CHENNAI: A garden awash with various colours, cooing pigeons, melodious call of koels, squirrels running around and bees buzzing are what make 67-year-old Sandhya Gollamudi proud. When she moved to Hyderabad in 2001, she was surprised by the lack of plants around her residence in Prashanthnagar Colony. The condition was a sharp contrast to her old residence in West Godavari, a district in the fertile coastal belt of the neighbouring Telugu state Andhra Pradesh, where she used to stay in the lap of nature, amidst lakes and vast palm and plantain farms. So, she decided to take up gardening and also promote the same around her.
Ashoka trees stand tall to welcome you at ‘Amma’, Sandhya’s duplex house. On the way to the garden, the sweet and warm fragrance of trees waft in the air. The garden is spread across an area of 100 yards. Stone tiles direct the way towards different sections of plants. Her garden comprises flower, fruits and bonsai plants. The fruit plants are at the far end of the garden. They include jackfruit, mango, sapota and pomegranate. A few others like banana and langsat are grown in pots. She says, “Over the past 10 years, the produce has been self-sufficient. I do not need to buy fruits from the market. These home-grown fruits are nutrient-rich and healthy.
However, I buy vegetables from small-scale vendors.” The flower plants like roses, hibiscus and marigold are scattered all over the garden. Next, the bonsai plants are perfectly lined all along the house in medium-sized earthen pots. These bonsai plants are of five to six different varieties and are 30 years old. A considerable portion is dominated by tulsi plants, aloe vera, turmeric and other herbs. There are cemented miniature ponds where lotus and lilies grow. Surrounding these ponds are groups of ornamental shrubs planted in unused tires and plastic bottles. Thus, ensuring that the 3R’s — reduce, reuse and recycle are followed.
She has set up rainwater harvesting technique. This method has been helpful to water the plants during times of water scarcity. She also constructs makeshift huts for plants during extreme weather conditions. She says, “These huts are made of dried twigs, grass and large palm leaves. The huts protect the plants from the scorching heat or freezing cold. This way, the plants don’t wilt and are healthy.” On a closer look, one can find that Sandhya’s garden is weed-free. “Since the time I started gardening, I have been spraying turmeric and asafoetida, both the powders mixed separately with water. Regular usage of this has reduced weeds and eliminated pests. Occasionally, I also use organic pesticides,” she explains. A compost pit has been dug out. Kitchen waste, dried leaves and twigs, grass clippings, tree cuttings and coffee decoction are put in the compost pit.
After few days, the decomposed organic matter is added as manure.Sandhya works at People for Urban and Rural Education (PURE). “Sometimes, my job keeps me occupied the entire day. However, I find the time to spend with my plants be it at dawn or midnight. I water the plants all by myself and take care of them without any domestic help. On certain days when I have to travel 300-400 km away, I feel that I’m separated from my children. My husband takes care of the garden in my absence.” As a member of pure, she and her team visit various rural schools and teach the children the value of greenery and encourage them to protect and grow plants and trees. She adds, “Whatever you give to mother nature, you gives you the same in return, like the popular saying goes – as you sow so you reap.” Sandhya’s garden is a small example of nature untouched by human greed.