I always wonder at the process of transforming mud into a full fledged tree, herb or a shrub. Experimenting with soil and nature gives me a sense of well being, happiness and joyfulness. Raising saplings from five to ten leaves State to a complete tree involves hard work, care, protection and patience. Though it requires hard work and time, you forget that hard work when you see your hard work pays off really.
It was five years back, I was in a wedding ceremony of one of my relatives. To hide the shoes of the groom by sister-in-law from bride party is a kind of tradition in marriages. Shoes get return on demand of some money. I became a shareholder of that demanded money just by replacing the place of shoes from where they kept(haha). I got 50 rupees in my share. Some went to buy ice creams, some went to buy chocolates, but something in the outside of the marriage hall caught my eyes and I went there. It was a shop with variety of tree saplings all around. I had only fifty rupees and baught a sapling of Aquilaria malaccensis. It is known as Agaru plant, found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
This plant grows slowly. In the five years from planting to raising it upto that height I have learned many things. We want everything to happen in a single day, but looking at the trees from two leaves State to several leaves, branches, stem and overall a full fledged tree, I realized that everything requires its own time to grow and find expression of its own.
I always wonder looking at the diversity of flora and fauna on this earth. I have been staring at the diverse life forms of plants and still it doesn't quench my thirst and I become more introspective as how this diverse form of life can happen in this earth ? I then conclude giving all credit to almighty that is -Nature.
This paddy field attracted me and I couldn't pass without clicking a photo of this greenery. Now it is ending of the October, grains are still to mature. It requires six months of time from planting to harvesting. We have sown little amount of paddy for our consumption with applying organic fertilizer making in our house.
I have also grown some sesame plants near the Paddy field. I use sesame oil for hair, it is good for hair growth. I also use sesame oil for consumption with vegetables grown with organic fertilizers. Combination of sesame seeds, chilli, ginger, little amount of lemon and salt ,grinding in a mixture gives a tasty pickle. Sesame has also various uses in Hindu religious practices.
Being around in my tea garden gives me a refreshing start to my whole day. Listening unknown languages exchanging between birds, looking at the grazing cows, goats, insects, worms, I feel like I am also the part of the ecosystem, not a solo species invading and exploiting the mother nature.
This is the wonderful view of my tea garden. Staring at the clouds, tea buds, different trees, cushiony grass, I feel like meditating and focus on my breathing. Breathing continuously for five to ten minutes adds some extra refreshment to my gadget hence little more energetic sunkissed on your face.
Tea gardening is the main profession of villagers. You may find a tea garden in every house hold. Tea gardening is a good profession if it is done scientifically in the Sense little wisely, not from the view of exploitation of the land.
Tea being a commercial crop, its chance of being exploited is quiet high. Same is the case for our village. Excessive using of chemical fertilizers in an unregulated way to get quick production makes the land unfertile slowly hence reduce in productivity. There is a need of paradigm shifting in the way of cultivation.
If we shift from chemical farming to organic farming, there is a possibility to open many doors that are remain hidden from many years. If we use anything more than Its requirement, it becomes a Poison. So we need to put it into a broad perspective and need collective approaches to tackle the hazardous effects of chemical farming. If we approach collectively, I think we soon be able to construct a beautiful model for our villages. Our villages lack in proper guiding and necessary training to flourish more without harming the soil that is Annapurna. Annapurna is a Sanskrit name which literally means "full of food", but is normally translated as Goddess of the Harvests.
In between the space between two tea plants, I have planted some saplings of trees and protect it from goats wrapping them with plastic bags. It is important to take care of saplings in every one month. Protect it from the goats is the challenging task.
These are saplings planted four months ago treating with small amount of organic manure making by me adding some extra ingredients in cow dung. I like to plant trees and the photos of trees which had planted three years back are included below.
I am also planning to plant more trees in coming days. I also plant trees with my friends in the surroundings of primary schools promoting tree plantation for a better environment in our village. I hope to achieve more in coming days. There is a constant mutual transaction between trees and human being for survival, we can't deny the role it plays to maintain a better ecosystem. If I able to get votes from you all and gather some rewards, I will plant more trees in my surroundings with better protection method.
Visiting all around the garden I found a plant which reminded me some memories of my childhood days. I sat near that plant and strated making a necklace from the apex stem of the plant. We used to make many necklaces from that plant.
This also reminded me the old days spending with my friends, playing various games, stealing fruits from neighbours garden, now all are parts of childhood memories, all friends have migrated to cities for higher education.
In winter days mustard greens is common in diet. I always sow some mustard greens in winter days. This is my favorite dish with rice, taking some sesame pickle along with.
Boiling this greens along with ginger gives a fantastic aroma. I simply boil it, add some ginger with little bit of salt, and it gives a sweet taste. Mustard greens are packed with energy-boosting, heart-healthy, disease-fighting nutrients. These greens are a delicious source of calcium, magnesium, folic acid and vitamin K, important for bone health. Raw mustard greens have a tasty, peppery bite, but you can mellow it by cooking them.
Having my lunch, I decided to go nearer railway station. I just simply go there and enjoy the beautiful view of the sunset.
Before harvesting, immature Paddy covers ninety percent of the total land. This greenery adds some extra charm to this place. Changes in climate somehow change the Water pattern, and some adverse effects had shown in crop, according to a farmer residing there. I asked him what are the other crops he cultivates other than rice. He replied, the land remains barren after the Paddy is harvested. May be due to the proper utilisation, lack of proper technology this fertile land remains barren for six months. I hope this land soon get some blessings and attract investment towards it.
Enjoying sunset, it was time to back home and have a sip of tea, cheers. There is lot to cover from villages all around India. You will definitely love it to be around in villages.
I hope you all like it, more to cover in coming days.
