When most people think of a terrace, they picture potted plants, a few flower beds, and perhaps a lemon tree or two. But for Nisha Agarwala, a spirited urban gardener from Kolkata, a terrace is a canvas for nature and ancient wisdom. Today, her rooftop is more than just a garden, it’s a lush forest of fruits, flowers, herbs, and hope, nurtured entirely through the principles of permaculture, without a trace of chemical fertilizer. Her journey, however, didn’t begin this way.
A Spiritual Encounter Sparks a Permaculture Journey
Back in 2017, Nisha had a regular terrace garden like many others, which was lush but conventional, where she still depended on store-bought nutrients. “Something didn’t feel right. I knew there had to be a better way,” she recalls. The “better way” revealed itself during a visit to the Art of Living International Center in Bengaluru, where she was participating in The Art of Living’s Silence Program in the presence of the global spiritual master, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
Inspired by Gurudev’s wisdom and call to serve, she signed up for a 7-day residential program called Permaculture and Beyond, a concise introduction into the world of permaculture, that draws inspiration from Gurudev’s vision of reviving ancient wisdom that heals the earth naturally, makes life grow even in the harshest terrains by simply following into the intelligence of nature. That course was the turning point. “It shifted my entire relationship with soil, plants, and food,” she says.
A Forest on the Fifth Floor
What sets Nisha’s garden apart isn’t just its size or diversity, it’s the conscious system that governs it. Applying permaculture principles on her 1,200 sq ft terrace, she turned ordinary grow bags and containers into micro-ecosystems. “The soil got better year after year. The yield grew, but more importantly, the garden began taking care of itself,” she explains.
And what a yield it is.
From papaya, sitaphal (custard apple), guava, chikoo, and pear trees, some over 15 years old, to seasonal vegetables like cucumber, okra, muskmelon (which once weighed 4 kg), ash gourd, carrots, beets, and fenugreek, her terrace mimics the diversity of a rural farm. Herbs like basil, parsley, Italian thyme, celery, and even wild edibles thrive alongside unusual varieties like red okra, white eggplant, and white bitter gourd.
“I even grew sugarcane from a piece I got at the Ashram, and we made juice at home,” she grins.
In a corner, millets sway gently in the breeze; in another, sweet potatoes and corn tumble over trellises. And on any given day, at least one item on her plate comes from her own rooftop.
Compost: Lifeblood of Her Rooftop Forest
If the garden is a forest, compost is what makes it grow. For over a decade, Nisha has composted every bit of kitchen waste and dry leaves her household generates. “Not a single scrap goes out,” she says. She estimates having composted over 20,000 kilograms of organic matter till date.
Sometimes, nature takes over. “Papaya and guava seeds in compost sprout on their own when the season is right,” she notes. A lemon tree, once thought dead, lay dormant for a year before springing back to life. “That tree taught me the most important lessons- patience, trust, and surrender.”
Growing More Than Food
But it’s not just about food. Nisha sees her terrace as a classroom, community space, and living example of what’s possible. She doesn’t sell her produce. “I gift it,” she says with a smile. “When you give a plant with love, people value it more. It becomes a responsibility, a relationship.”
That spirit of seva has extended far beyond her home. She is now a core member of the Art of Living’s permaculture community, with a 1,000+ strong live group of urban gardeners across India and abroad, people who ask questions, share learnings, and grow together.
She’s also taken informal sessions and inspires others through what she calls ‘kitchen activism.’ “The first time I planted basil, I had no idea what to do with it. Then I learnt to make pesto. Now I share those recipes. When people know what to do with a plant, they grow it.”
Seed-saving is another of her passions. She stores and shares seeds of okra, spinach, fenugreek, and lesser-known herbs. Many of her plants are grown from saved or gifted seeds, making each harvest a story of resilience and community.
Global Roots, Local Wisdom
The COVID-19 pandemic only accelerated the movement. With Zoom and WhatsApp, the permaculture sangha expanded beyond borders. “We now have members from Muscat, Singapore, and elsewhere. Some are even moving back to India to start their own farms,” she says.
And yet, she insists: “You don’t need land. Permaculture is not about scale, it’s about spirit. It’s a mindset. If you can listen to nature, even a terrace can become a forest.”
From cucumbers to community, from compost to consciousness, Nisha Agarwala’s story is one of alignment. Her journey is proof that sustainability doesn’t always require acres. Sometimes, it just needs awareness and a rooftop.
“You never know what nature will bless you with. All it takes is TLC, Tender Loving Care.”
