1. School Kitchen Garden

A kitchen garden, also called a vegetable garden, is a garden where fruits, vegetables and herbs are grown.

Vrikshayurveda, which means Ayurveda for trees.

Red earthworms (Eisenia fetida) are used.

Shri Nek Chand created the Rock Garden in Chandigarh using waste material.

A garden trowel is used for digging up soil and planting seedlings. A hand cultivator is used for loosening soil, removing weeds and mixing manure in soil.

Organic fertilisers come from natural sources, such as manure, compost, vermicompost and green manure. Inorganic fertilisers include urea and superphosphate.

Herbs and leafy vegetables like coriander, mint and spinach grow quickly, so the produce can be used soon. They are also good for health as sources of vitamins and minerals.

Manure is a natural fertiliser prepared from the dung of farm animals. It is added to soil to provide additional nutrition to plants.

Watering at these times minimises water loss due to evaporation. More water stays in the soil for the plants.

Geotagging is adding geographical information to photos, videos, websites or social media posts. A school kitchen garden can be geotagged with its longitude and latitude using digital technology.

It is used for leafy greens such as lettuce and spinach. The outer leaves are harvested while the inner leaves are allowed to continue growing.

The project gives these key precautions:

• Do not lift heavy pots alone; ask the teacher about the correct way and get help.
• Wear well-fitting gloves to protect the skin and grip tools firmly, and follow instructions and demonstrations for using tools.
• Clean and wipe tools after washing to prevent rusting, and store them in an organised manner so nobody trips over them.

Three factors are given in the project:

• Exposure to sunlight, because plants need sunlight to grow.
• Drainage, so that water does not collect and harm the plants.
• Spacing requirements, so that all plants can be reached while watering.

The project describes these steps:

• Use a bin made of plastic, wood or other water-resistant material, cover it with tarpaulin or old thick cloth and make holes at the bottom to drain extra water.
• Fill it with kitchen waste, fallen leaves, garden waste or other biodegradable waste as bedding materials, and moisten it with water.
• Introduce red earthworms on top and let them burrow in.

Feeding must be done carefully:

• Feed kitchen scraps such as fruit and vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, eggshells and non-greasy food waste.
• Avoid meat, dairy, oily foods and citrus fruits.
• These foods can attract pests or harm the worms.

Care and readiness are both described in the project:

• The bedding is kept moist by spraying water as needed, but not waterlogged.
• The bin is covered with a lid to retain moisture and prevent pests.
• The compost is ready when it becomes dark, crumbly and earthy smelling, usually within a few months.

Seeds are sown in this sequence:

• Make furrows or small holes in the soil according to the recommended spacing.
• Drop seeds into the furrows or holes; sprinkle very small seeds evenly over the soil surface.
• Cover the seeds lightly with soil to the recommended depth and pat it gently to ensure good seed-to-soil contact.

Seedlings are planted carefully:

• Dig holes slightly larger than the length of the roots of the seedlings.
• Remove seedlings from their containers without damaging the roots and place each in a hole so the soil level matches its original container.
• Fill the holes gently with soil and press lightly around the base to secure the plant.

Labels help in managing the garden:

• They show the name of the plant and the date of sowing.
• Placed at the beginning of each row or in each pot, they help keep track of plants as they grow.
• They can be made from old plastic bags stuck on waste cardboard or chart paper and written on with a permanent marker.

A fence keeps plants safe from animals and people stepping on them. It is made as follows:

• Measure the dimensions of the area to be fenced and draw a sketch to decide where the fence will go.
• Collect locally available materials such as bamboo, old pipes or old wooden sticks to use as poles.
• Bind the poles with a strong string to make the fence.

Staking supports plants in the kitchen garden:

• It is done to give support and stability to tall or weak-stemmed plants that may become top-heavy and fall, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peas and beans.
• Stakes can be bamboo, a fallen thin branch, or an old metal or plastic pipe, chosen according to the length and weight of the plant.
• The plant is tied to the stake with a string.

Mulch is applied around plants after watering:

• Materials like straw, wood chips or shredded leaves are spread as a layer around the plants.
• Mulch helps retain moisture in the soil and suppresses weeds.
• It also keeps the soil temperature mostly the same.

The method depends on the type of produce:

• Leafy greens like spinach: harvest the outer leaves and let the inner leaves grow (cut-and-come-again).
• Root vegetables like carrots and radishes: loosen the soil around the base and pull them out by hand or with a trowel.
• Tomatoes, brinjals and peppers: cut them from the vine with gardening shears, leaving a short stem.

Estimating a price involves many factors:

• Cost of seeds or seedlings and soil amendments.
• Cost of tools and equipment and of labels.
• The quantity harvested and the market price of the produce, found from a visit to the vegetable market.

AI tools can help at different stages:

• Planning: AI apps suggest suitable plants based on location and help plan layout for sunlight and spacing.
• Monitoring: garden apps track plant growth and help identify pests or diseases, and image recognition apps identify unfamiliar plants.
• Care: app suggestions help decide watering schedules, manure and early pest control.

Making a school kitchen garden is done in stages.

