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In school, we had learnt about the value of growing vegetables in our own
gardens. At that time, prices of vegetables at the market were
soaring and
many of us tried to grow our own vegetables.
At the side of my house, there used to be a vacant patch of land. I told
my parents about turning it into a vegetable garden. They liked the idea and
gave me their full support. I managed to get my brothers interested in the
project and, together, we cleared the land of weeds and wild grass one
Saturday. After school each day, we dug the soil, watered it and applied cow
manure.
A week later, we planted seedlings of long beans, brinjals, tomatoes,
chillies and lady's fingers in neat rows. We put up a shade of dry coconut
leaves to shelter the young seedlings from the merciless beat of the
afternoon sun. Within a week or so, the seedlings had shot up, sending out
new shoots. I was quite excited.
In six weeks' time, we started harvesting some of the vegetables and put
them in baskets. I felt truly happy and proud when I presented the freshly
picked vegetables to my mother. They seemed to taste more delicious than the
market produce. |
