Behind the Scenes: My Green Heaven
Gardening isn't just about the final harvest. It is about the dirt under my nails, the early morning nursery hunts, and the quiet therapy of building my own terrace sanctuary, one pot at a time.
When I'm offline, this is where you'll find me, at peace in my garden. Whether it's mixing soil, tending to seedlings, or harvesting vegetables, getting my hands in the mitti is my therapy. It helps me disconnect from the chaos and reconnect with nature.
A quick look at what I do when I'm offline. It's all about being a plant parent, from preparing seedling trays and mixing potting soil to planting seeds in grow bags. This is the quiet, therapeutic work that goes into creating a green heaven.
This was a year of rebuilding my green heaven. It was full of hard work: shifting plants, transporting soil, and setting up the new garden. I planted lots of vegetables in 2024, and I'm looking forward to the fruitful harvests of 2025.
A few snapshots from the past few months of setting up my vegetable garden. From empty pots and seedling trays to a terrace full of growing plants, it's a journey that requires a lot of work but is incredibly satisfying.
My new terrace was a blank canvas with so much gardening potential. Two years ago, when we started building this home, I knew I needed plenty of space for my plants. Now, I'm excited to start experimenting and turning this huge empty space into a thriving garden.
Come along with me on a plant shopping trip to my favorite nursery in Delhi. I bought a variety of plants, including Ficus, Champa, Curtain Creepers, and even some large 12-foot trees that I had to transport in a rickshaw. Bringing new plants home is one of the best feelings for a plant lover.
About Behind the Scenes: My Garden & Me
People see the final terrace photos, but they don't see the heavy lifting. I spend hours transporting soil bags and hunting for the perfect plants in Delhi nurseries, often hauling 12-foot ficus trees in rickshaws. Gardening is a full-body workout, and that Green Heaven look on my terrace came from months of DIY effort, not magic. If you are starting out, know that it requires patience, a bit of back pain, and a realistic plan for your terrace weight limits.
Building a garden on a Delhi terrace isn't as simple as just buying a plant and putting it in a pot. My journey has been full of trial and error. I have learned that the foundation is everything—specifically, the mitti.
The Reality of Terrace Gardening
If you have a terrace, weight is your biggest constraint. I don't just dump heavy soil into pots. I use a 'bottom-fill' trick, placing dry leaves, cardboard, and empty bottles at the base of large planters. It reduces the weight by nearly 40 percent and eventually breaks down to feed the plants. It is a game-changer for anyone worried about terrace load.
My Gardening Philosophy
- Trial and Error: My seedlings have been eaten by peacocks more times than I can count. I failed four times before I got it right. Gardening is ahista ahista (slowly, slowly).
- The Soil Mix: I never use store-bought soil directly. My go-to formula is 30 percent soil, 30 percent sand or cocopeat, and 30 percent compost. It is well-draining, nutrition-rich, and keeps plants happy.
- Resourcefulness: You don't need fancy pots. I use scrap tin sheets and leftover plywood to build my own raised beds. It saves money and is better for the environment.
My garden is my therapy. Whether I am mixing potting soil at 6 AM or trying to keep a 12-foot ficus tree upright in a rickshaw, the process is what keeps me sane. If you are looking to start your own kitchen garden, don't look for instant results. Look for the joy in the process.
Himanshu Mann
I am Himanshu, and if you saw my bank account, you would see it all went into plants. I have learned the hard way—from managing soil weight to outsmarting hungry peacocks—so you do not have to. I am here to help you get your hands dirty and build your own little sanctuary.
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