Part II (As told to Ushassu staff)

Pickles were also on the menu for Malkapuram Rajitha and her family (see Sabitha’s Kitchen Garden story), whose unfortunate conditions forced them to make the vinegar-soaked vegetable a ubiquitous presence in their diet.

When her family’s financial situation worsened, Rajitha was forced to end her studies and begin working at a milk collection center. Because her family does not own land, they must buy vegetables at great fiscal strain.

After attending courses at the WEP Ushassu center, Rajitha realized the unhealthy state of her diet, and decided to plant her own kitchen garden. The vegetables grown there provided the family with healthier food options without the cost.

With her own experience as impetus, Rajitha now educates her neighbors about the power of kitchen gardens. She and her family are working on a plan to grow vegetables throughout the year.

Blog Writer: Dorothy Sinnott