April 17, 2006

The garden shoots up, helped by a drenching monsoon

FROM THE ARCHIVE, SEPTEMBER 2004

After a couple of false starts, the monsoons have finally come to Bhopal. All of the rain and humidity has brought a big spurt of growth, especially of weeds! However, as most of us know, almost every plant has a valuable use, even weeds.

Ashwagandha, used in numerous ayurvedic remedies

Our primary weed this season, known locally as pattar chatah, is very useful for treating kidney stones. But, while a few people have come to harvest this rampant ground cover for this purpose, we find ourselves weeding it out of the growing beds on a daily basis. Kidney stone sufferers need not worry, there is always plenty, despite our best attempts to keep it in check.

In spring Mr Mukesh Kushwah joined us as gardener. Along with Ms. Ratna Soni he is responsible for carrying out most of the work of the garden. Mukesh has his own small farm on the outskirts of Bhopal and brings a lot of local farming knowledge to Sambhavna.

Around our garden borders the tiny trees we started last year from seed have now grown more than two metres! They are literally getting bigger right before our eyes! It is so exciting to see our small medicinal forest take shape.

Mukesh, Nic and Ratna plant a neem seedling

This season we have expanded our plantings with two new groves along the west wall and near the nullah. Sunil, Ratna, Mukesh and others have planted dozens of trees and shrubs including neem, amla, amaltas, gulmohar, palaash and Sita ashok. The way things are growing around here we wont have to wait long to sit in the shade.

Sunil, Mukesh, Nic and Ratna, this time planting ashwagandha

Speaking of volunteers, Sam Tilley, a medical student from the UK, braved the summer heat and designed and built some stackable drying racks for our freshly harvested herbs, among other projects for the clinic.

Nicolas Cadot, an engineering student from France, endured the rain and mud to plant trees, weed (of course!), and build a couple of trellises.

Nicolas and Mukesh erect a trellis

In our main growing area, we have planted white musali, a general tonic sometimes referred to as the ginseng of India. We also have ashwagandha, sarpgandha, tumeric, tulsi, passion flower, cumin, black cumin, fennel, caraway, dill, climbing asparagus (shatavari), peppermint, lemon balm, catnip, yarrow, clover, and alfalfa.

There is more, I’m sure, but my brain is a bit too damp to recall it all.

In July, Mukesh assisted community health workers Massarat and Aziza in supporting an herb gardening project in the bustees [slums]. Residents of Nawab Colony, a neighbourhood with contaminated soil and water from the abandoned Carbide factory, have decided to grow some of their own medicinal plants in containers at their homes. Sambhavna provided growing advice, clean soil and plant seedlings from our nursery, while community members provided well-rotted manure for fertilizer, the containers and the interest.

Mukesh said, ‘The people from the bustees are very eager, and we all had a great time together talking about plants and learning from each other.’

Meanwhile three products from this year’s harvest are already being dispensed at the clinic.

Methi [fenugreek seeds] is being used for treatment of joint pain and elevated Blood sugar levels, chandrasur for weakness, low back ache and excessive vaginal secretions, and isabgol husk is being used for treatment of constipation which is a common problem among the survivors visiting the clinic. Different mixtures for teas meant to cure colds, coughs and loss of appetite are currently being packaged for distribution.

Nowadays, there is the constant noise of construction as the new clinic buildings rise above us at the top of the hill. As the new facility takes shape we are starting to envision the landscaping for the courtyards, roof terraces and outdoor spaces around the buildings. We will get lots of plants started in our nursery so they will be a nice size for transplanting when the construction is finished. All will be medicinal of course, and if you doubt that we can create a beautiful landscape with entirely medicinal plants let me just say that even the grass is medicinal!

Here’s to your good health!

Much love from Terry

Posted by ulrich at 11:00 PM | Comments (0)