Environment
How to create a secret garden at Home using the Miyawaki method?
How do you create your secret garden? How do you create a green corner even in a rental?
Growing up, we had a backyard. Our apartment was right in the middle of South Kolkata, and we were blessed to have a little place to roam free. The problem was waterlogging. This made having a proper garden difficult. The backyard was also entirely cement bound. But we had a big Jackfruit tree, which was so tall that I was sure that the Faraway tree must have been a distant cousin.
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The tree and its golden spiky fruits are part of many childhood memories. But I digress. This post is to give you some ideas to create your own secret garden or mini jungle. wherever you live.
Did you know just like humans plants like socializing? They like being close to companion plants. Do you know when planted together they enhance each other’s growth? This is the basis of co-planting. It’s also one aspect of the Miyawaki method. Not planting similar plants together and finding plants that will grow in that region. Green plants give oxygen, even when they don’t give colorful flowers or delicious fruits .they improve your overall wellness in multiple ways.
Read this: Effect of Gardening on wellness
For example, Cucumbers don’t grow well with aromatic plants. Potatoes need to far away from other plants. Cucumbers, cilantro, and tomatoes don’t grow well together.
Cucumbers and lettuce grow well together.Beans and carrots too.
It’s mostly the veggies that can cause a lot of problems when planted together.
So in 2013, when we moved into this rental on the first floor of an apartment, t three little balcony on three sides were a pleasure. But they were empty, and the view everywhere was forlorn. It was a nice neighborhood, but I like looking at the greenery and that as missing on the streets.
Thats, when I read the book, Love the home you have by Melissa Michaels .that was quickly my stepping stone to finding harmony and grace even living in a rental.
So what was my goal? What did I do?
First up
I talked to the local nursery owner. He guided me about the plants that were shade-loving,indoor-outdoor, and those who needed full sunlight.
This helped me choose better.
I bought Bougainvillea, red, magenta, Tacoma yellow and orange, and alamunda yellow and Tagar(Crape Jasmine). Musanada, Mandevilla, rose are also part of the flower banquet. These flowering plants are not sensitive, can grow in hot dry or hot humid conditions. Where I live that happens alternately. They are also perennials. So you can watch them grow and flower year after year.
Tulsi(Holi Basil), Areca palm, Chinese Banyan, Variegated plants, Mother in laws tongue(Sansevieria) are for the green cover. I also have a Chikoo tree which fruits every year, and the monkeys eat the fruits before I can. But it gives me the satisfaction of having a fruit tree on my balcony.
Over the years, I have added Pumpkin creepers, a baby mango, green chilies, and lemons in various stages.
In the Lockdown, the green pumpkin shoots were in my collection for the bowl of green mixed veggies.
That was the plants.
What about potting medium and nutrition?
Then you need cocopeat, potting soil: bone meal, blood meal according to the soil your region has.It would help if you also had trays to protect the floors and the rails in your rental or home.
After that, you need to get going with the hard work and let then grow.
Remember to be easy on yourself, and the plants .you need them to have air circulation, sunlight, water, company, and conversation.
Always group your plants, That way they grow better .Group sun-loving plants close to the sunniest part of the balcony and shade-loving ones next to them.
How the sun falls on your balcony in different parts of the day is essential. But plants according to the sunlight you receive. They may not always be flowering, but they will make your indoor air oxygen-enriched air. The lowered indoor air pollutant levels and their shiny green, happy leaves will improve your wellness quotient.
The Miyawaki method of reforestation talks about growing native plants. Thats true for indoor secrets gardens and mini jungles too. Thats why it’s essential that while starting, you don’t start with the exotic plants, orchids, expensive high maintenance plants.
For me, Areca palms have always been high maintenance.
Bougainvillea and Ticoma are actually full-sized trees. But they are hardy plants and grow wonderfully well. I have them on both my south-facing and east facing balcony. The balconies get sunlight only one face, .so the branches all grow outwards, creating a green canopy. It’s visually calming.
What kind of pots should you start with?
