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On the occasion of World Environmental Day, BHARATI PAWASKAR speaks to some enthusiastic plant lovers who enjoy gardening and love growing their own organically grown fruits and veggies. With the monsoon around the corner, these health-cautious people are all geared up collecting seeds ad saplings of different kinds which they can either plant in pots designated in their landscaped gardens or in box planters on their terraces
How wonderful it would be if every home had a small garden. It would be so relaxing at the end of the day just to take a stroll in. Yes, it is a back breaking job but when the garden blooms it’s a scene to behold. Me and my husband Agnelo share the work between us and work on a trial and error basis. We use organic manure from our compost bin along with fish water and cow dung. We also collect the fish waste from the market. Our plants are grown both in the ground and in pots. As earthen pots are heavy and expensive, we now use plastic ones which are lighter and cheaper. Gardens are very close to my heart. I grow all sorts of plants “ ornamental cacti, begonias, bougainvilleas, anthuriums and my regular kitchen garden which gives us tendli, Moira bananas, valachi bhaji, mint, chilies, bimbli, lime, pepper, etc. Our cashew tree forms a canopy over half the garden providing the shade required for most ornamental plants. We also grow seasonal varieties for our home consumption. We cultivate our field in the rainy season and sow kidney beans and long beans in the summers."
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On our 1200 sq mts plot, the garden occupies more space than the house. This year my mango tree got 82 mangoes so I did not have to buy a single mango from the market. I have mango, coconut, guava, chikoo, custard apple, papaya, pomegranate, neem, lemon, litchi and drumstick trees. I also grow vegetables like lady’s finger, long beans, flat beans, chilies, spinach, brinjal, bananas, red amaranth, cluster beans, pumkin and watermelon. During October-March, I grow cabbages and cauliflowers. Herbs and mint are available all year round. We consume our own veggies for lunch and I distribute the excess among my friends. I sometimes sell drumsticks to a vendor who sells them in the market. I use neem oil, wood ash and cow dung as manure. Twice I bagged the third prize in the kitchen garden competition organised by the Botanical Society of Goa. The judges who visit our gardens offer innovative ideas and tips about organic gardening. It is at such competitions that we meet like-minded persons who share their own experience. The taste of the fruits and vegetables grown by you are amazing and one gets so much satisfaction as it prevents us from buying chemically ripened fruits from the market which are harmful to health. I spend three hours every evening in my garden which I feel is very less. Getting labour in Goa is a problem and it is expensive too “ Rs 600 per day per person! On world environment day, I ask youngsters to grow and eat their own fruits and see the difference. Grow either on the ground or in bags which need only compost and coco peat and no soil. These bags are easily available in the market. So, no excuses of weather, heat, no labour, no space, no time or no soil “ just grow and enjoy your own fruits.
- Hema Rakesh Unny,
I have been growing veggies for over a decade now. I grow chilies of all sorts, especially the hot ones. I like to grow my salads too. I grow lemons “ mandarin limes and local varieties, garden leg for salads, herbs, mint, basil, garlic, lettuce, spinach, red amaranth, coriander etc “ all in my backyard in Goa as well as our farm in Nagaland. I make my own sauces of various types mixing chili and garlic with vinegar. The flavour comes after aging at least for 18 months. After processing it has to be kept for 6-7 months again for developing the specific taste. These are organic. I make my own vinegar from coconut sap (sur). I have been gardening and helping my mom in cooking since I was eight. I grew cactus of various species until I was 25, then gradually I turned to kitchen gardening after becoming a chef. I furnish my shelves with home grown vegetables and fruits now.
- Ryan Semelhago, a
I love gardening. I am from Kerala and my mother has a beautiful garden there. Here in Goa I not only do kitchen gardening but grow all sorts of plants on our 1000 sq mtr plot. I grow all seasonal fruits and coconuts, mangos, jackfruits, kokum, tamarind, banana, custard apples, chickoos, papayas, soursops (graviola), Singapore cherries, Manipur chilies, pumkins and even an asafoetida tree. Yes, I grow my own ‘hing’ for seasoning. Our tree is of medium height and seasonal. The sap of the root is asafoetida, which we use raw as I don’t know the processing. My friends in Manipur gifted me some seeds of Manipur chilies which are very big, red and pungent. This chili is very expensive and sold for Rs 2500 per kilo. The seeds gave me 20-30 plants. You need sunlight for gardening but some plants can be grown in the shade or partial shade too. Green vegetables can be grown anywhere. Palak, methi, coriander can be grown even in balconies with careful watering. Space should not be a constraint to grow. We can google for tips or learn on our own from mistakes. There are lot of insect searching birds in our compound which do the work of eliminating insects. I use ground nut cake and neem cake as the bitterness drives away rodents. I don’t use pesticide, only vermin compost which I prepare with my own with dry leaves, wood ash and kitchen waste. I only buy potatoes, onions etc from the market; everything else is from my garden.
Growing even the simplest, easiest thing like coriander makes us think of the farmers who feed us. I have always loved growing stuff, even in Mumbai. I used to grow ornamental then. But after coming to Goa I began growing food. I have had several gurus, starting from Clea Chandmal, Yogita Mehra, Karan Manral and more recently Peter and Rosie. Then there are the circle of Facebook friends and mentors who are extremely helpful with problem solving and pointers. I have grown corn, sweet potatoes, chilies, chickoos, papayas, okra, pumkins, basil, turmeric, lettuce and some gourds. I am lucky to have 800 sq metre of plot fully devoted to growing food at Saligao.
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I am an avid gardener and I grow everything from cacti to orchids to my all-time favourite bougainvilleas. I just want to be surrounded by greenery so I keep sowing for a greener tomorrow. I won award at the Botanical Society of Goa in the special category two years ago. I sold my produce for the first time at my son’s school. I wanted to empower him as he loves the outdoors, pets and gardening. I make a special potting mixture which is completely organic. My inspiration in my early formative years was my father who is blessed with green fingers. My message is never to stop planting to ensure a greener tomorrow for our future generations.
Vanessa Pinto, a
