urban Leaves

Urban Leaves Story - The beginning

2011-07-15T23:05:00.002+05:30

The Urban leaves Story

Preeti, a catering officer with Mumbai Port trust, did not stop with her job of catering for the multitudes working in BPT; she thought about the impact of the food, the waste generated and began exploring ways to deal with it. She identified the space, the terrace over the kitchen, and began experimenting with various methods of organic farming using kitchen waste. This was in 2003, through trials and error she found her urban food garden equilibrium in a combination of using Amrut mitti and pulverized kitchen waste. Slowly the garden blossomed from a handful of drums to numerous drums and beds with vegetable plants and trees and herbs all swaying in the sea wind, holding up against it and flowering and fruiting! As the garden grew, so did its fame and urban farming enthusiasts and others begin trooping to BPT to see this garden

Once the garden began reaching its potential Preeti also grew confident and felt a need to share this knowledge and experience with as many people as she could. She began thinking about how to take this to people, how to involve different segments of society and how to take the learning from this urban farming project and turn it into a movement.

Along with a good friend Sabrina, who came up with the name Urban Leaves, Preeti started thinking about forming a small urban farming group.

Devi was involved with the urban food and sustainable agriculture movement while in the US. When she and her husband decided to move to Mumbai she contacted Preeti seeking an opportunity to volunteer at the BPT terrace farm, little knowing that outsiders could not work on the terrace farm and to just be able to visit it is the best one could do. Devi and Preeti met, first at an event at Rachna Sansad (where Preeti was giving a talk), then at the ‘Poison on the Platter’ screening, then at the Sprouts World environment day event. It is then Preeti said that she wanted to go ahead with creating a volunteer group for urban farming.

Uday, long standing friend and Vedanta teacher who Preeti relied on was always supportive of the urban farming idea and wanted Preeti to spread the word.

Jyoti, an urban farming enthusiast, along with a few friends met Preeti, thanks to the BPT terrace farm, the word about which was spreading. The visit and a follow up thank you visit paved the way for a wonderful friendship and association and Preeti asked Jyoti if she would like to be part of Urban Leaves. Obviously the answer was a resounding yes!

What all of us had/have in common is our passion and conviction about urban farming and about agriculture which is nature friendly, capable of producing safe food and incorporating natural ways of recycling waste in the urban setting. Each of us has a pet theme, Preeti swears by Amrut Mitti , Jyoti wants to grow her food and trees, Devi wants to keep food and agriculture GMO and pesticide free and Uday believed that this all led to joy and oneness !

Finally on a not too warm April evening in 2009 , we decided to meet at Preeti’s home to finally give shape to this nebulous dream that all of us had begun carrying around- thinking and talking about! Uday, Devi, Preeti, her niece Nupur, Mr.Mohanachandran from BPT and Sunil, Preeti’s husband attended the delicious dinner-cum-meeting. Jyoti was unable to come due to some personal commitments. Across Preeti’s dining table replete with delicious food, Urban Leaves was formally born. Ideas flew across the table while everybody dipped into the yummy dessert, vision and mission discussed, plans for workshops drawn out, notes written, laughter boomed and Sunil’s cautious voice kept our feet on the ground!

We reluctantly parted late in the night with promises to meet regularly ; with our heads full of ideas ; hearts full of hope and visions of hands full of greens from terraces, balconies, yards and community gardens !

In the meantime Preeti was already in conversation with Mr Avinash Kubal Dy. Director of Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP) in Mahim, about allowing us to use a small space within the park for an urban community food garden and for conducting urban farming workshops, paving way for our community food garden and the sprouting roots and leaves for our dreams and ideas!

Today many of the dreams have turned into reality; many new friends, committed to the cause, two community food gardens, at MNP & NNP , school project at AB Petiti High School, regular meetings of urban food gardeners here, greens and veggies and fruits from terraces and gardens, young and old volunteers , food and herb gardens grown by volunteers at home, schools and colleges coming forward to create more gardens…..and we all continue to dream and hope!

Sreedevi Laxmi Kutty

Founder member Urban Leaves

Gearing up for the World Kitchen Garden Day

2011-07-11T11:58:00.001+05:30

Can a concrete jungle be converted to a farm? Going by the looks of these pictures, yes!

In just less than a year.

After six months of hard work and making

Amrut Mitti the results are awesome!

We have planted lots of corn to be ready for harvest on

World Kitchen Garden Day on 28th of August.