• Plan: decide whether to use plant beds or pots, measure the area and choose a location with sunlight, drainage and spacing.
• Prepare soil: clear debris, rocks and unwanted plants and mix manure or vermicompost with the soil.
• Sow and plant: follow seed packet instructions for depth and spacing, plant seedlings carefully and label each row or pot.
• Care: water regularly, stake tall plants, mulch, remove weeds, use organic pesticide and fence the garden.
• Observe and harvest: record growth weekly, then harvest using the right method and sort the produce by quality and size.

Neem-based pesticide controls caterpillars, grasshoppers, whitefly and aphids.

• Take 500 grams of neem leaves, wash them and chop or break them into small pieces.
• Mix the leaves with 5 litres of water and keep the mixture in a jerry can or large bottle for about 14 days.
• Separate the solids from the liquid using a strainer.
• Spray the liquid on plants using a spray bottle.
• Organic pesticides are applied carefully to minimise harm to beneficial insects, birds and animals that do not harm plants.

The project lists several steps for plant care.

• Staking: support tall or weak plants like tomatoes and beans with stakes tied with string.
• Watering: keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, follow a schedule and water in early morning or late afternoon.
• Mulching: spread straw or shredded leaves to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
• Pest control: watch for pests and apply organic pesticides made from neem, garlic or chilli.
• Weeding: remove weeds as soon as they appear, using a hand cultivator.

Vrikshayurveda means Ayurveda for trees.

• Plant science was important in ancient Bharat because farming and rearing animals were the main work.
• Two texts with this name were written, by Salihotra (about 400 BCE) and by Surapala (1000 CE); a palm leaf manuscript of Surapala's text is at Oxford University.
• The text deals with cultivation, water management, soil conservation, fertilisers and plant diseases, and encourages planting trees like Bilva, banyan, fig and Neem.
• Climate change, soil erosion and health concerns have renewed interest in it.
• Its knowledge can help maintain soil health, promote good farming practices and preserve biodiversity.

Tracking growth helps us understand how plants develop and what they need.

• Observe changes in plant height regularly.
• Record other observations such as emergence of seedlings, changes in leaf colour, appearance of flowers and attack of pests.
• Maintain a diary or a weekly table with dates of observation.
• Take photographs from different angles or draw sketches to record progress.
• These records help spot problems early and decide what to do differently next time.

The project gives two main options for the produce.

• First, sort the produce by quality and size and remove any damaged pieces.
• It can be given to the school kitchen for the midday meal, after discussion with the teacher and peers.
• If we plan to sell it, we visit the vegetable market and prepare a price chart.
• We then calculate the money spent on seeds, materials, tools and labels and the quantity harvested.
• Using the market price, we estimate how much money we would get and fix a fair price.

The project encourages students to make the garden beautiful.

• Grow plants neatly in rows with a proper layout.
• Use stones to make flower beds or pots look neat, and paint them in attractive colours.
• Make decorative items such as painted clay pots, paintings on stones or sculptures from old objects in school.
• Make a scarecrow, which also keeps birds away.
• Take ideas from Shri Nek Chand's Rock Garden in Chandigarh, made from waste material.

The class needs to follow the plant care steps of the project.

• (i) The tomato plants should be staked with bamboo or old pipes and tied with string.
• (ii) By spraying a neem-based organic pesticide, which controls aphids.
• (iii) A hand cultivator.
• (iv) Mulch retains moisture, suppresses weeds and keeps the soil temperature steady.

Arjun has added some unsuitable food to the bin.

• (i) Paneer, which is a dairy food, and lemon peels, which are citrus.
• (ii) Dairy and citrus can attract pests or harm the worms.
• (iii) Moist but not waterlogged, and covered with a lid.
• (iv) It becomes dark, crumbly and earthy smelling.

The chosen corner is not suitable for a kitchen garden.

• (i) No; plants need good exposure to sunlight, and water collecting there shows poor drainage.
• (ii) Exposure to sunlight, drainage and spacing requirements.
• (iii) Measure the land area and decide the components of the garden.
• (iv) The garden can be made in pots instead of plant beds.

Ravi's watering habits need correction.

• (i) Watering at noon wastes water through evaporation; early morning or late afternoon is better.
• (ii) The soil should be moist but not waterlogged, as overwatering is harmful.
• (iii) New plants need more frequent watering.
• (iv) A watering can with rose attachment and a hose pipe (or mug and bucket).

The extract introduces the idea of a kitchen garden.

• (i) Vegetable garden.
• (ii) The yield from the garden.
• (iii) Coriander and mint.
• (iv) On the school campus, either in plant beds or in pots.

The case is based on Activities 9 and 10 of the project.

• (i) To observe vegetables and note their prices.
• (ii) A price chart of vegetables.
• (iii) Costs of seeds or seedlings, soil amendments, tools and equipment, and labels.
• (iv) It can be given to the school kitchen for the midday meal.

The case is based on the Smart Kitchen Garden section.

• (i) AI apps suggest suitable plants based on her location.
• (ii) It can identify unfamiliar plants, such as weeds or plants from leftover seeds.
• (iii) They help decide watering schedules, manure and early detection of pests.
• (iv) Geographical information such as longitude and latitude.

Sohail is ignoring the safety rules of the project.

• (i) Someone may trip over it; tools should be stored in an organised manner.
• (ii) Gloves protect the skin and give a firm grip on tools.
• (iii) He should not lift it alone and should get someone to help.
• (iv) Tools should be cleaned regularly and wiped after washing to prevent rusting.