Power to you

One Sunday afternoon in August 2013, some residents of Kores Housing Society in Mumbai got together and decided to make responsible use of the organic waste they had generated. They built a community garden in their society compound.

First, they made a boundary wall with paver blocks and created a 'raised bed' consisting of a bottom layer of organic waste, a middle layer of compost or soil and cow dung, and a top layer of dry leaves. The residents used their society's garden waste—weeds and plant trimmings mostly—that would otherwise have been burned or dumped in municipal landfills. Instead, it was used to create fertile soil in which they planted seasonal vegetables and fruits, medicinal herbs and plants.

They had the help of volunteers from Green Souls, a Mumbai-based group that promotes natural farming in the city and the use of permaculture methods. Permaculture essentially recreates natural cycles of decomposition and makes manure or compost out of available organic waste, thus doing away with soil brought in from the forest and fertilizers.

see how you and the residents of your housing society can create a community garden and grow your own vegetables and fruits.

The residents of Kores Housing Society in Mumbai lay the foundation for a community garden in their backyard

Children and adults create a 'raised bed' by putting a bottom layer of organic waste collected from the neighbourhood into a pit

Weeds, plant trimmings and other garden waste from the society is put in as well

Children work on similar smaller pits that are gardens-in-the-making

Then, the residents put a layer of compost over the organic waste matter

Seeds and saplings of seasonal vegetables and fruits, medicinal plants and herbs are put into the fertile soil

Everyone lends a hand, saplings are planted and urban farmers are born

In three hours and with many hands, a productive community garden is ready