When CEO of Park Institutions Anusha heard about Guerilla farming at a TED lecture, she was fascinated. She learnt how urban spaces in several cities in the West were being used to plant herbs and vegetables. Little patches of green in the midst of all that concrete.
Then, she heard about the Miyawaki method of urban foresting.
“Growing trees is not new to our institution. Nearly 30 years ago we planted thousands of saplings at the Tamil Nadu College of Engineering and today the environment there is transformed from barren and dusty to green and lush. The trees are huge, birds abound and the temperature is at least a couple of degrees cooler. And there is less noise pollution,” she said.
Along with help from Young Indians, Forest College and Agriculture University, Park Institutions decided to become part of the Carbon neutral Campus project.
“For this we need a green cover. I heard how the Miyawaki forests grew quickly and in limited space,” she says.
So, on Dr. Abdul Kalam’s birthday the first 500 saplings were planted.
“We will plant the rest in a phased manner. This should reduce the carbon footprint of our campus,” says Anusha.
Seven native species were planted after the terrain was carefully assessed. The saplings, suitable to the rocky terrain of their institution were raised by Forest College. Anusha Ravi hopes at some suitable opportunity, she will be able to introduce Guerilla Farming too.
“It makes so much more sense to grow vegetables, herbs and fruits instead of having just lawns or ornamental plants. It enriches the eco-system.”
At K.S.G. College of Arts and Science, nearly 100 volunteers from the college’s National Service Scheme, launched a greening drive. Working with the advice of botanical experts, such as Viswanathan, a former professor of Botany at Government Arts College, and Paneerselvan, a former forest ranger, they have planted 100 saplings in 25-kg gunny bags (normally used to store rice) filled with quality earthwork manure.
“They will be carefully tended to for two years and then be transplanted into prepared pits,” says Karunamoorthy, a professor at the college.
The saplings are now safely ensconced in their gunny bag and kept close to a water source so that they will be watered and nurtured. Only native species have been planted, and more will be planted in a phased manner, says Karunamoorthy. The greening programme was launched on the birthday of Dr. Abdul Kalam by the correspondent of the college, K.S. Geetha.
