How green environment, pure air and organic food are beneficial for human health, you will get an idea of it from Padmakar Farsole of Gujarat. His 61-year-old daughter, Sheela Farsole, says of her father, “Even today he does not need anyone’s support. For years, he has been doing the work of growing fresh fruits and vegetables at home for us.” However, a gardener has also been coming to his house for a few years, so that he can be helped in gardening.
But even at this age, he himself takes all the responsibility of the garden. Whether it is plucking vegetables, preparing compost or taking care of plant harvesting. Sheela herself used to teach botany. She says, “My father has also been behind my studies of botany. I got interested in this subject only after hearing about the trees and plants from him. Although he has more knowledge in this subject than me even today.
There are thousands of plants in this 30 year old garden
Due to this 30-year-old garden, there is an absolutely natural ambiance in their house. Many birds come and sit on the fruit trees like chikoo, sitaphal, setur (mulberry), pomegranate, fig, guava and jamun in the house. The Better India Talking to Padmakar says, “I have always been fond of plants. However, I never got a chance to plant more saplings in a rented house. But in 1985, when I got my own house built, I was able to plant a lot of saplings.”
About half of his plot of 425 square yards is home and half is a garden, in which he has planted thousands of saplings. Apart from large trees, he has also planted many varieties of cactus, flowering plants, grapes and vines of seasonal vegetables etc. They believe that living in such a beautiful and green environment keeps both body and mind healthy.
Received gardening training since childhood
Padmakar, though a farmer’s son, had his entire education at the Gandhi Ashram ‘Sevagram’ in Wardha district. So he never got a chance to work in the fields. He says, “We were made to do many labor-related activities in Sevagram, including gardening. That’s why from my childhood, I had information like preparing soil and planting saplings.
Padmakar, a teacher by profession, decided to devote all his time to horticulture after retirement. He did not even hire a gardener till the age of 75. He himself used to take care of such a large garden. He is very fond of flowers, so he started his gardening with flowering plants. Whenever he saw a new type of plant, he would take information about it and himself would prepare a small plant by bringing seeds etc. from here and there.
Today there are 15 varieties of flowering plants in his house. Apart from this, he has also prepared Bonsai of plants like Peepal, Acacia. He says, “I had tried to plant a mango plant too, but it got infected with insects. That’s why I don’t have a mango plant. Whatever else I plant, I have always been successful in that.”
Prepare 1000 kg compost in a year
In his garden, all vegetables are grown in a completely organic way. For which he also prepares the manure himself. Along with the household waste, he also uses the fallen leaves from the trees of the society to make manure. He told that there are about 100 trees planted in his society. To collect the fallen leaves from the tree, he has made a pit in the society itself, in which he collects all these leaves and makes compost.
Compost is prepared separately from the wet waste from the kitchen of the house. In this way, he prepares 1000 kg of compost in a year. He says, “By preparing compost yourself, one saves Rs 5000 in a year. Because I do not have to take anything from outside, there is cleanliness in the society from above.
Inspired by Gandhian thoughts
Padmakar has lived in Sevagram since childhood. Where, he got a chance to know Gandhiji’s thoughts. Because of which they always like to keep doing something or the other. He says, “We were taught in the ashram to never sit idle. This is the reason why I am always learning new things. Even after retiring, I was associated with many organizations. But for the last 10 years, I am devoting all my time to gardening.” Even at this age, he keeps doing new experiments. Last year he planted a strawberry plant, in which many fruits had grown.
Sitaphal and bananas grow so much in his house that he distributes it among the people. He considers these plants as his true friends. Because they give you fruits, vegetables and fresh air throughout the year without much expectation.
Hope you too must have got inspiration from Padmakar Farsole’s gardening. If you also want to have a healthy and happy life like them, then definitely plant at least one plant in your house.
Happy Gardening!
Editing – Archana Dubey
Also read: Flowers like adenium, bougainvillea, rose, marigold, water lily on the ceiling have won many awards
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