ranchi on one hand when most middle class households have reduced consumption of vegetables owing to its price hike few who have taken up kitchen gardening as a hobby are now enjoying the fruits of their labour niki sweta a professor who indulges in gardening in her lawn as a leisure pursuit said when i started gardening i never cared about its benefits but now i am glad that my hobby has helps me go easy on my pocket i am consuming vegetables for free compliment for those who do not own a lawn rooftop or balcony gardening is the ideal option for them smita gupta who grows flowers and vegetables in her balcony said i have grown chilli tomato bitter gourd and snake gourd at home the price hike has also inspired many to initiate kitchen gardening i have almost stopped buying vegetables and am surviving on rajma and soyabean while my neighbour who has a kitchen garden is happily enjoying green vegetables said arvind kumar a resident of ashok nagar he added have also decided to plant vegetables in my garden instead of flowers because at least vegetables will help me cope with steep price hike the price of growing vegetables at home is less when compared to buying them all you have to do is devote some time in taking care of the plants on a regular basis in return you will reap fresh vegetables throughout the year said manish kumar who has a kitchen garden in his house