In the face of personal tragedy, KS Sheeja from Kerala transformed her life by embracing organic farming, turning her backyard into a flourishing haven of exotic fruits, vegetables, spices, and sustainable practices.
Seeds of Change: A Journey Rooted in Resilience
- Personal Tragedy as Catalyst: In August 2014, Sheeja’s son suffered a severe motorcycle accident, leading the family to relocate to Tamil Nadu for 1.5 years during his treatment.
- Gardening as Therapy: During this challenging period, Sheeja found solace in gardening, discovering a new passion that provided her with hope and purpose.
- Return to Roots: Upon returning to Kerala, Sheeja decided to expand her newfound interest, integrating it with her family’s seasonal farming traditions.
Cultivating Knowledge: Embracing Organic Farming
- Educational Pursuits: With a background in computer education, Sheeja sought formal training in organic farming, attending courses and workshops at a government facility in Kerala.
- Adoption of Advanced Techniques: She incorporated methods like precision farming and drip irrigation to enhance productivity and sustainability.
- Land Utilization: Sheeja revitalized 25 cents of her own land and leased an additional acre for extensive cultivation.
Diverse Harvest: A Bounty of Organic Produce
- Variety of Crops: Her farm boasts over 200 plants, including more than 25 varieties of vegetables and 8 types of fruits such as golden cucumber, watermelon, rambutan, and mangosteen.
- Integration of Beekeeping and Poultry: Sheeja ventured into beekeeping and poultry, using poultry droppings as natural manure and bee boxes to aid pollination, enhancing her garden’s productivity.
- Organic Fertilizer Preparation: She prepares a liquid fertilizer by soaking 25 kg of poultry droppings in a 200-litre drum of water, allowing nutrients to leach into the water over a week. This nutrient-rich solution is then diluted and applied to plants.
Community Impact and Recognition
- Local Clientele: Through word of mouth and WhatsApp groups, Sheeja has built a loyal customer base, including local doctors who appreciate the quality of her organic produce.
- Income Generation: Her farming activities yield an annual income of approximately Rs 50,000, with honey production alone contributing Rs 11,000 from harvesting 20 kg each year.
- Inspirational Outreach: Sheeja shares her journey and farming practices through her YouTube channel, ‘She Garden,’ inspiring others to embrace organic farming.
