Tasks/Prosperity & shared funds
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.
- 0/4 people
- About 10 hours
- 10
- points
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
0 of 4 steps doneHow to do it, in order.About 10.5 hours across all steps
- 1
The agriculture officer’s advice
From the union’s sub-assistant agriculture officer: which vegetables this season, which seeds, what to mix into the soil.
90 min
Not startedIn hand:Nobody yet - 2
Families and spots
Ten willing families; a sunny spot. On a roof, the owner’s permission and the drains kept clear.
120 min
Not startedIn hand:Nobody yet - 3
Make beds or sacks and sow
Beds or sacks of soil mixed with organic manure; seeds or seedlings planted with the family; watering written down.
300 minবীজ বা চারা, জৈব সার, বস্তা বা টব
Not startedIn hand:Nobody yet - 4
Back after four weeks
Photos from the same spots; pests or disease shown to the agriculture officer.
120 min
Not startedIn hand:Nobody yet
What you need
- 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.
The full guide
What it takes, and how to do it
Never done this before? No matter. The cost, the timeline, who does what, whom to speak to, the day hour by hour, the risks and ready words to send are all here.
- About
- ৳3,000–7,000
- People
- 4
- Time in all
- 10 hours
- Age
- 12 or older
Best timeAround October–November for winter vegetables and February–March for summer ones; get the exact timing from the agriculture officer. Work in the morning or afternoon.
PermissionThe family’s consent; on a roof, the building owner’s permission.
What it costs
Prices differ by district and season; this is a 2026 estimate. Keep receipts and put them in the proof.
| What | How much | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Seasonal vegetable seeds or seedlingsFor 10 familiesWhere: Seed shop, or as the agriculture office advises | For 10 families | ৳80–200 |
| Organic manure or compost50 kgWhere: Farm supply shop or local compost | 50 kg | ৳15–30 |
| Sacks or tubs40Where: Used-sack shop or plastic goods shop | 40 | ৳20–80 |
| Watering cans4Where: Hardware or plastic goods shop | 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
Lead1
Liaises with the agriculture officer and families; does the follow-up.
Garden team3
Mix soil, make beds and sacks, sow.
Whom to speak to first
The union’s sub-assistant agriculture officer
- Why
- The right advice on season, seed and pests is theirs.
- How
- Find them at the union council or upazila agriculture office; show the plan.
The families
- Why
- The garden is theirs; daily watering is in their hands.
- How
- Sow together with one person from each family.
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.
How to take the proof
- Before and just-sown photos of each spot.
- Photos from the same angle four weeks later.
Common first-time mistakes
- Setting the garden in shade.
- Sowing out of season.
- Doing it all without the family and leaving.
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.
Ready words to send
Copy, fill the [brackets], send.
WhatsApp / Facebook invitation
Help start vegetable gardens in yards and on roofs! Where: [village / neighbourhood] When: [date], 8 am to 5:30 pm (as much as you can) What: seasonal vegetables in beds and sacks with ten families. Bring: old clothes, a cap, a water bottle. To join: send a join request on this task’s page on Desher Kaj, or tell [lead’s name] in this group.
Request to the agriculture officer
Date: [date] To The Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer [union name] Union Subject: Request for advice on home vegetable gardens. Sir/Madam, We wish to set up small gardens of seasonal vegetables in the yards and on the roofs of ten families in [village]. We ask your advice on which vegetables suit this season, which seeds to get and how to prepare the soil. We would be grateful if you could visit on the day. No money will be collected from anyone for this work; what is needed comes as gifts in kind or at the team’s own cost. Yours faithfully [Name], team lead [team name], a volunteer team on the Desher Kaj platform Phone: [number]
After it is done
- Next season, remind the same families to save seed.
- Ask a family that did well to teach the next one.
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.