Nisha Agarwala's Successful Transformation of Her Terrace into a Prosperous Food Forest Through the Practice of Permaculture
Urban Gardener Nisha Agarwala Transforms Kolkata Rooftop into a Thriving Food Forest
Nisha Agarwala, an urban gardener from Kolkata, has transformed her 1,200 sq ft rooftop terrace into a thriving food forest, using the principles of permaculture. This change was significantly influenced by a spiritual encounter in 2017.
Initially, Nisha had a conventional terrace garden using store-bought nutrients. However, after participating in The Art of Living's Silence Program at their International Center in Bengaluru, in the presence of spiritual master Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, her perspective shifted. This led her to enroll in a 7-day residential course called "Permaculture and Beyond."
The course introduced Nisha to permaculture—a system that draws from ancient wisdom to nurture the earth naturally and sustainably. This pivotal experience led her to cultivate a lush terrace garden full of fruits, flowers, and herbs, without the use of chemical fertilizers. Instead, she works with nature's intelligence and care.
Nisha's garden is a testament to her dedication. In addition to growing plants like basil, parsley, Italian thyme, celery, and various unusual varieties, she also grows millets, sweet potatoes, corn, and sugarcane on her terrace. Over 15-year-old trees such as papaya, sitaphal (custard apple), guava, chikoo, and pear, as well as seasonal vegetables like cucumber, okra, muskmelon, ash gourd, carrots, beets, and fenugreek, thrive in her garden.
Nisha's commitment to sustainability is evident in her composting practices. She composts all kitchen waste and dry leaves generated by her household, estimating that she has composted over 20,000 kilograms of organic matter. Papaya and guava seeds in her compost often sprout on their own when the season is right.
Nisha's terrace garden is not just a personal project; she inspires others through 'kitchen activism.' She takes informal sessions and stores and shares seeds of okra, spinach, fenugreek, and lesser-known herbs. One of her most inspiring stories is that of a lemon tree that lay dormant for a year before springing back to life.
The COVID-19 pandemic has expanded the permaculture community beyond borders. Nisha is a core member of the Art of Living's permaculture community with over 1,000 members across India and abroad. Her rooftop garden, located in Kolkata, is a lush forest of fruits, flowers, herbs, and hope.
[1] Nisha credits the success of her garden to tender loving care and the blessings of nature.
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