The popularity of kitchen gardening has multiplied in recent times, particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Several individuals have embraced this practice as it allows them to enhance the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, promotes better health among residents, and encourages a more sustainable way of life.
Different people have taken it up for different reasons -- they are either health-conscious or are pursuing it as a hobby -- but it has eventually become a part of their lifestyle.
Merwyn Fernandes, from Aldona, has a kitchen garden where he grows fruits and vegetables. Initially, his wife managed the garden, but gradually Merwyn's passion caught up and now there is no looking back.
Although he acknowledges that he cannot dedicate as much time as his wife does, he continues to pursue it out of love. He also believes that a home garden contributes to the preservation of ecology and biodiversity.
Elsewhere, Savio Figueiredo has a unique approach to his garden, as he sees it as a way to create a fruit forest for future generations and to live a sustainable lifestyle.
His main motivation for getting into kitchen gardening was the joy of growing vegetables with minimal carbon emissions and no pesticides.
He believes that gardening is not only a constructive and stress-relieving activity, but also a way to connect with like-minded individuals and nature. Savio also encourages others to start their own gardens, as they promote better health.
However, his commitment to sustainable living goes beyond just planting fruits and vegetables as he has installed solar panels, practices composting, and harvests rainwater, truly embodying a sustainable lifestyle.
Peter Singh, who has embraced sustainable living as a way of life, has transformed his home into a sustainable living space.
He sets an example by demonstrating how to live sustainably, stating that he and his family are able to maintain a healthy lifestyle by harvesting their own fish, growing their own vegetables, fruits and spices, all of which are used in the kitchen.
Peter's goal is to live sustainably and reduce the amount of waste produced in the community for the sake of their own health, as well as that of their family and surroundings.
He has a strong conviction that sustainable living can be embraced by all individuals and it serves as a means to contribute to the environment and give back to nature.