It’s not that hard. Really. Kids, quite naturally, LOVE dirt!

I’ve been reading so much on our city and the filth, stagnant water, garbage and other stuff that’s completely true. I’ve also seen Bangalore rank high for contagious diseases. So what are you doing about it? Here’s an idea – how about dealing with your own waste in a way that’s fun and will create life lessons for your child? It takes a decision, some tools and some understanding to start with. Do you have it in you?! *trumpets sound*

Wanting to do something about my kitchen waste, I started two years ago, very shakily. I’d heard about the “khamba” – a linear solution to composting in a city context. All it was, was three, stacked pots that needed 1×1 foot space. The children were excited to come along when I shopped for it and we brought it home with mixed feelings – like bringing a newborn home from a hospital – excitement, nervousness, worry, self-doubt. Thankfully, this baby came with a manual.

Putting aside the waste was harder than I thought. Dumping peels and fruit into a bin was a practiced evil. The children fared better than me – they remembered to separate. That problem was fixed with a large basket labeled DRY WASTE. And right next to the kitchen sink, we put a little bowl for wet waste. At first, the sight of coffee grounds made me feel yuck, look of egg shells mixed with fruit peels made my tummy twist, and almost immediately, the kids had the same symptoms! I had to straighten up MY act.

We did a little reading about the science behind composting and realised how great the outcome – natural manure – was for our plants. That’s when the fun began. I allowed the kids to paint pots and choose seedlings they wanted to grow. Then we put in layers of dry leaves and mud and planted them. Watering however often they remembered helped.

One thing you really need to guard against is guilt. There’s a feeling of helplessness when you see more garbage and waste. You tend to think you’re not making a difference. But you are. Your kids are history makers – they’ll go on to influence so many and the next gen will make us proud!

This column was first published in the Bangalore Mirror in November 2014