Yee.... Are 'nt we all excited? The Urban Leaves Family invites you all to join us on

World Kitchen Garden Day to harvest our produce at Nana Nani Park

( Sunday 28th August 7.30 am- 8.30 am)

and Maharashtra Nature Park ( 8.30 am - 1.pm.)

Samhith the snails lover is a regular volunteer these days

joining us after he got hooked on post the Children's Summer Camp!

In reality we all become little children

once we are at the Community Farm.

This little patch of Amrut Mitti kept for greening , gave a

surprise bounty of sweet, delicious beans.

These drumstick plants planted as little saplings
on 5th June.... Have shot up and become trees....

Drumstick in a months time!

That's Mavis hugging her tree.

The papdi another variety of beans........

These two little saplings have grown! in two months and how!

Mr Singh happy with the creeper... waiting for the beans,

which are now flowering profusely...

Flowers of beans

The jowar sowed by Vipul for greening stage dominated all plants and was therefore retained without cutting after every 21 days. This growth is not really for harvest , but will be cut and recycled back into the Mitti to enrich it further.

The sight of jowar growing on a concrete is not easy to resist...

Jowar

The okra / lady finger / Bhindi

Our blog posts of 5 little baby steps to start your kitchen

garden has received wonderful response!

Dont go by the meager Facebook Likes to our Urban Leaves Page!

It was hands on and very Real!From little children to grandmothers and grandfathers.

Like! Like! Like! this Reality any day.....

Nirmala aunty started a class spontaneously!

Vipul joined in with total confidence!

The surprise students were two grannies who had undergone

leg operations recently! They won our hearts with their enthusiasm.

The rains didn't stop us!

The demo by Vipul,Nirmala Aunty, and Mavis continued .....

We shifted to a drier location, for an interaction and wonderful treat

of oil free veg pancakes and vegan mango pudding brought by Saroj.

Samhith shared that he was worried about his spinach being eaten by his pet snail! : D

Any message or tips for him?

Barfis... and

a treat of oil free veg pancakes and vegan mango pudding brought by Saroj.

Thanks Saroj... for all your pampering.

All smiles for the group photo...

I am thrilled. I discovered two up coming urban leaves trainers... Nirmala and Vipul in addition to Purvita

especially for Gujrati special! What say when should we have it?

Till we meet again for a heart warming Sunday morning!

Photo courtesy: Anu shankar , Nimita Khandelwal.

Love and lots of smiles

Preeti &

Team

Urban Leaves

Meet the builders of a green City

2011-07-10T09:15:00.000+05:30

Urban Leaves conducted their first workshop in April 2009 at Maharashtra Nature Park.The first workshop had 30 participants.Every workshop thereafter saw number of enthusiasts rising and an amazing mixture of backgrounds from which they came from.

Teachers, surgeons, lawyers, Engineers, Architects, Home makers, chefs, businessmen, school children.....
you name them, and they were there.

What have been the results of these workshops? Were they effective? Were they fulfilling what they had set out to achieve? Or Did the long drawn process of making Amrut Mitti, handling of cow dung, cow urine, the long wait of 63 days in various stages of greening was putting these city dwellers ( who had as seen a virtual Farmville life ) off ?

This month, we start a series of our stories about Urban Leaves Volunteer Efforts covered by yet another volunteer and 'Super mom Journalist' Anu Shankar.

I call her Super Mom not because she is able to do hundreds of things, but because I have seen the wonderful way in which she is raising her child. Check out her blog Wandering Mind

The first terrace she covers belongs to Vipul Sanghvi. She selected his terrace first as it is still in the process of making Amrut Mitti and can be used to showcase various stages of same on a terrace.

More later.....

Stay with us!

Preeti
&
Team
Urban Leaves

Grey becomes Green... Vipul's terrace Garden

2011-07-10T09:07:00.004+05:30

The beginning of a kitchen terrace garden

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Kitchen Gardens? Chances are, you would conjure up an image of an independent house surrounded by a patch of land, a section of which is filled with veggies. At least, that’s how it was for me. I remembered one of my uncle’s houses, where we had a bit of land behind, where my grandfather enthusiastically planted carrots and cabbages. It was terribly exciting for a city girl like me who had never seen vegetables being grown before, and I spent almost every minute of my holiday peering at the plants and seeing if they had grown yet! I see the same reaction in Samhith every time we visit the Urban Leaves terrace farm at MNP. Yet, the idea of having a kitchen garden in a concrete jungle like Mumbai still seemed a distant dream. While we started our own little one in small plastic containers on our window sills, I wondered how I could possibly make it larger in the small space that we had. However, all it took was a visit to Vipul Sanghavi’s house in Sion to see that where there is a will, there is a way.

