Desher Kaj
Vegetable gardens in yards and on roofs
Small gardens of seasonal vegetables in ten families’ yards or on their roofs, in beds, sacks or tubs, on the union agriculture officer’s advice, and a visit back four weeks later.
Area
Dhaka
People
4 people
Time
About 10 hours
Difficulty
Easy
About this task
Dhaka has almost no yards but many roofs; tubs or sacks on a roof can grow some of a family’s vegetables at home. Learning from the union’s sub-assistant agriculture officer which vegetables suit this season. Then, in ten willing families’ yards or on their roofs, somewhere in the sun, beds, sacks or tubs of soil mixed with organic manure; sowing seeds or seedlings together with the family, with watering written down. Four weeks later, back for photos from the same spots.
Why it matters
Even a scrap of land by the house or a roof grows greens and vegetables, adding nourishment to the family’s food and cutting market costs a little. Starting seems hard; shown once hands-on, families carry on themselves.
What changes after
Vegetable gardens with ten families; photos of plants growing four weeks later; the families know how to get advice from the agriculture officer.
Who can join
Anyone; best with some farming experience.
Step by step
- 1Done
The agriculture officer’s advice90 min
From the union’s sub-assistant agriculture officer: which vegetables this season, which seeds, what to mix into the soil.
- 2Done
Families and spots120 min
Ten willing families; a sunny spot. On a roof, the owner’s permission and the drains kept clear.
- 3Done
Make beds or sacks and sow300 min
Beds or sacks of soil mixed with organic manure; seeds or seedlings planted with the family; watering written down.
- 4Done
Back after four weeks120 min
Photos from the same spots; pests or disease shown to the agriculture officer.
Checklist to get ready
- Seasonal vegetable seeds or seedlings · ১০ পরিবারের জন্য
- Organic manure or compost · ৫০ কেজি
- Sacks or tubs · ৪০টি
When it counts as done
- Gardens set up with at least ten families, with before photos
- Photos from the same spots four weeks later, with plants growing
Proof required: Before photo, After photo
⚠ Safety
No children alone on roofs; no work at the roof edge. Do not let water stand in trays under tubs (dengue mosquitoes). Pesticides only on the agriculture officer’s advice.
What it costs
| Seasonal vegetable seeds or seedlings | For 10 families | ৳80–200 |
| Organic manure or compost | 50 kg | ৳15–30 |
| Sacks or tubs | 40 | ৳20–80 |
| Watering cans | 4 | ৳150–300 |
| Total (about) | ৳3,000–7,000 | |
Getting ready, step by step
14 days before
Advice from the sub-assistant agriculture officer: which vegetables, which seeds.
Choose ten willing families.
7 days before
See each spot: sun, water, the state of the roof.
Get seeds, manure and sacks; keep receipts.
On the day
Before photos; beds or sacks; sowing; watering written down.
Four weeks after
After photos from the same spots; any problem shown to the agriculture officer.
Who does what
- Lead (1): Liaises with the agriculture officer and families; does the follow-up. — ____________
- Garden team (3): Mix soil, make beds and sacks, sow. — ____________
The day, hour by hour
- 08:00Gather, share out the materials.
- 08:30First five homes: before photos, beds or sacks, sowing.
- 11:00Break.
- 15:00The other five homes.
- 17:30Watering instructions for each family, done.
What can go wrong, and what to do
- A fall from a roof → No work on a roof without a parapet; no children on roofs.
- Mosquitoes breeding in water under tubs → Do not let water stand in trays; check weekly.
- Pests or disease killing plants → No pesticide on your own; show the agriculture officer.
Useful numbers
- 333Government information, services and complaints
Questions people ask
- Which vegetables should we grow?
- It depends on the season and area; the union agriculture officer or upazila agriculture office will say.
- Is the weight of soil a problem on a roof?
- It can be. Get the owner’s permission, spread sacks or tubs instead of heavy beds, and never on a cracked roof.
- Can I join if I cannot stay the whole time?
- Yes. Say in your request which step or which hours you can do. The lead will give that step to you.