What is all this OFYT about ?

OFYT

This blog post is to brief you up and give you an idea of what this event is all about and what to (or not to) expect / do during the event and most importantly to avoid redundant questions about OFYT. A newbie or an inactive member gets confused about all the excitement around OFYT and generally their first question is ... what is this OFYT and what is it all about ? 

Above pic taken during the Aug 2015 JP Nagar event.

The main motive of the OFYT event is to make everything related to gardening accessible to a gardener at one place and to help new comers start off with their gardening careers. Some key points (in no specific order) about this event ...

1. There is no fixed schedule. On an average held once in 3 months.
2. The next OFYT (21st edition) is scheduled for 2/April @ Uttarahalli.
3. Refer "Past OFYT Events" section below.
4. Usually a 1-day event conducted during the weekend.
5. Venue location is spread across Bangalore to help folks take advantage of the same.
6. Stalls selling everything related to gardening are setup ... accessories, tools, cocopeat, compost and vermi compost, manure, soil mixes, bio mixes, neem oil, neem / honge / castor cakes and powders, pots and containers, watering equipment, organic produce (like millets, pulses, jaggery, honey, vegetables, etc) and decorative accessories. And of course seeds and saplings as well. A few OTGians who have started off with their own commercial ventures put up their stalls too. I think the only gardening resource not sold here is red soil. Quite a few eatery stalls (including organic) are present to re-energise you as well.
7. A LOT of planning and unseen activity goes behind the curtains for organising an event of this scale. Most of the organisers are working professionals and take their personal time out to organise the event. So request folks, not to question about the event and rather provide assistance in anyway they can towards making the event a success.
8. So far all the editions of OFYT have been a FREE entry event.
9. Workshops : 1-2 sessions on OTG for kids and 1-2 sessions on composting are conducted during the event. These are usually free. However registration (before the event or at the event) is required. Keep an eye out for the FB OFYT page for details. The OFYT posters has all the information.
10. I usually request folks to wear a tag to the event, so that its easy to identify one another. Most of us meet in person in events like this only or other OTG meets.
11. And sorry to disappoint some of you, as of now this is conducted in Bangalore only. Though we have had folks visiting from nearby cities and towns. So I would suggest that there is no point in asking when this event will be conducted in your town/city, unless you yourself are willing to take up the initiative to conduct a gardening event in your town/city.
12. Please do take necessary steps to make the venue litter / plastic free. Do get cloth bags/covers, newspapers, small envelopes or similar to collect your seeds and saplings. Do use the dry/wet waste bins (usually kept near the food counters) to dispose off waste.

Past OFYT events 

1. 12/June 2016 at Doanakala Grounds, Banashankari : https://www.facebook.com/events/1704668616439330
2. 26/27 Feb 2016 at St.Joseph's College near Richmond Circle : https://www.facebook.com/events/1059047704140565
3. 29/Nov/2015 : Vyasa International School : https://www.facebook.com/events/1641005489496569
4. 30/Aug/2015 : JP Nagar : https://www.facebook.com/events/113933615619817/
5. 7/Jun/2015 : Rajarajeshwari Nagar :
   https://www.facebook.com/events/352750154926567
6. 1/Feb/2015 : Hebbal : https://www.facebook.com/events/1400864630209918
7. 31/August/2014 (World Kitchen Gardeners Day) : JP Nagar : https://www.facebook.com/events/1452354075036256
8. 15/June/2014 : WhiteField : https://www.facebook.com/events/256252187911994
9. 16/Feb/2014 : Girinagar : https://www.facebook.com/events/618946221494228

To see the above links, you need to be a member of the FB Organic Terrace Gardening group.

And yes ... before I forget, OFYT is the acronym for 'Oota From Your Thota' :) ... loosely translated as "Food from your Garden"!

Link for OFYT FB page

See you there !

Poster for the 18th edition of OFYT scheduled for 28/Aug ...