Vipul’s house is located at the centre of the city, right behind the bustling Sion Bus Depot. Its proximity to the railway station as well as the hub of BEST buses makes it an extremely desirable place to live in, but also makes it among the most crowded areas. The buildings are all old ones, and the area is a haven in the midst of all the traffic and congestion that is just a road away. As I walked up to his house, I wondered where he had managed to create his terrace garden, considering that the buildings being old, there would be chances of leakage, and other problems. Vipul met me at the door and we proceeded towards his terrace, over the 3^rd floor of the building, and I realized that his building was almost the same as mine, and almost in the same condition. And then, as he opened the door to the terrace, the sight almost took my breath away!

Vipul’s terrace can’t really be called a ‘kitchen garden’ yet. He is in the process of making Amrut Mitti in large quantities so that he can start planting sometime by the end of this year. I had heard earlier about the large scale of his project, but I was totally unprepared for the rows and rows of trenches enclosed by bricks filled with Amrut Mitti in different stages of greening!

The bio diversity of seeds sowed for greening

lush and healthy !

Vipul says he started the process in April this year, so it’s been only three months, and there is long way to go before the Amrut Mitti is ready. However, the sight of the lush green colour gives a glimpse of what it is going to be!

For the greening, Vipul has sowed seeds of all kinds, pulses, grains and oil seeds. They are all mixed up, so it difficult to say which is which, but they are thriving. Many of them are in flowering stages, which lends a dash of colour to the place.

I was surprised to see that there were hardly any worms or insects, but I did see a few mushrooms!

It was easy to see that Vipul was really enthusiastic about his project. It was already obvious from the fact that he is among the most regular members of Urban Leaves, who rarely misses a Sunday at MNP! But he manages the whole terrace garden at home almost single handed, which says a lot about his dedication to the work. I was amazed to hear that he had collected about 1200 bags of leaves from all over Mumbai to start the project!!

There are still leaves soaked in Amrut Jal being dried before they can be added to the piles….

And there are still two pits of bagasse (the fibrous matter left over from sugarcane after the juice is extracted) he collected, and which he has even sifted to separate the finer ones which he uses as mulch (a protective cover placed over the soil to retain moisture).

Here are some of Vipul’s photos which show the different stages in the development of his terrace garden…..

Before

After

Raised Beds of Amrut Mitti

Seeds for greening

Greening stages

It was fitting that I visited Vipul’s terrace first, before visiting the other kitchen gardens, because this is, indeed the first stage in the process. Now, I can’t wait to see what it looks like by this time next year!

Anu Shankar

Volunteer

Urban Leaves

5 seeds to sow from your kitchen cupboard

2011-07-09T23:42:00.004+05:30

This week we continue our series with steps to start your kitchen garden. Once your pot is ready with compost- soil mix, its time to sow seeds. No need to put it off till you find time to go to a nursery. Just take a peek into your kitchen cupboard and get going!

Sow a few of those corriander seeds,
For a generous supply of its fragrant leaves!

Sow some of those chana seeds,
And cook the most mouth-watering treats!

Bring home the exotic flavors of Punjab,
Plant mustard to cook sumptuous sarso ka saag!

Plant a few of those fenugreek seeds,
To enjoy its benefits in just a few weeks!

And last amongst the five but certainly not the least,
To spice up your lives don't forget those chillies!
- Swati Barve

5 tips on sowing your seeds.

1. Click here to view the full moon days. Sowing seeds four days before full moon gives great vitality to the

. plants.

2. Soak seeds preferably in Amrut Jal or water for 24 hrs

3. Sow them in the evening

4. Scatter them over coco peat

5. Cover with coco pea t/ soil double the size or volume of seed.

Coriander

1. We use coriander for both its seeds and leaves. The leaves can be used raw in chutneys, salads, or as garnishes in curries for the wonderful flavor.

2. Sow coriander seeds where you want them to remain. Do not transplant.

3. Choose a recycled tub or wide container having depth of at least 6 – 8 inches.

4. Coriander should be sown every few weeks to ensure a continuous crop through the growing season which is from Oct- March .

