Keralites have realized the significance of growing an organic vegetable patch in their homes during the lockdown. Those who do not have enough land or can try farming on their terrace. Mariya Simi, a native of Thrissur, Kerala, has proved that she is a seasoned farmer by growing organic vegetables in discarded PVC pipes.
Simi has always been interested in farming and decided to try growing vegetables in PVC pipes when she moved to her new house. She noticed that lots of unwanted PVC pipes were dumped in the front and the backyards of her new house. It was then that the idea to grow vegetables in those pipes struck her.
Simi began collecting PVC pipes of various sizes. She then drilled holes on them. These pipes were then filled with soil, coco peat, cow dung and some organic manure as well. The terrace of her new house thus became her ‘farmland’. Now, Simi grows organic vegetables in an area of 450 sqft. Around thirty varieties of vegetables could be grown in a pipe that is three feet long. Simi says that such innovative farming methods could be tried in smaller areas too.
From tomatoes and green chillies to spinach and coriander, Simi grows various kinds of vegetables on her terrace. Simi’s sons too help her in the farm. Earlier, Simi had successfully grown vegetables in an old washing machine. Now, Simi and her family grow organic vegetables required for them at their home itself.