Green Leaves Farm Serves Fresh, Pesticide-Free Veggies in Gurgaon

Green Leaves Farm, situated on the edge of Gurgaon, is a small initiative run by Aditya Arya, and provides fresh, pesticide-free produce to patrons every weekend.

Started by Aditya Arya, owner and collector of Museocamera, Gurgaon’s only vintage camera museum, Green Leaves Farm began with a simple idea. Arya had always wanted one of two things- to be a farmer, or a photographer. Having excelled in advertising photography for decades, he decided to to try his hand at his other childhood desire. Thus, in 1996, he bought and opened the farm.

After years of unsuccessfully trying to sell wholesale to retailers, shopkeepers and malls, Arya found out the farming system worked to benefit the middlemen and sellers, but rarely the farmers themselves. If a kilo of veggies cost 50 rupees in the market, the farmer would receive a paltry two or three rupees per kilo. Upon noticing this unfair setup, Arya decided to strike down his own path.

Now Green Leaves Farms sells primarily to residents of Gurgaon, and patrons can access Arya via a WhatsApp group. He regularly brings 30 to 50 kilos of fresh, pesticide-free veggies back to Phase III every Sunday, but if you’re interested, be sure to act quick as they usually sell out in the first couple of hours. The variety includes all sorts of lettuce, legumes, white and red radishes, potatoes, beetroots, carrots and more.

With farmers now regularly spraying pesticides right on their crops, sometimes even days before harvest, the concept of organic farming has gone for a toss in India. These chemicals can cause ulcers, skin diseases and forms of cancer. With that in mind, Green Leaves promise pesticide-free produce, grown on a farm that supports the local communities by providing jobs. Arya even plans to introduce a programme where groups and school trips can come visit the farm on weekends to see where and how their produce is grown.

Timings: Sunday evenings or Monday

Price: Standardised at INR 50 per kilo {all veggies}, except lettuce which will cost INR 150-200 per kilo {depending on type}