When it comes to kitchen waste, you might think that the dustbin is the right place for it. But if the members of Pune-based Organic Farming Club are to be believed, the rightful place for kitchen waste is anywhere but the dustbin.
Even as experts try to tackle the pertinent issue of managing city waste, these households have proved to be model examples. The club has members who manage waste at the household level.
The members have been growing organic fruits, vegetables and flowers in their gardens with material we would otherwise discard. The club holds meetings twice a month to discuss questions related to organic farming.
“When we realised that people are taking interest in making kitchen gardens by using compost bins, we decided to start a club for such people,” said Nutan Bhajekar, chief of organic food division of the Institute of Natural Organic Agriculture.
The club offers its members not only the know-how about tending an organic garden but also provides materials required to maintain it properly.
Dispelling myth about that terrace gardens make buildings weak, the members have successfully grown all kinds of plants by using just two inches of soil mixed with kitchen waste such as coconut fibre and vegetable peels.
According to the club members, good waterproofing takes care of most problems related to terrace gardens.
Anuradha Madhav Ganu grows as many as 30 different varieties of fruits and vegetables in her kitchen garden, including strawberry, lemon, cucumber, gourds and jackfruit.
Sudha Mangalkumar Darda, a retired bank manager, says that her neighbours were inspired by her garden and decided to set up their own. And its not just awareness about organic gardening, the members are also dedicated to the cause of telling people about organic produce of farmers in the Mulshi taluka.
