Namastey
People generally make excuses for not having time for gardening and plants. They say they have other works to do but do not have time for plants that supported life on Earth.
But Suman Das, an advocate by profession practicing in Gauhati High Court, Assam made the decision to convert her terrace into an Urban Jungle.
She has studied law in National Law Unversity, Delhi. She is actively managing her professional and personal life. She has started growing vegetables from February 2020 and has converted her 400 square feet space on terrace into a garden which she calls “Urban Jungle.”
I recently saw her post on Facebook and felt very good about her interest in gardening. I wanted my readers to read and learn from her marvelous gardening story.
She could have stayed in Delhi but because of her love for nature and home, she decided to stay in Assam. This single decision, later on, made a huge difference.
She is growing sunflowers, Beans, Brinjals, Capsicum, Spinach, Sunflower, Bittergourds, Pumpkins, Capsicum, Mint, Chillis, and other plants. Her neighbors by seeing her efforts and results got inspired and now they are adopting her method of growing plants organically at home.
Advocate Suman Das had a conservation with Agriculture Review that you will love to read and share.
1. How and when you started gardening?
Suman: Gardening is a fancy term that we use to imply anyone willing to indulge in beautifying their homes by planting plants as a pass time or hobby. But for me, planting crops has a whole different meaning.
2. What is the meaning of gardening for you?
Suman: My understanding of the word garden is different from the rest. Most people use the term to define a specific hobby. But for me, it’s more about doing my bit for a sustainable living.
3. What is your favorite plant in your garden?
Suman: This is a particularly hard question. It is similar to asking parents which is their favorite child. My plants are like my children and I love all of them equally! I can’t really tell which one is my favorite.
Suman: My busy schedule doesn’t allow me to indulge in gardening as much as I would want to but my minimal care comes on the weekends. I routinely add organic insecticides and fungicide on them like neem oil, add calcium like eggshells and lime water, vegetable scraps, etc. I also add bonemeal to my plants once they start fruiting.
Suman: Gardening is all about experiments. Most new gardeners make the mistake of not studying their environment before planting anything. When I use the word environment, I wish to elaborate and include the soil you use, the amount of sunlight your area will get, the weather conditions required for your plants and most importantly planting in the wrong season.
6. What’s your message for everyone?
Suman: My message to everyone is that you need to start planting as much as you can. It doesn’t matter what you plant as long as you grow something. The pleasure of being around nature will bring immense joy to you.
7. How gardening has helped you?
Suman: Gardening is my style of meditation. I lose track of time when I am in my garden. I simply watch it grow and feel amazed to see how much life I have given single-handedly. It has given me hope that someday we will all be together in this and build a greener world for ourselves.