Did you know : Coriander seed is technically a fruit containing two seeds in it. So the round thing that you see has two seeds in it. Each of them will grow into a coriander plant. The fruit can be sown whole or split and sown. When split, it increases the germination rate since it scarifies the seed.

So how do we sow a coriander seed. Read HERE

Chana

2. Sow seeds where you want them to remain. Do not transplant.

3. Choose a recycled tub or wide container having depth of at least 6 – 8 inches.

4. Chana should be sown in October – November- December

5. Harvest tender leaves for veggies, and allow to seed for consuming tender green chana!

Did you know: tender leaves can also be consumed?

Well here are FEW RECIPES you can check out!

Fenugreek

Sow in months of October – February. Can be grown in small tubs. Needs full sunlight.

Sowing fenugreek enriches the soil with nitrogen.

Harvest tender leaves from 15th days onwards. Matured leaves can be harvested at end of three months.

Add freshly chopped young leaves to salads, vegetable bean soups,cauliflower and potato dishes.

Use sparingly, as the leaves are rather bitter.

Did u know: Fenugreek lowers blood sugar levels, and has been used experimentally as an oral insulin substitute!

Mustard

Mustard plants need very little care and enjoy cool weather.

Sow in months of October – January.

Sow your mustard seeds about a 1 inch apart. Once they sprout, thin the seedlings out so that they are 6 inches apart. Plant greens six inches apart.

Planting successive small crops, separated about a week apart, results in a continuous supply of greens.

Mustard needs very less water.

Leaves as well as seeds can be harvested and used. As the mustard flower grows and matures, it will form pods. Watch for these pods to start to turn brown. Another sign that you are nearing harvest time will be that the leaves of the plant will start to yellow. Be careful not to leave the pods on the mustard seed plant for too long as they will burst open when fully ripe and the mustard seed harvest will be lost.

Did you know? There is a National Mustard Day.

Mustard leaves are good for your health. High in vitamins. It is high in Vitamin A and C, contains calcium and iron. It has cancer fighting beta carotene, antioxidants.

Chilies:

To sow indoors sow 3 seeds in a tray/container .After germination and when the seedling has reached 4cm in height, transplant your plants into a larger pot.

Place them in a position that receives a good amount of light.

When the plant is around 6 inches tall you can remove the growing tip, this will encourage the form of the plant to become more bush like. The longer you leave the chilies on the plant, the hotter in flavour they will become. Leaving the chillie on the plant after it is ready for harvest will result in a decline in further yields.

Ref : Gardening Patch.com

We hope these little tips will help you take the next step towards setting up your kitchen garden!

Lots of Cheers and smiles

Team

Urban Leaves

5 Baby Steps to start off your kitchen garden.

2011-07-05T09:18:00.005+05:30

What you need:-

1. A spot that receives at least 3-4 hrs of sunlight

o Balconies, window sills, open passages

2 Choose small containers at home that can be recycled to plant small herbs.

o Use what is readily available.

o An old plastic tub, container, bucket, oil cans, bisleri bottles.

3. 3. A mixture of compost and red earth in the ratio 1:1

o Ask a friend to share

o Collect the top layer of soil under trees from a park

o Borrow from friends, buy from nursery (Last resort, purchase from the nursery , remember this is just to get u started, and should not be resorted to every time)

o Start your own compost pot.

4. 4. Select seeds/saplings

Fenugree ( methi)

Start with something that you need in your kitchen and is simple to grow

· Select seeds from your kitchen cupboard for example: Fenugreek

· Soak the fenugreek seeds overnight, allow them to sprout and then sprinkle them over the cocopeat in the container you have readied to plant.Fenugreek can be harvested by 40 days.

· Use saplings which propagate with cuttings or rhizhomes.ie: Pudina, lemon grass, mint,

Something simple like this can also be used in your cooking. Check out this recipe for Methi Dal.

5. 5. Mulch.

o Dry leaves ( collect from garden )

o Sugarcane bagass ( collect from juice vendor)

o Coco peat ( buy from Nursery)

On Sunday 3^rd July we had quite a gathering of enthusiastic wannabe kitchen gardeners braving the Mumbai rains and coming from far off suburbs. It was very heartening to see them.

We started the session with Julius teaching them to make self watering cans out of recycled bottles at home. These are good as they do not need any maintenance, conserve water, and allow small herbs to take in as much water as they need and saplings grow very healthy. (Most of plant diseases are due to over watering of

plants)

We filled the base of the pots with semi decomposed dry leaves, layered with mixture of the compost and soil, planted herbs like spearmint and pudina, mulched with coco peat.

