Pushpa Sahu’s terrace garden in Raipur is a sight for sore eyes, enveloped with greenery.

The garden is home to over 100 types of trees, herbs and shrubs that bear a variety of fruits, vegetables and flowers.

The 57-year-old grows all the fruits and vegetables needed for the family, ensuring healthy, organic produce.

Pushpa’s foray into gardening began in 2013, when she realised the huge amount of chemicals used in commercially sold produce.

She started with a few plants with her husband, Rajesh. As they grew well, she added more vegetables.

Today, she grows over 12 kinds of fruits like mango, orange, lemon, apple, guava, dragon fruit and over 20 kinds of vegetables like tomato, chilli, brinjal, bottle gourd, okra, and beans

While growing fruits at home is considered difficult, Pushpa states that improved varieties of almost all fruits grow into trees no taller than six feet in height.

“With careful pruning, this size can be easily maintained within the space of one’s home,” she says.

Medicinal plants, ornamental plants, leafy greens like coriander, spinach, and fenugreek, and aesthetically pleasing shrubs also find space in her garden.

Pushpa uses the raised platforms on her terrace as pedestals for her plants, which are grown in oil drums easily available with local ragmen.

A 200-litre drum is most suitable for smaller plants, while larger fruiting plants can be placed in 1,000-litre containers.

Placing the plants above ground level prevents waterlogging, while the lightweight drum barrels compared to ceramic pots balance the weight problem.

Besides the health benefits, the family also saves over Rs 3000 per month, according to Pushpa.

Her mini farm has been appreciated by local municipal authorities and media persons, who have given her the witty name of ‘Hariyali Didi’.