GARDENING at home, which started as a hobby, has now turned into a necessity given the recent increase in the cost of living for some of those living in urban areas.

Those interviewed gave various reasons why they indulged in this hobby but the one common factor was it reduced their expenses.

Retired police officer Zakaria Hassan, who started venturing into horticulture during Covid-19 pandemic’s movement control order (MCO) period, continued this practice, saying it reduces his daily expenses now.

“I started growing fruit trees, vegetables, flowers or ornamental plants as a hobby during the MCO period, in addition to the intention to green my home environment.

“But now, financial constraints are also one of the factors that drives me to return to the ‘kindness to the land’, even though the available land is only ‘gardening in a pot’ in the backyard,” the 60-year-old Zakaria from Bangi, Selangor, told The Malaysian Insight.

He said at the beginning of the MCO, the Sansevieria tree or commonly known as snake plant, also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, became very popular and he also followed the trend.

“Then I moved on to growing vegetables suitable for growing at home and in pots.”

“Among them are Brazilian spinach, okra, chili padi, lime, chili and several other vegetables,” he said.

In terms of savings, Zakaria said, he can save between RM50 and RM100 a month on vegetables.

In addition, he said, vegetables grown at home are free from pesticides.

Shalini Yeap May Hwa, 34, got the idea to grow plants in her house balcony from her fiance, T. Anthon Jermayne, in 2019.

“We actually wanted more control over the quality of the food we ate. At the time, we had just started our fitness training and only ate home-cooked meals, so the balcony garden was in line with our lifestyle and love of cooking.

“Among the crops we planted were okra, kailan, red spinach, long beans, chili, mustard and ‘Indian Borage’ (mint),” said Shalini, a legal and public relations manager from Kuala Lumpur.

According to Shalini, planting does not only train them to be patient and persevere but also allows them to appreciate the wonders of nature.

“It’s not as simple as dropping some seeds in the ground and letting them grow on their own, they need daily care. As the saying goes, ‘you reap what you sow’. We also understand why organic vegetables are expensive in the market,” she said.

According to Shalini, one of the challenges of growing organic crops is the attack of bugs as they choose not to use any harmful pesticides.

“We use homemade neem oil but it takes time and consistency to see the magic.

“In terms of savings, we haven’t made an actual estimate but for the long term, it should be cheaper than organic vegetables sold in the market,” she said.

Mahani Ishak, 45, who grows crops in her flat, said there are many benefits from gardening activities in residential areas, including economic factors that can reduce the cost of kitchen expenses.

“From my experience, planting lemongrass, pandan, kaffir lime and mint, saves my kitchen expenses up to RM200 a month. The surplus of these plants can be a source of income for my family.”

“Gardening activities can be one of the activities done among family members and it also can strengthen the relationship between neighbours. I will usually distribute the excess crops to the neighbours,” said the businesswoman from Kedah.

Gengammal Valayutham, 64, for whom gardening is a lifestyle activity, started gardening on her balcony in 2018 and said that her hobby brings joy and adds to the beauty of her living space.

“It’s been a few years since I started experimenting with farming. I feel it is an important life skill, which is to learn how food is produced and learn to grow it yourself,” said Gengammal.

According to the mother of two from Penang, she grows a lot of edible herbs and plants such as moringa, rosemary, basil, and mint, because she prefers to cook her own food and her career involves developing food recipes.

Consumer Association of Penang (Cap) education officer N.V. Subbarow said those involved in gardening activities at home are encouraged to use additional products other than the usual fertilisers so that vegetables grow healthy and are safe to eat without any concerns.

“Cap organises regular training on urban agriculture for consumers who are interested in learning to grow their own vegetables at home, especially among housewives.

“Since 2015 until now, we have trained more than 2,000 farmers, 500 teachers, 800 housewives and 500 individuals,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

He said Cap is also in the process of producing vermi fertiliser and plant and soil boosters at reasonable prices for those who want to start gardening.

“We always advise consumers in this country to grow their own vegetables at home following the sudden increase in prices in the market lately.”

“Growing your own vegetables will greatly benefit consumers, especially when the price of vegetables in the market increases.”

“Users in high-rise residential buildings with limited space can also practice urban gardens effectively as long as they can ensure their plants get enough sunlight,” he said.

According to Subbarow, growing vegetables at home does not require a large space, in fact, he said individuals can use milk cartons, drinking bottles and small containers to grow leafy vegetables.

“Fruit plants such as okra, eggplant, chili and leafy vegetables such as mustard, kale, kailan, spinach and perennials mint, Gotu kola (parsley family), kesum (Vietnamese Coriander) and water celery can be grown easily even if placed in the balcony.

“For plants that have large roots such as okra and eggplant, it is advisable to use biscuit tins, oil bottles or five-litre water containers as a planting base,” he said. – August 14, 2022.