DR. SABHAPATHI’S TERRACE GARDEN ATOP THE CITY HOSPITAL
|
| Dr. Sabhapathi, Chief Medical Officer, Krishna Nursing Home, Ernakulam |
|
|
|
Download Database of featured talents. (Excel file) |
Long before horticulture therapy had gained currency, Dr. Sabhapathi, Chief Medical Officer, Krishna Nursing Home, Ernakulam had converted the 11000 sq.ft terrace of his hospital into a vegetable farm where in-patients could spend their evenings fruitfully.
Doctor, who started the terrace farm 22 years ago, cultivates most vegetables and even trees there. While initially he used to lay the earth directly on the concrete surface, he later stated cultivating some items in pots and bags improvised for the purpose. Thus discarded wash basins, flush tanks, infants’ cradle etc from the hospital became ‘pots’ for his purpose.
If half the terrace is for flowering plants, which number over 50, the other half is for vegetables and trees. While garden plants are kept in pots, the trees and vegetables are grown directly on the concrete floor filled with earth. Mangoes, orange, sugar cane, banana etc find a place in this unique farm and no wonder it was chosen as the best roof garden 14 times in the last 18 years during the annual Kochi Flower Show. During the remaining 4 years, doctor did not enter the competition!
While most of the vegetables for his home use come from the roof garden, the cultivation of sugar cane serves a spiritual purpose. Once a year, doctor gifts the cane to the temple for the conduct of ‘Ganapathi homam’. Similarly, the flowers are used for puja, both at his own prayer room and the temple in the neighbourhood.
The soil used at the time of starting the farm is recycled and reused. It is enriched once in 3 years with dry cowdung and green leaves. The leaves and stem from the vegetables left after harvesting are used for this purpose.
Doctor proposes to enlarge the roof garden to include more anthuriums cultivation. For this he has already started collecting discarded glucose bottles!
Doctor in his garden
Courtesy: Nimi George, Karshakashree, March 1998
Contributed by: Administrator
