In their own small way, Usha Joshi and Prabha Nene are doing their bit for environment conservation. The septuagenarian residents of Erandwane area use just an old plastic bucket to turn their wet garbage into compost soil. Nene is a tenant of the place owned by Joshi. Nene said, “For years, I used to dump the wet garbage at the bottom of the plants growing in the bungalow where I stay. The garbage used to automatically decompose and help the plants grow. But then I thought of turning it into compost. So instead of throwing away an old plastic bucket, I decided to use it for storing and treating the wet garbage. And my experiment was hundred per cent successful.”
Nene uses stems of vegetables, fruit seeds and skins to create the compost. Once it’s ready, she used it for the plants. “Additionally, I also store the water in which I wash vegetables, rice or dal before cooking them and use them for the plants. I must tell you that I have seen a change in the way my plants look now. They look fresh forever, and the water doesn’t go waste either,” she said.
Joshi narrated similar experience. “I have planted quite a few flowering plants near my house. But till five or six years ago, they wouldn’t blossom much. Somebody told me that the water used for washing rice and dal should be given to plants to make them blossom. I tried it on a tree and it worked. After that, we started making compost and use it for all the plants. That too worked. I have made a small pit in the compound of my bungalow and I put all the wet garbage in it. It takes two months for it to decompose. I have been using that manure for all the trees including Jasmine, Hibiscus, Parijat, Banana, Mango, Coconut, Passion Fruit, and even some medicinal plants like Basil, Mint, and Pepper. They are all growing faster and bigger due to compost.
