Why this Chembur urban gardener started a micro farm

The chirping of birds at dawn trickling of water down a rill or whooshing of wind through the boughs mdash the therapeutic effects of nature sounds have been researched and at length Yet urbanites get to explore them sparingly Chetan Soorenji a corporate employee has managed to orchestrate a symphony of such sounds in his home in Chembur an area referred to as Mumbairsquos gas chamber for its poor air quality It started with a patra blue fibre and metallic sheets that veil city roofs That brings us to the ldquohowrdquo Soorenji takes us through a summer when a sea of possibilities was presented to this familyof naturalistsPassion fruits ready for harvestHe recalls ldquoSummers were becoming unbearable with each passing year We wanted to protect our home from harsh temperatures People use blue and green patras to cover the topmost floor but the heatabsorbing sheets look ugly We wanted a green cover for our rooftop without burdening the structurerdquo He narrowed down on a fastgrowing vine that can survive local weather conditions and wouldnrsquot require gallons of water Soorenji chose passion fruit after studying the plantrsquos needs and characteristics An added plus point was the plantrsquos resilience to pests While the vinersquos growth and primary benefits resulted from intention analysis and care what followed next was a surprise ldquoWe could hear bees buzzing and birds cheeping during the flowering season of passion fruit Itrsquos when we realised we had accidentally built a pollinatorfriendly habitatrdquo he gleefully admitsCurrently the urban gardener grows a variety of plants on his terrace that were picked keeping in mind a combination of host plants and pollen and nectar sources From coconut betel nut ramphal papaya custard apple wax apple cherry karvanda and jamun to sontakka balsam margold and juhi Soorenjirsquos garden has plants to keep pace with the seasons He also grows vegetables and leaves such as okra cowpea and broad beans spinach and turmeric among other varietiesSoorenjirsquos bee boxFour years ago the 40yearold created Forest Garden Microfarms India a green initiative that relies on the traditional intelligence of tribal cultivators by helping them rejuvenate waste pieces of land The platform enables tribals with the skills to create hotspots of biodiversity without dragging them out of their natural habitats ldquoSo without forcing them to migrate we try to generate opportunities for livelihoodsrdquo he says Soorenji also pioneered beekeeping in the city and has a bee box of the Apis cerana species since 2017 This is apart from the native bee species that visit his terraceSoorenji is currently kneedeep in research for a special project ldquoThe Maan River that flows from Nashik into south Gujarat is getting eroded This puts indigenous river communities at risk We are looking into local tree varieties that can be planted on its banks to preserve its courserdquo he concludes Log on to forestgardenmicrofarmsindiaGreen adviceNot everyone is born with a green thumb but that shouldnrsquot prevent us from committing to just one seedling at a time Soorenji suggests ldquoBegin with any plant of your choice study its requirements and tend to it for the next three to four years After that period the plant will take care of itselfrdquoBeginnerrsquos guideMumbaikars can pick from these pollinatorfriendly plants to grow their mini ecosystems Passion flower or krishna kamal Attracts bees butterflies and nectar birds Bakula Attracts nativebee species Five varieties of hibiscus Acts as nectar source forbees and sunbirds Vinca Attracts native bees and butterflies Peace lily Serves as agreat indoor plant purifies the air and also attractsnative bees Balsam Attracts native bees Marigold Repels pests Crepemyrtle Attracts native bees Lily Bears beautiful flowers acts as a host plant for moth caterpillars Ixora Attracts butterflies and sunbirds Lantana Attracts butterflies Curry leaves Acts as a host plant for butterflies Mussaneda Attracts butterflies and sunbirdsTo build an aroma garden people can plant Six varieties of jasmine Raat rani Indian rose Gardenia Sontakka Frangipani Juhi Kamini Rangoon creeper Mogra