For this, I suggest planting in eco-friendly pottery made of terracotta. You will support local and reduce plastic waste .Especially for growing edibles, I use only terracotta. You can have outer ornamental ceramic, metal planters for the decor element when you bring them into your living spaces.
I also like drinking tea and reading sitting on the balcony. I love spend time staring at the green canopy . It’s very calming.
But before you start on any creepers or crawlers, you will have to check with your landlord.
So how does this help me?
In the Lockdown, I realized one crucial thing. You need green nature to survive. I participated in three blogging challenges and published two books between April 2020 and August 2020. That’s was possible because of my family and my green friends. If you want true wellness, with a healthy lifestyle, you will need nature around to improve the wellness quotient.
We love visiting cafes with garden seating. If you are in Kolkata, you must visit Roasterie in Hindustan Park.
Next Sunday, I will talk about the easy DIY Terrarium I made with my daughter. If you haven’t activated the web notification, please do that. So that you don’t miss it.
By the way, remember I reviewed Pindfresh? I enjoyed the green lettuce fresh while the hydroponic solution lasted.
I have to restock on the hydroponic solution, and during Lockdown, that was a problem. I have thus invested now in another Made in India grow your own garden initiative. I Will share more about that in the months to come once I actually get it.
I even wrote a book about how gardening is in my toolbox for complete wellness. Then a few days back I read this article. It talks about how converting home spaces into a food garden has multiple benefits in COVID times. The health and psychological effect is immense. It also has economic and effects on productivity.
Careful plant selection is crucial.
Whats growing in your garden?Let me know in the comments below.
Environmental Pollution Awareness and Strict action is the need of the hour
Environment and Environmental pollution awareness are my pet projects. But there’s a problem. Each one of us needs to be aware and take part in keeping this earth clean and green.
Why do people cut trees and put plastic bottles in the river, sea and by the road?
Do they even know that it’s going to end up inside their body? The people who create plastic products because it’s still great business are they aware of Karma? What about people who pollute the air , water every day?
About Air pollution
Be it a humble farmer or a zillionaire, pollution is real and you can’t run.
You can have plants where you live indoor and outdoor. You can have an indoor air purifiers, you can have a car air purifier. But do you want to be in this cage? What kind of world will this world be with no plants and air like in Delhi, Kolkata or Bangalore? Living beings need clean air, water and nature connect for health and wellness.
Considering fresh water fit for drinking is scarce, can we stop polluting water?
If urban development and green cover needed together make vertical gardens, roof gardens, balcony gardens, community gardens mandatory.The strict control of the use of water bodies for immersion and religious activities. Prevention of groundwater pollution by industry waste needs to be handled strictly. Polluting vehicles, firecrackers, burning biomass, tobacco, and factories need a heavy hand. Time for polite nudge, goodwill, and understanding is long past. Nature and mother Earth is our mother and when it comes to your mother you better take a stand. It’s about survival and no longer a choice.
About Water pollution
Will the Government take a stand and listen to the green tribunal? Will they protect our water bodies? Can we all help clean up the river banks and prevent illegal construction and sand mining? Illegal construction in Kerala was behind, much of the troubles during the Kerala floods and thats a problem everywhere.
About Noise pollution
If you don’t know yet, I am an ENT and Head-Neck surgeon. Hearing loss suddenly or slowly over years can always be traumatic. But preventable hearing loss needs your commitment and community coming forward.No amount of rules and regulations will help if you are not aware.
When I first moved to a small town in West Bengal almost 6 years back, I thought I would get a greener life. Unfortunately, the small towns and big cities are all competing for their polluted avatars coming first The dusty roads, piles of garbage, plastic everywhere, severe noise pollution and heavy air is a daily affair. In Kolkata, I grew up in a shady bylane next to the green Rabindra Sarovar lake. Our home was nestled away from the main road and I remember my childhood being relatively free of the horn tooting that seems to distress me so much now.
I sometimes wonder about the people who create this cacophony. In normal conditions, only people with significant hearing loss will be able to tolerate the blaring loudspeakers and excessive car noises. The sad part is it’s often too late when they do understand. The sensitive auditory nerve has already suffered a blow.
