Adding some shiny mustard microgreens growing in an old dabba to your salad, plucking juicy tomatoes blossoming on your kitchen sil, or brewing tea from self-grown chamomile flowers — making meals out of your own produce sounds lush. The dream, however, often fails to even germinate for the uninitiated, when they begin to think of space constraints, how to source seeds, and pick the best fertiliser. Realising that there are many who may not be willing to take that headache, Bhayander-based couple Tanvi and Ankur Agarwal decided to simplify the process for them. "We thought we could put together all the materials one needs to begin home gardening, and list the steps so that even a child can do it," shares Ankur. After nearly two months of R&D, the couple launched their brand Bombay Greens in May-end, offering DIY kits catering to different kitchen needs.

The seeds of the brand were sown when the markets shuttered in March-April and there was a dearth of fresh produce, says the couple, who also own a mobile accessories brand. "The price of produce spiked and the quality deteriorated. But, since we had a terrace garden, there was a steady stream of tomatoes, microgreens, lettuce, spinach, etc," informs Tanvi. That is when they noticed that most people are too dependent on market produce for everyday meals. "We wished to cultivate the idea of home farming," she explains, adding that they take care of the daunting part of it — the research, sourcing materials, and instructions.