From Kitchen Garden to Farming: A Journey of Passion and Growth

Farming had always been a distant thought in the back of my mind, especially since I enjoyed kitchen gardening. This year, however, that idea became a reality when I decided to experiment with a small plot of land in my native village. I grew avaere and alsande, unsure of how the plants would fare, particularly since I had to rely entirely on rainfall, as there was no borewell on the property.

I invested a portion of my savings to clear and prepare the land, fully aware that I might not see a return on that investment. But my passion for the venture kept me motivated. When harvest time finally arrived, I was met with mixed results. The alsande crop didn’t do well, as it got infested with worms, and avaere was somewhat affected too. Still, I was glad to see some harvest, especially as a first-time farmer. The amount of seeds I planted was returned to me, and the joy I felt was beyond words.

The journey hasn’t been easy, though. It involved a lot of hard work, sleepless nights, and overcoming numerous challenges—whether it was managing labor, traveling from Bangalore to the village, constantly monitoring the progress, or spending a bit more than I had anticipated. But every bit of effort has been worth it.

I embarked on this journey to gain firsthand experience in farming, and now I’m excited about the possibility of transitioning into full-time farming. My goal is to create a brand and sell my produce, building something meaningful from the ground up.