A story I must tell you about this will make you think. A retired factory worker once came to me complaining of ringing sound in the ear. On clinical testing, he had hearing loss. After doing Pure tone audiometry, I found both his ears had significant sensorineural hearing loss. After talking with him I realized he had suffered from acoustic trauma or noise-induced hearing loss and lack of ear protection while working in a high sound environment.
Several wellness indicators over the year show that people with nature disconnect, have more physical and mental health issues. Environmental health affects you, me, children and those yet unborn. If you are reading this, you are among a handful of those in this world who understands the precipice we are standing near.
Share this. if you are as worried as I am and tell me in the comments below, what we can do to reverse this horror.
Posts in this series
Plastic pollution population:Hard truths
Say no to plastic water bottles
Royale Atmos:How does it reduce Indoor air pollution?
Car air purifier: Why I want it
Sound pollution, Crackers & Hearing loss :5 Facts you Must Know
Bursting loud crackers and the relation with your hearing is not simple or straightforward. From ear drum perforation to permanent hearing loss this is what can happen if you don’t take precautions.
Festivals are loads of fun. But do you know how to have a safe celebration? One of the major worries while bursting crackers other than fire hazards, and air pollution, is the risk of noise-induced hearing loss It can be temporary or permanent. Acoustic trauma is a more serious condition. The good news is, this year the supreme court is serious about air and noise pollution. But this kind of pro-activeness we need throughout the year. Sound pollution is real and can destroy the quality of life forever!
Your local policemen will be the person responsible for preventing bursting illegal noisy crackers at the wrong time. If they don’t prevent it, or fail to do so, they run the risk of being hauled in front of the honorable court for contempt. What I don’t understand is, why won’t sensible Indians think about their own health and wellness? Diwali is a festival of lights. Why make it deafening?
#Truth 1 about Fire Crackers sound & Hearing
The sound which is loud enough to cause damage to your inner ear may cause permanent hearing loss. This is not reversible. therapy.Up to 75 dB sound levels will generally cause temporary hearing loss.
Acoustic trauma: This occurs when there is a one-time sudden exposure to very high sound pressure levels. Usually at around 130 dB. Sound crackers can cause this damage.
Noise-induced hearing loss typically occurs when the ear is exposed to very high noise levels, sufficient time to cause damage.
If temporary, recovery will occur within the first 2 days.
In the audiometry report, it will appear as a steep auditory notch at mainly 4 KHz. The temporary depression may disappear after minutes or hours.
#Truth 2
Symptoms of acute, sudden noise trauma after cracker sound?
- Ringing, buzzing sound or tinnitus.
- Partial hearing loss. Depending on the distance and intensity this may progress.
- Perforation of the tympanic membrane with bleeding from ear.
#Truth 3
Precautions you can take against loud sound exposure:
Don’t use crackers that cause a loud explosion.
If you are in a locality where such activities are usual, try to keep a distance from these crackers.
Use Acoustic blockers. Visit your nearest emergency ENT services and get audiometry done if you have any symptoms.
Don’t buy Chinese crackers. They contain chemicals at nonpermissible levels and can burst at higher sound levels.
Check the sound levels specified in the crackers. Buy only when it is within specified levels.
#Truth 4
Treatment of Ear problem occurring after Sound trauma:
Sudden hearing loss following acoustic trauma: Your doctor may also prescribe steroids and neuroprotective drugs.
Eardrum perforation: Repair or conservative treatment depending on the size of the perforation.
Hearing aid trial and hearing aid. Cochlear implant in some cases.
Unfortunately, Tinnitus treatment is not full proof.
Honking causes hearing loss too and so do excessive alcohol binges!
#Truth5
What does the law say about loud noise?
“Environment Protection Act, 1986 and the Environment Protection
Rule, 1986 and 1999 (amendment) rules”;
The manufacture, sale or use of firecrackers generating noise level exceeding 125 dB(AI) or 145 dB(C) pk at 4 meters distance from the point of bursting shall be prohibited.”
The Explosives Rules 2008 (Rule 14) mandates that every manufacturer shall on the box of each firecracker shall mention details of its chemical content, sound level and that it satisfies requirements laid down by the chief controller”
May the light of Diwali make you blessed. Have a wonderful Diwali.
