With support from the Corporation of Chennai, Nizhal has embarked on a new venture: it is raising a garden of herbs at Kotturpuram Tree Park (KTP). The garden, expected to be ready by the end of the year, will be called ‘Amma Herbal Garden’.
Shobha Menon, Managing Trustee, Nizhal, said, “Under the first phase, we will be raising 25 herbs. Students of Kaleidoscope Learning Centre (KLC), a school for special children under V-Excel Education Centre, Mandaveli, will volunteer in tending the garden.”
Janaki Ashok, co-ordinator, Kaleidoscope Learning Centre , said, “The school follows Waldorf curriculum which gives importance to environmental education, providing students hands-on training in gardening and farming.” They are taught to till the soil, water seedlings and nurture the saplings. K. V. Abhirami, a Siddha practitioner and volunteer of Nizhal, said the garden would have herbal plants that are useful in the treatment of common ailments. “The garden will be raised in four phases. In each phase around 25 herbs will be cultivated. Saplings such as hibiscus, tulsi, vallarai, thumbai, nochi, adhatoda, karpuravalli, insulin and brahmi are sourced from Aurovile and Irula Society in Chengalpattu.” Nizhal is a non-governmental organisation which works towards the preservation of trees in urban localities.
Remedy through nature’s way: Saplings are sourced from Aurovile and Irula Society. The garden will be developed in four phases and is expected to be ready by the year end.