( to use cocopeat: Immerse the cocopeat in water. It will absorb water and swell up. Remove it from water, squeeze dry and spread it as a top layer on the mixture of compost and red earth).In very tiny containers use coco peat.

If you are using sugarcane bagass to mulch make sure that you use the very fine fibers.

If you use leaves, ensure you crush them thoroughly into fine parts.

The contents of following sessions are:

5 seeds to sow from your kitchen cupboard Sunday 10^th JULY

5 types of recycled containers: Sunday 17^th JULY

5 types of herbs on your windowsill Sunday 24^th July

5 minutes of Daily Care: Sunday 31 st JULY

5 friends to share with : Sunday 7^th August

5 mins to brew your refreshing homemade cuppa! Sunday 14^th August

5 good website on gardening: Sunday August 21^st

5 ways to Connect on KGI day: Sunday 28^st August

We would love to have you join us on all of these Sundays , however you may also start by simply following the blog and experimenting yourself.

We hope that with these simple steps you will have started your own small little kitchen garden.

With love and smiles
The Team
Urban Leaves

8 weeks to becoming a kitchen gardener

2011-07-02T09:39:00.004+05:30

I need not go bustling to the busy street,

To garnish my salads with a touch of green,

I need not borrow from my next door neighbours,

To season my goodies with missing flavours.

The little farm in my window gives me all I need,

Pinch me so I know it’s not a dream…….
- Swati Barve

Devi in her 10 sq ft Balcony at Phoenix Towers

There are 8 weeks to the World Kitchen Gardeners Day.If you have a dream of your own kitchen garden, and have not been able to make a start, the coming 8 weeks are a good opportunity to take baby steps to step into the world of kitchen gardeners across the world!

Join us ( a gang of crazy, passionate, lovable kitchen gardeners) at Urban Leaves on Sunday 3rd July at Maharashtra Nature Park at 8.00 - 9.00 am to learn the basics.

During the coming 8 weeks Urban Leaves volunteers will hold your hand till you learn the ABC of gardening and proudly connect with the clan around the world on August 28th!

Next 8 Sundays you will learn the most basic, simple, hands on, easy to use techniques ( no excuses left ) to start your own small kitchen garden. Just log in to www.urbanleavesinindia.com and follow your way to creating a kitchen garden.

We start this Sunday with

5 baby steps to start your own kitchen garden.

No registrations... No fees.... Just join us on a Sunday morning to soil your hands!

Team

Urban Leaves

Planting season continues at MNP

2011-06-27T10:04:00.002+05:30

The corn to be harvested on KGI DAY is growing green and healthy!

Butterflies have started visiting us too...

The young and old are eager for activity

Vipul and Nimita plant more saplings.

Planting a red variety of banana for first time directly on the slab of the water tank.

Sprinkled ash and rock powder

Finally mulched well.Remember Banana loves semi decomposed bio mass and responds very well to lots of Mulching! Watch it grow.....

Sammit a young urban leaf member sharing what he has learnt at

the Summer Camp to Mayank who had come for the first time with his parents.

Sammit holding out earthworms... actually showing off : )

Mayank, shy and skeptical at first of creepies and crawlies, soon became friends with them!

Monsoon having blessed us with the initial showers is playing truant. again. A prayer to the rain gods.

Pray, do not desert us!

Images of the celebration on World Environmental Day

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It was a day for planting new saplings of fruit trees. The Amrut Mitti on the big tank was ready. Our new batch of containers ( blue recycled drums ) came from Swarupa's ( our New volunteer ) factory , from where they were usually being sent for scrap.

This time , we bought some vermi compost, red earth mixed them in 1:1 ratio, added some ash, and rock powder and made the pot mix. The lower half ( 40% ) of the container was filled with sugarcane bagasse, on top of it went semi decomposed leaves collected from the park, on top of it went the pot mix created, and the topmost layer of about six inches we added AMRUT MITTI.

This is a new experiment that we have tried out. Instead of using Amrut Mitti in the whole container we added the layers as mentioned above. Its because the feeder roots are in the first 6- 8 inches of soil, so that's where we added Amrut Mitti. The roots below are anchoring roots, so we decided to make do with nursery soil there. The plants are doing very well. : )

This way Amrut Mitti can be used to grow more plants.

