The joy of growing vegetables


Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print
Report and Pictures by Eugene Moodubelle

Moodubelle, 21 February 2010: There are certain things in life which bring joy and happiness in the lives of people without having to spend a lot of money or going long distances. One can look around in one’s own environment, especially in rural areas and observe the nature at work with verities of flora and fauna, changing seasons, flowering of fruit trees and watching the changing phases of the moon and the cluster of stars in the clear sky visible through unpolluted atmosphere. Even growing vegetables can bring joy and happiness for a number of people not only because they get home grown and hygienic vegetables, but watching these vegetables grow right from sprouting of the seeds till they fully give their yield.

Certain circumstances brought me to my native village after retirement and this gave me an opportunity to spend more time doing something or the other which I would not have done during few days of holiday trips earlier. As both my wife and I had to spend most of the time at home, we decided to make best use of it. Though the land around the house is limited and covered with coconut trees, within the available empty space we began to grow certain verities of vegetables under the direction of my mother who gave instruction as to how deep to dig, what kind of manure to be mixed with the soil, how many times  a day the plants should be watered and with how much water, etc.

With the end of the monsoon season we planted seeds of pumpkin, bopla and brinjal. Watching the sprouts grow into small plants and later the pumpkin and bopla plants progressing gradually as creepers with their tender tentacles grabbing the tiny twigs of dry branches and later giving out flowers, saffron coloured in the case of pumpkin and white by bopla has been a treat to the eyes. Every day i would go closer to these plants and notice practically their growth and progress day by day and inch by inch. The creeprs were found to be moving freely in any direction of their choice where they did not encounter any obstacle. It was indeed a great fun watching these creepers climbing the nearby bushes and even trees.

As the space around the coconut trees was insufficient to allow the free run of the pumkin creepers we prompted them to move vertically by props of branches and tying strings in cris-cross manner in a pandal-like arrangement covered with small branches. The creepers did oblige and spread across the make-shift pandal and did yield three pumpkins which were found suspended in air, though one had the support of the coconut tree by the side.

Noticing the bulb like growth beneath the flowers meant that they would grow into a fully developed pumpkins and boplas after few weeks.  Watching these bulbs gradually grow into matured vegetable entities has been a joy of fulfillment that our efforts are being blessed by nature. However, there have been some plants which could not give any yield. There were also creepers which, though showed promise of good yield produced just three or four entities. But still it was a joy to watch these vegetables grow and mature.

Though we had not deliberately sown tomato seeds, two tomato plants just sprang up from the waste that was thrown at the base of the coconut tree. As we nurtured these plants they were generous in giving around two kilograms of tomatoes.

The vegetables that have been grown in the backyard were sufficient to meet our daily needs for a month or so and we also could spare few of them to some of our neighbours who also would oblige us with their own different verities of vegetables that we did not have.

 

