Kaliganj family turns rooftop into organic food garden

KALIGANJ, GAZIPUR, July 11:  A rooftop garden in Kaliganj of Gazipur, is quietly transforming the daily scenery of an urban home, where concrete walls give way to lush greenery of vegetables and fruits.

Rows of bottle gourd vines, beans and seasonal vegetables stretch across the rooftop of a one-storey house owned by Md Nazmul Hossain, in his early thirties. What began as a hobby has now become a source of safe food, a form of relaxation, and a way to stay connected with nature.

From a distance, the rooftop resembles a rural courtyard mistakenly placed atop an urban building, with hanging gourds, climbing bean plants and neatly arranged pots of vegetables.

The garden includes okra, eggplant, tomato, bitter gourd, yard-long beans, spinach, Malabar spinach, pumpkin, ridge gourd and green chillies. Fruit plants such as dragon fruit, guava, pomegranate, mulberry, papaya and sugarcane are also being cultivated.

The initiative began two years ago with just a few pots and saplings driven by curiosity. Over time, it has grown into a full-fledged rooftop garden.

Amid rising food prices and concerns over adulteration and chemical use, the garden has become a reliable source of fresh vegetables for the family, reducing dependency on the market.

“Rooftop vegetables taste different because they are grown organically. We not only meet our family needs but also share the surplus with neighbours,” Nazmul said.

He initially learned from experienced growers but now regularly gathers information from online platforms, agricultural videos and social media groups.

A key feature of the garden is its use of organic fertiliser. Kitchen waste, dry leaves and vermicompost are used to nourish the plants, ensuring chemical-free produce.

Nazmul’s wife, Lima Akter, actively supports the initiative, helping with plant care, soil preparation and shifting pots.
“I feel incomplete if I don’t visit the rooftop at least once a day. Seeing flowers or fruits growing gives a sense of achievement,” she said.

The rooftop has also become a family gathering space, where parents, siblings and children spend leisure time together, often enjoying evening conversations among the plants.

Neighbours frequently visit the garden, some to seek advice, others to take inspiration for starting their own rooftop gardening initiatives.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Shahriar Morsalin Mehedi said rooftop gardening is not only a means of food production but also an effective environmental initiative.

“Plants absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, help regulate temperature and increase urban greenery,” he said.