**8. Vertical garden structure**

The vertical home structure is designed considering (i) size suitable for terrace/ utility area, (ii) to grow vegetables consumed by a family on daily basis, (iii) pots suitable for respective vegetables/leafy vegetables/flowers/medicinal plants, (iv) structure suitable for handling in terms of the height of reach, mobility, the requirement of light available to all the pots, and (v) effective utilization of maximum area for growing plants. The vertical garden structure has three major substructures *viz.,* (i) base frame, (ii) main central support and (iii) supports for pots/grow bags (**Figure 2**). Main centre support is a rectangular shape frame/tube anchored to the base frame with necessary supports. Support for pots/grow bags are fabricated suitable for different pot sizes and shapes and fitted at four different height levels. Heavyduty nylon caster wheels are fitted at the bottom of the base frame for the mobility of the vertical garden structure. The selection of pot size is based on the growing media requirement to facilitate proper growth during the crop period.

The vertical garden has four height levels and the topmost level was decided based on the maximum reach of a normal human being hand reach. Vegetable crops that grow a height of higher than 2 feet (tomato, chilli, brinjal, peas, etc.,) are placed in

(a) (b)

the bottom-most level of the vertical garden structure. Leafy vegetables (palak, amaranthus, coriander, etc.) that grow to a height of about one foot are placed above the bottom layer. Medicinal crops or again leafy vegetables are placed above the second bottom layer. Flowers are placed at the topmost level of the structure which would give aesthetic look.
