They say life comes a full circle. We descend from agricultural roots which we have surrendered for modern conveniences. It’s easier to buy fruits & vegetables from the market than to grow them.
But we also tend to complain about the market produce not being fresh or being riddled with pesticides. One Wishtown resident decided to take matters into her own hands & return to growing her own produce thus making her life come a full circle!
Please meet Jyoti (KT4). I got an opportunity to know more about her farming lifestyle.
Jyoti was always interested in cultivation but living in NCR made it difficult to pursue this because of the apartment – style living. “However, when I acquired a patch of land, I knew I could satisfy my long-desired passion.”
It further got rooted when Jyoti’s six-year-old saw Gol Laal Mirchi being sold on a cart & exclaimed, “Which factory makes these red balls?” She felt it was her responsibility to ensure her child gets a feel of the land.
Jyoti didn’t have any background or experience in agriculture, but she began to learn on the go. “I started growing fruits & vegetables for my own consumption.” Her land is 70% open manicured garden with the rest being reserved for farming.
Jyoti grows seasonal flowers, fruits, vegetables and special plants like ashwagandha, gooseberry, red guava, &stevia. She beams with contentment, “Seeing the saplings grow into trees, seeing the buds blossoming into flowers& the abundance of fruits and vegetables are my most satisfying moments.”
Thanks to growing her own food, Jyoti has made a lifestyle change to eating fresh, seasonal vegetables. “I also share my produce with friends.”
Of course, farming is a lot of work. Along with two helps, Jyoti undertakes tasks in addition to growing the produce like equipment repair,solar power generation, making bird nests&chicken cages, and taking care of the resident dogs and rabbits.
But Jyoti balances the work with having fun. “We get together here as a family & have a good time.”
Monsoon is a difficult time. Water floods the land & spoils the vegetation. “It’s a heartbreak to see the setup I’ve established with my limited means completely damaged.” But Jyoti takes this in her stride.
The fact that Jyoti is contributing to the environment motivates her. “Farming keeps me happy. I want to continue doing the green work & spreading the goodness of seasonal produce!”
