I have found soul in the soil...

Salut!

Look who's back!

I regret that I had not posted all through march (and most of April), but I am also glad because I am back rejuvenated and full of fresh ideas and life! After my exam, I went off to Delhi for a looong vacation, and came back to Bombay full of experiences, love and enthusiasm!
You see, exams are never a good time for me. I never exactly got along well with the academic measures of knowledge our education system has; but all water is under the bridge now!

Another reason why I have not been able to post is because I have been very busy doing most of the things I have always wanted to do! Here I am sharing one of those things that keeps me busy; and it is:
GARDENING!

Oh yes! One of the few advantages of having a private terrace is you can plant life in it! Plus, as time is passing, I am losing faith in the quality of vegetables and fruits that I get. I practically cringe at the thought of what we get to eat these days. Of course, we all can't become farmers right away (wishful thinking), but we sure can plant basic herbs and vegetables around the space that we have.

I have had a couple of plants since a while, but the proud additions to my garden are aloe vera, green chilly, curry leaves, tomato seeds, asparagus and a couple of other plants that grow flowers! Most of these pots are medium sized; something you too can easily place around your windows/balconies/porch.

We've all heard about how refreshing gardening is and blah, blah, blah; but after personally engaging in it I realize it truly is refreshing! I experience a whole range of emotions thanks to this hobby. When a bird pulls out a stem or poops over my plants (my terrace happens to be on the 8th floor),  I get really upset. When the seeds I have planted start growing, oh boy, that feeling of happiness definitely beats the pleasure of cursing a Rickshaw-wallah. By milestones. Really.

"Where you have a plot of land, however small, plant a garden. Staying close to the soil is good for the soul." 

- Spencer Kimball

All I am trying to convey is, take the time out and try to give 5 minutes of your time to a plant and you shall not be disappointed! While I was in Delhi, I picked up a couple of tips from my aunt who has one of the handsomest gardens I have ever seen. Here are a few I'd love to share.

If you are going to start a garden, these are couple of things you should keep in mind.

• Control: The first day I went to pick up pots, mud and plants, I practically went crazy with excitement. I wanted all the vegetables and fruits the nursery had. Luckily, my dad was with me to put a leash on this 'wannabe farmer gone crazy' part of me. But start small; that way you will learn the amount of time and energy you need to give to the plants and also gain a little bit of basic knowledge to move to bigger plants.
• Learn: Make sure you know about the plant you're buying. Are it's leaves inedible? Does it need to be watered everyday? How fast does it grow? How often would you need to move it to a bigger pot? These are a few questions you should ask the gardener or nursery you are buying your plants and seeds from.
  For example, I am an early riser; so no matter what I know I have 5 minutes minimum everyday for gardening. Thus, I could afford to have plants that require to be watered daily.
• Pots: There are 2 kinds of pots available in most nurseries; those made from plastic and earth. Personally I suggest you go for mud pots as they tend to soak the water and moisture and thus, keep the plants hydrated for a bit longer. Heads up for the summer!
• Costing: Oh yes, keep a budget in mind. Everything has a price. I mean, EVERYTHING; even the mud you want to put in the pots. You see, Mumbai being the concrete jungle that it is, requires good quality mud to be sold as a product. So whether you're buying seeds, a ready plant, mud or pots, shine in your best bargaining form! It will save you as much as hundred bucks. 
  For reference, I bought mud for Rs. 35/- per 'tasla'/'ghamela'. (if you don't know what that means yet, I have attached a photo below for reference.)
• Enjoy: Last but not least, enjoy the art of gardening! Like I've said in the title of this post, I have found soul in the soil. I sweat too much if I stay for longer than 15 minutes, but I truly enjoy the slavery! It makes me feel so close to nature and earth. It gives me so much pleasure that I filled the pots with mud, planted the seeds, all by myself. It is not as easy as it sounds, especially when I had to pick up a bag of around 5-8 kilos of mud and transfer it into the pots. Ladies, cut those nails off before  you try any of these. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Here are some pictures I clicked for you to see. Enjoy!

That's a Tasla/Ghamela!
Nursery owners/farmers use this to measure soil.
Like I said, soil costs Rs. 35 per tasla.

Tomato Seeds just shooting up... These have grown a lot since I clicked these pictures (which was 2 weeks ago).

That's a peppermint sprout growing on the right.
I don't know the name of the plant on the left. It grows and gives white flowers too.  Help with its name if you know!

That's a peppermint sprout growing on the right. (Smells great!)
I don't know the name of the plant on the left. It grows and gives white flowers too.  Help with its name if you know! 

Don't know the name!

Don't know the name!

Don't know the name!

That's the first purple flower I have seen on that for the first time in 8 months! I guess it's a summer plant. 

Mirchi!!! 

Green chilly.
The plant grows white flowers, and after they blossom and fall, the chillies grow. 

Curry leaves!

Don't know the name!
But it has a lot more flowers since I clicked this picture!

Don't know the name!
But it has a lot more flowers since I clicked this picture!

Aloe vera

Green chilly plant

Areca palm (I think).
[That's my swing behind. Best place to unwind and play the guitar. It's my haven. ]

Assorted

So, my dear readers, are you going to be a 'POT'terhead like me too? Should be.

Au revoir, 
Miss Bee. 

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P.S.- I had clicked these pictures 2 weeks ago. All the plants have grown since I give all my dedication to their care. My kitchen is now blessed with my own stock of fully-grown chilies. As of today, I have also planted methi and coriander seeds. Can't wait for them to grow!
See how rewarding gardening can be? :D