AIKGA’s two day spring festival with focus on gardening year-round in jco club, defence colony from march 4-5

The All India Kitchen Garden Association (AIKGA) which  is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year  is organising its annual  two day Vegetable, Fruit and Flower show with the theme ‘Gardening through out the year‘ on March 4 & 5, 2017  at JCO Club, Defence Colony.

“This year  AIKGA has shifted  the focus and theme  of the show on Eco-friendly gardening through out the year as this trend is becoming popular world wide  for growing vegetables ,fruits and herbs round the year.” said Ms (AIKGA) .

“ During the show We will explore a full year in the vegetable garden, namely how to extend and smooth transition between each of the seasons. We will cover topics such as preparing for spring, selecting vegetable varieties, succession planting, organic methods and winter gardening. The calendar is still in winter, but the weather is teasing spring. With spring, those cool-weather vegetables that we love to consume can be grown in our gardens. Turnip greens, mustard, lettuce, spinach, kale, collard greens, broccoli and cabbage are topping this list of favorites.” Said Ms Gupta.

“Growing your own vegetables is both fun and rewarding. All you need is healthy soil and some seeds. But in recent past Kitchen gardening trends range from clean, healthy living with fewer chemicals and more organic food to “sound-scaping” with trees to buffer sirens and birds to bring song. Whatever you’re growing, wherever you’re growing it, the ability to garden year-round just makes this category so much more relevant. And access to healthy food, year-round, will be a game-changer. New technology makes growing 365 days a year easy, affordable and convenient,”said Ms Gupta.

“For instance, indoor gardening – growing under lights in soil, hydroponically or aquaponically (growing plants along with fish)  – is becoming more common. From growing arugula (rocket salad leaves)  to growing traditionally medicinal plants like tulsi, carom (ajwain), turmeric and vegetables helps one get clean fresh food  with growing concept of, pick and plate every season. From herbal tea gardens on the window sill and healing herbs under lights to vitamin-packed microgreens on the kitchen counter, medicinal gardens are blooming indoors. Many  Indians are taking to the eat-the-food-you-grow idea and that appears to be bringing world cuisines to mamma’s  kitchens. This is being achieved  by creating cosmopolitan kitchen Gardens -a progression from growing Indian staples like coriander, mint and green chillies. These modern gardeners are investing in seeds and potted herbs and plants  not only during international travels but during visits to markets including like Food Bazar selling potted plants and local nurseries.” She added.

“ Year round  Eco-gardening also includes concept of encouraging growth of birds and bee friendly plants, use of home grown compost and used tea fertilizers, use of discarded plastic bottles and containers, rain water harvesting,  use of  Aquaponics.  Besides eco gardening, the festival will also focus on roof top  farming ,which helps provide  the decorative benefit, food, temperature control, hydrological benefits, architectural enhancement,  recreational opportunities, and in large scale it may even have ecological benefits. The practice of cultivating food on the rooftop of buildings is becoming popular world wide” said Ms Gupta .

The other highlights of the spring festival will be Ikebana and Bonsai show, session on eco gardening, sale of garden related items, farm fresh vegetables, seeds and plants for summers. Various chapters of the association in Delhi and National Capital Region will be presenting  whole range of nutrition food and related recipes to meet the needs of changing lifestyle