Pomegranate

Anjani Mehta got her society residents who visited us , were inspired and now wish to green their society!

Volunteers at work.

We planted lemon trees, pomegranate,custard apples, guava,drumstick.

Drumstick plant

Harvesting corn! See the delight on their faces!

Also planted bhindi plants

This was followed by a delicious potluck! Sorry folks, no photos of the menu! We all got so engrossed in eating. Saroj delighted us with her vegan Mango Pudding . here she explains the recipe to all of us.

Keep a watch on the orchard and come and join us in two years time to harvest the fruits!

The planting season continues... Read On HERE

Celebrating Kitchen Garden Day 28th August - 2011

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While the sweltering heat gives way to monsoons, and the cold chill to spring, the Earth rejoices and celebrates! It decks up in its most beautiful gowns to celebrate abundance! Its fine textures, flavours, spices and herbs. It is time to celebrate the World Kitchen Garden Day!

What is World Kitchen Garden Day about?

The simple, short way to say it is: a day for us to come together and slow down.... breathe.... and savour the experience of home grown and home cooked food!

Celebrate growing and enjoying seasonal and local food, meet gardeners, farmers and build communities around growing and eating healthy! Celebrate locally, share globally!

World Kitchen Garden Day 2011 will be celebrated on August 28^th, the last Sunday of August. Initiated in response to the junk food industry’s call for celebration of a “snack food month “in 2003, Kitchen Gardeners International began this celebration of growing food. Kitchen gardeners with a single pot on a sunny window to terraces with trees and edible plants to large gardens that feed families, from Mumbai to Brussels to Seattle celebrate it in their communities and gardens! Kitchen Gardeners International tries to connect kitchen gardeners across geographies, sharing tips, recipes, talking seeds and bugs and growing food!

To read more about the objectives of World Kitchen Garden Day and how it all began do check out Roger’s blog at http://kitchengardeners.org/world-kitchen-garden-day

Why Kitchen gardens?

Before we talk about celebrating World Kitchen Garden Day the question of why kitchen gardens should be addressed. In a day and age where food security is threatened; food safety is in peril; climate change is creating havoc with rain patterns and planting seasons; prices of food are rocketing, the use of toxic chemicals in agriculture is endangering farmer and consumer health; the stealthy introduction of GMOs into our food supply threatens our food security and health; malnutrition plagues a good percentage of children born around the world; junk food is causing unprecedented levels of obesity and life style related illness; we need to ensure safe and secure food supply for everyone. The one small step every individual can take to address these concerns is to plant a garden! It is tantamount to starting a revolution! Therefore, we look forward to a world where everyone is a potential kitchen gardener and this day is to bring together the gardeners of the world and would be gardeners of the world.

This year, join Urban Leaves in Mumbai on the 28th of August to celebrate Kitchen Garden day or to add one that you'd like to host wherever and with whomever you want!

We plan to celebrate the event at our two community gardens in Mumbai

· A harvest festival and potluck at our 2 Community Farms at Maharashtra Nature Park (Dharavi) and the Nana Nani Park (Chowpatty)

· Talk by Anju Venkat of The Health Awareness Centre (THAC) on “Importance of Eating Raw”

· Seed & sapling sharing between urban gardeners

· Display/Exhibition of photos, poems write ups about members & urban gardens

Contact urbanleaves@gmail.com for more info on the Mumbai events or volunteer with us !!

If you are not in Mumbai don’t be disheartened; Urban Leaves members are celebrating KG day at Bangalore, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Nasik & Pune. If you wish, you can create your event at your home / in your city / society / school / garden club and inform us about the event. Register Here to join us or create your own event.

Visit www.urbanleavesinindia.com in July to see where the activity/ event closest to you is, or to add one that you'd like to host wherever and with whomever you want!

We are also planning celebrations in schools. If you are a school or know a school which will be interested , Gaurav Shah , the Urban Leaves volunteer in charge of the schools program will love to hear from you. Contact Gaurav at exgaurav@yahoo.com

For us Kitchen Garden day is about...

being Koooool and Green...

connecting Kids AND Grown-ups...

to Kome Grow with us...

to Kreate Gastronomical delights with us...

to have all Kinds of Good in our lives and world!

Won’t you join us?

Team Urban Leaves

Urban Leaves Celebrates World Environment Day on 5th June 2011 at MNP

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Read about the celebrations HERE