Read all about Noise cancelling Head phones
References :
Cummings Otolaryngology: Head
& Neck Surgery6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Sa unders; 2015:chap 150.
Disclaimer: This post is for spreading awareness and is not meant to be medical advice. Kindly consult your doctor for all health concerns. Read my full disclaimer here.
Updated 2019
Featured post
How is the Health of the Nation: The report is an eye-opener!
Plastic Pollution ,Population Hard truths #WorldEnvironmentDay
Discussions about plastic, pollution and the population involve some hard truths. The only time someone will listen is on World Environment Day.
I am passionate about nature. Other than my family its Mother nature which brings out the Tigress in me.When I see people litter and pollute I see red. My hubby has the difficult task of restraining me when I want to give random strangers gyaan about waste disposal. For peace of mind, we avoid confrontations. But for how long?
Till we choke on our own plastics?Is this what the beautiful world deserves.
The more populated areas have even more plastic pollution. Urban overcrowding is directly correlated with plastic pollution.This year India is the Global Host for #WorldEnvironmentDay on June 5th. Maybe thats why we are making the right noises, but we need to walk the talk.
Man is a part of nature.When we pollute, destroy and disrespect nature, we are behaving suicidally. How can we survive without oxygen? How can we live without drinking water ? What happens if the air we breathe the water we drink and the food we eat is polluted?
Mankind gets affected by lifestyle diseases. The food loses its healing property.Water cant hydrate and the air chokes. Was the World Thanos describes in Avengers Infinity coming close? Are we reaching the breaking point?
I feel we still have time.The environment is our biggest treasure. It’s precious.
What can we do as a long term goal?
- Avoid buying plastic and using plastic now. That means no plastic cups straws or bottles and anything which has an immediate alternative available.
- Make diapers and sanitary pads with biodegradable and eco-friendly options which are long-term sustainable as a change.
- Recycling, Reusing, Upcycling of plastic waste and others.
- Plant more trees.
- Replantation.
- Save water.
- Vertical forests.
- Community refrigerators to avoid waste.
- Community kitchen gardens for making food and health inclusive with more control over the nutrition aspect.
- Population Control to balance the resources with consumers. Tough times need simple solutions and this one we can all help with.
If it was so dangerous, why did Plastic became popular?
- It was cheap.
- It was sturdy.
- Low maintenance and affordable.
What plastic does to Mother nature
It chokes Mother Nature, inside out, one plastic bag at a time. It also pollutes everything you consume .
Did you know,our plastic waste ends up in our body, through the food grown in the soil polluted with plastic? #Plasticpollution #WorldEnvironmentDay
If you don’t have your own organic farm, growing everything you eat, you have no way of knowing the truth or false of it.
Why is burning plastic bad for the environment?
When plastic containing PVC is burned, harmful quantities of dioxins, are releases. Dioxins are potent toxic agents .harmful for all living organisms even at minute doses. As these substances persist in the environment, their concentration builds up in the food chain. Every member of the human population is globally exposed to this through the food they eat and mothers mils too! If we don’t take strict action this is a large-scale long-term public health risk.
What plastic bags do to the environment?
They poison every living thing and all natural resources. Soil water and when burnt air. It’s a serious man-made problem which can destroy life if not dealt with strictly. Plastic bag you throw away gets into the soil or water and leaches harmful chemicals slowly into the environment. Plastic pollution has the potential to poison animals, which can then adversely affect human food supplies.
- Poisons the crops and fishes
- Gets into your daily diet.
- Affects humans and wildlife and sea life.
- It also causes hormonal changes in humans. Dioxins have an effect on reproduction, development, immune system function, and potential carcinogens.
- The poison you throw away comes back.
[bctt tweet=” It takes one thousand years to fully degrade one plastic bag! #Plasticpollution #WorldEnvironmentDay #Healthwealthbridge” username=”misra_amrita”]
Scary Facts
The Marine Conservancy predicted decomposition rates of plastic products.
- Foam plastic cup takes 50 years.
