This green space in Baridhara DOHS, one of Dhaka's upmarket residential areas, speaks for Salma Mannan's heart. Drawing on her love of farming and nature, she has created this gathering of crops.

Following her husband's postings, she has lived in many parts of the country, and wherever she went she kept soil and plants with her. Growing crops while living in a city is her personal discipline. So when the foundation of this six-storey house was laid two decades ago, she decided the roof would be a green dream courtyard.

Fruit trees, vegetables, flowers and creepers across the roof form an extraordinary green arrangement, as if sitting in a village courtyard. Such greenery can ease anyone's loneliness, bringing peace on a tired afternoon, views of blue sky and the pleasure of rain.

She used various techniques to build this growing area, including filling the entire floor with soil. For her, every tree has its own story.

Source: Shykh Seraj, Chhad Krishi (episode 343). First published in Bengali on The Agro News.