Comments on this Article
Vandana, Dombivli Thu, March-4-2010, 9:18
Wow uncle! Want tips from you to have a tiny garden of my own... Regards to all of you... Love, Vandana
Jessie D Cruz, Belman/Kuwait Wed, February-24-2010, 8:02
Inspiring write up Dr Eugene. I am very much interested in gardening and always used to pick up the rare plants including seasonal fruits Vegetables from the nursery for my collection. I must visit this place once in my life time as I haven’t been to Belle yet, nor seen the new built Church.
Celine, Muscat Tue, February-23-2010, 12:09
Hi Bavoji, I also have a dream after my retirement to follow your foot steps - grow all possible vegetables, fruits and flowers. This way we can avoid buying from the shop which contains more of chemicals. God bless and keep up the good work !!! Congrats to Bai also ....your efforts are really paid off.
Nandanan, Kerala/Qatar Mon, February-22-2010, 7:58
That is great! I also grow similar vegetables, but in very small quantity, in my small piece of land back in Kerala. Someday I will also publish a small article on it. Till that time, let me be envious of you. Best regards….. Kudoes!
Asha Dony Correa, Pernal / Dubai Mon, February-22-2010, 6:32
Wow!! Amazing stuff, loved the article and lovely pics. Its a wonderful experience to cultivate a land and grow vegetables, fruits etc. But my observation is that people are no longer wanting to grow vegetables in their garden rather love to fetch them from the market. I think Eugene, u r a true role model for all of us. I hope many more will be enlightened after reading your article. I am completely nostalgic after looking at the pics (specially VAINGEN)....... AWESOME!!!!
Victor Castelino, Moodubelle/Dubai Mon, February-22-2010, 4:45
"Bende, badane, alasande; hirekai, kumbala; modalada beejagallu; mollakege bandavu" was the first song I learnt from (late) Duje Master in my first standard. I think, Dr Eugene also sang this song during his early school days and now he is ejoying it in reality. I too have a few pots in my balcony here in Dubai, one with "valchibhaji", another with curry leaves (bevaso) plant, another with "thimaro" (kareno), another with "Jidde" flowers and another with a lemon (limboo) plant! I would have done more but for my better half who wants place to dry laundry! Earlier, I had rose plants and "bende" plants. It all boils down to: "Huttu guna gatta hattidare....". Of course, Mr Puranik should take at least some credit for it.
Victor DSouza, Moodubelle / Doha Mon, February-22-2010, 4:33
Rightly said Mr. Valerian. Mr. Eugene is truly a role model. As Mr. Eugene and Mrs. Benny DSouza are celebrating their 39th Wedding Anniversary today, Best wishes to them from all the Bellevision.com Readers.
Ronald sabi, Moodubelle Mon, February-22-2010, 3:56
Dr. Eugene, It was pleasent to read the narration of home grown vegetables. You are more than a poet! Great work!!
Valerian Alva, Kattingeri Mon, February-22-2010, 3:33
One should learn the art of Time Management from Dr.Eugene. He is a busy person. He devotes much of his time to Bellevision.com. Also he is having several other social commitments such as church school issues. Still he manages to spare time and able to grow the vegetables at home. Its not an easy job. He is a real role model. One who knows him personally will accept this. Nothing is impossible to our dear Dr.Eugene. Wishing you all the best sir
ALWYN DANTHY, PERNAL/shirva Mon, February-22-2010, 3:22
TO SEE ITS NICE PHOTOS...!! BUT NOW A DAYS ITS DIFFICULT TO GROW THEM HITAL MAYAK JALA.....
Franky D Souza, Bonnajalay mattar Mon, February-22-2010, 1:31
Kethlay bore distath phote dudiyache, vangche, boblache, tomatoche, thanks Dr. Eugene
Philip Mudartha, Mesaieed, Qatar Mon, February-22-2010, 12:47
To celebrate Eugene s bountiful crop, and the eye-catching pictures, I will write about them at my blog www.cplash.com/lostpatrol. I hope you approve.
Joel D sa, Moodubelle, Bahrain Sun, February-21-2010, 8:35
Marvellous pictures seems like real in front of you, thanks to Dr.Eugine for this article, which made me remember my younger school college days in belle . I used to do this vegitable gardening with my father in our fields. we used grow many types of vegitables it was fun to see these grow day by day. inspite of warning from father we used to eat tender cucumbers plucked from the plant, I miss those days, but to day after reading this article all the memories came back and had a good laugh. thanks bellevision for publishing this.
Victor D Souza, Moodubelle / Doha Sun, February-21-2010, 10:31
Dr. Eugene, thank you for sharing your gardening experience. It is a wonderful feeling. I think everyone should have a kitchen garden. Eating our own grown greens is the way to health and happiness. Whenever we take up any creative activity we are bound to be happy and gardening is one of them. Kitchen gardening adds so much spice to ones life. Our elders laid much emphasis on the importance of garden produce for good diet, well before doctors started advising us about vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Francis Noronha, Mumbai Sun, February-21-2010, 10:24
The article is eye opener for all of us . There are many advantages of growing vegetables at our place. We can contribute to the economy, helping the nature to generate more oxygen, physical exercise to body and moreover mental happiness. So let us give a serious thought on this and start working.
Naveen Joel, Kuwait / Belle Sun, February-21-2010, 9:57
Beautiful pictures, nice to see thanks Dr Eugene
Joseph Maris, Kattingery Sun, February-21-2010, 8:29
Dear Eugene Really superb Picture and a great news, your a Star of Belle, Nowdays we feel like a we are in native place, These all credit goes to you and Bellevision Thanks for giving us great feelings
Write your Comments on this Article
Your Name
Native Place / Place of Residence
Your E-mail
Your Comment   You have characters left.
Security Validation
Enter the characters in the image above
    
Disclaimer: Kindly do not post any abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful material or SPAM. BelleVision.com reserves the right to block/ remove without notice any content received from users.
GTI MarigoldGTI Marigold
Anil Studio
Badminton Sports AcademyBadminton Sports Academy

Now open at Al Qusais

Veez Konkani IllustratedVEEZ Konkani

Weekly e-Magazine

New State Bank of India, Customer Service Point
Cool House ConstructionCool House Construction
Uzvaad FortnightlyUzvaad Fortnightly

Call : 91 9482810148

Your ad Here
Power Care
Ryan Intl Mangaluru
Ryan International
pearl printing
https://samuelsequeira.substack.com/publish
Omintec
Kittall.ComKittall.Com

Konkani Literature World

Konkanipoetry.com
Bluechem