- A disposable nappy 450 years,
Human population in certain areas also plays a large role in this. By 2050 if we don’t take care, there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans by weight. A 2017 study found that 83% of tap water samples taken around the world contained plastic pollutants.
How can you help prevent Plastic pollution today?
- Carry your own water bottles.
- Don’t buy any more plastic containers, bottles bags,. Stop getting plastic in your homes.
- Carry your own cool foldable shopping bag. Keep the earth clean for our children.
- Let’s make our seas and rivers cleaner No dumping waste in them. Organize community help to clean water bodies and green zones around your homes.
- Plant a tree in your community garden. Start an indoor, balcony garden.
Let’s create wealth from waste. Recycle up-cycle reuse.
Dont’s of recycling
- Don’t use it to store snacks food grains or pet food.
- Don’t plant edible plants in plastic planters. You can use for ornamental plants though. In your kitchen salad garden use burnt brick or earthenware pots. They are the best.
- Drink your roadside tea in an earthen bhar! It’s cool and biodegradable.
- Use plastic bottles as recycled material for craft storage, storing buttons clips rubber bands etc.
- Decorate plastic containers and use as stationary storage
What Government can do(humble suggestions)
Make companies help you make prevention of plastic pollution a special CSR project. You can think of giving them special tax benefits or any other rebate. Involve everyone.
Make cities have a lower tax bracket when they go plastic free.
Encourage schools and colleges to ensure awareness about Plastic pollution.
Invest in research, which helps you find ways of recycling upcycling reusing and destroying plastic.
Make plastic alternatives and promote them.
Avoid cutting down trees.
Use recycled wood. Use wrought iron, other metals, and bamboo furniture.
Think out of the box. Your life depends on it.
Takeaway:
You need to take action, now, today immediately, otherwise there will be no tomorrow.
References:
https://dengarden.com/landscaping/How-to-Build-a-Greenhouse-Made-From-Plastic-Bottles
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_pollution
Lytle, Claire Le Guern. “Plastic Pollution”. Coastal Care. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
Noise Cancelling Headphones #BoseQC35
It’s in December 2018. The temperature has dipped quite a bit. Fans and Airconditioners are switched off. But the noise level outside doesn’t disturb me anymore.(I am writing a letter to my past self in February 2018 to let her know the reason behind my happiness.I am taking part in a contest and this will be fun !)
Dear Amrita,
I want you to look forward to the Bose QC35 II wireless headphones.
They are perfect.No really if you know what superpowers these beauties pack you will agree. No more of those drilling noise disturbing you when you meditate.
You don’t have to spend sleepless hours when the neighbor next door decides to renovate their home. You don’t have to shift to a new home because the teenager next door loves hard rock.
No more will cars honking and tire screeching will disturb you when you write a blog post.I know how much the brain needs silence and solitude to reflect. Excessive sound levels affect the Nervous system and make life miserable. The noise-induced hearing loss is, unfortunately, a reality people are waking up to rather late. Just like air pollution, sound pollution does threaten your health.
Your Bose connect app will help you set your preferred levels of noise cancellation. Since Bose use Active noise cancellation the effect is like magic!
You love the song of the birds chirping and the ocean noise. You love listening to your favorite soothing sound while you walk. The volume optimized EQ gives a balanced audio performance at any volume, plus you will not miss those important calls anymore.
Bose will let you receive a call even in noisy places. You will find the noise rejecting dual microphone system very useful.
The best part when you are working on your articles and want to know something quickly just press and hold action button and talk. The Bose integrates this super cool Google virtual private assistant into these headphones. Life will not be the same again.
You will control music, send an receive text and get all your answers by talking! That’s just what a busy mommy needs.
With the QC 35 headphone, you will be free from wires and tangles. The very things which make you spill coffee.
It will connect easily to your devices with Bluetooth and NFC pairing.
No more will you have to tolerate those loudspeakers blaring at you. You can protect your hearing because Bose uses Active noise cancellation.
Just be careful that you never listen to music at more than 60% of recommended sound levels. Lower the better. Also, take care not to use them at a stretch for more than an hour at a time. Keep them clean and you are set.
You will soon be gifted these beauties. Just wait!