MIRACLE FROM CORJUEM: VEGGIES ON A THIN COMPOST-ENRICHED SOIL LAYER ATOP HARD ROCK Results of BSG’s 20th Home Garden and 2nd Organic Vegetable Garden Competition 2013
By Miguel Braganza braganza.mig...@gmail.com Secretary, Botanical Society of Goa The top prize of Rs.10,000/- for the Botanical Society of Goa & Green Essentials organic vegetable garden was bagged by Ms. Piedade Fernandes of Corjuem-Aldona for the second time in a row. The miracle is that this lady grows her vegetables on a thin layer of compost enriched soil on hard lateritic rock surface with water pumped out of a deep well. The second prize was bagged by Mr. Lenin Faleiro of Navelim-Salcet while the third prize was bagged by Ms. Deepa Narayan, who is a former World Bank staffer now living in Assagao. Ms. Miriam Koshy Sukhija has a good organic vegetable garden in La Marvel, Dona Paula, and won a special jury citation. Unfortunately, there was no good terrace vegetable garden in the fray this year. Ms. Kishori Sinari’s pride fell victim to redevelopment of her house site in Chicalim-Vasco this year. She had bagged the top slot and Rs.10,000/- for the terrace vegetable garden awarded at the Konkan Fruit Fest in May, 2012. Dr. Jyoti Mallya’s garden in Curti-Ponda has it all: ornamentals, flowering plants, bonsai, cacti, spices, fruits, vegetables and lotus pond with vermicomposting and composting to boot. It is a house full of medical practitioners and medical students, all of whom love plants and are genuinely proud of their garden. One can view photos of their garden on face book by becoming friends with Rekha or Arun Mallya. It was adjudged the best garden at the BSG’s 20th annual Home Garden Competition. Mr. Nicholas Sequeira of Saligao has a garden that is very impressive and beautiful. The bougainvilleas, petunias and the impatiens are a riot of colour that one sees while entering the gate and climbing the steps up to his house. He recycles his kitchen waste and re-uses the grey water for his garden. He has been the winner of the BSG’s Home Garden Competition thrice in a row and thus has the privilege of winning the Maia de Figueiredo trophy for keeps. He has also conducted a well-attended workshop in home gardening and composting for members of the BSG at his garden last February. His garden was adjudged the second best this year since the Mallyas had a wider range of plants and on multiple levels. Dr. Annie Fernandes from Raint-Moira may be teaching Sociology at St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa, but she is an avid gardener. There is a wide range of well-cared plants in her garden that includes some large mango trees in front of a traditional, old Goan house with a balcao. It was adjudged third. Mr. U.K. Ravindran of Devashri Enclave, Sangolda-Porvorim, has a wonderful terrace garden with a slogan on the wall that says it all: “Gardening adds years to your life and life to your years.” That is music to the ears of any plant lover! It was the best terrace garden in the competition this year. The next best terrace garden is a part of the Mallyas top prize winning holistic garden. Ms. Hema Unni of Issorcim-Chicolna, Dr. Savita Kerkar of Grande Morod-Saligao, Moses Fernandes of Khursavaddo-Carona and Mr. Fernando Noronha of Neura Pequeno have gardens with a potential for excellence. Mr. Xavier Vaz of Ambirna-Socorro, a past winner of the top spot, came back from hospital after a stroke to show us his beautiful garden. The jury decided to acknowledge their enthusiasm and work with a special citation. Mr. Cedric D’Souza of Feira Alta-Mapusa has the best collection of anthuriums on the ground in Goa. His plants have been displayed at the 21st Festival of Plants & Flowers at SFX High School, Siolim, in 2012. Ms. Judith Fernandes has a wonderful collection of anthuriums in her balcony at Caranzalem-Panaji that has also featured in the local newspapers in the recent past.The jury decided to acknowledge their work and accomplishments with a special citation. The BSG’s annual all-Goa Home Garden Competition has seen many ups and downs in the level of participation, but it has remained an annual event without a break since 1996. The Maia de Figueiredo Rolling Trophy has become the proud possession of Nicholas Sequeira, who won it thrice in a row to stop it in its tracks. The Arcanja de Braganca Rolling Trophy will now be awarded on the same terms. In 2011, the BSG added the Vegetable Garden Competition sponsored by Green Essentials, an enterprise of two of its members, Yogita Mehra and Karan Manral. The judging was done by a jury consisting of Dr. K.G. Hiremath, Ms. Yogita Mehra, Ms. Gauri Naik, Mr. Sagar Rawool and Miguel Braganza between 13 January and 30 January, 2013. The awards will be presented at a special function with power point presentations on the gardens and gardening at 10.30 A.M. on Sunday 03 February, 2013, on the first floor at Dhempe College of Arts & Science, Miramar-Panaji. There will also be the release of the book on Agriculture in Goa, edited by Dr. H.Y. Karapurkar, incumbent President of BSG and former Director of Agriculture, Project Director of RDA, Chairman of GPSC, Founder Chairman & Managing Director of Goa State Horticulture Corporation Ltd, first Chairman of Goa State Biodiversity Board and head of the Karapurkar Committee to identify private forests. Dr. K.G. Hiremath, Dr. Claude Alvares, Ms. Yogita Mehra and Miguel Braganza have contributed content to the book. The award function will be preceded by a walk through a garden of lettuce and other vegetables near Taleigao Church from 9 to 10 A.M. led by Yogita and Karan. Please turn near Syndicate Bank on old Miramar-Dona Paula Road or come down via Goa University to Taleigao road as the other roads are excavated for laying the sewerage lines. The membership of the Botanical Society is open to all plant lovers living in Goa, irrespective of educational qualifications or profession. The life membership fee is only Rs. 1,000/- till 31 March, 2013. The amount is payable by cheque drawn in favour of “Botanical Society of Goa” payable on par at Panaji-Goa. The Managing Committee has approved the raising of the membership fees, subject to the approval of the General Body at its next meeting. The annual Konkan Fruit Fest [started in 2003] will be held from 10 to 12 May, 2013. Ms. Lorna Fernandes has been designated as its Organizing Secretary for 2013. Visit www.konkanfruitfest.com ,www.goa-world.com or just google the name for details, photos and youtube visuals of the event. Botanical Society of Goa Panaji-Goa http://www.konkanfruitfest.com bsg-...@yahoogroups.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bsg-goa Mobile: 9822982676, 9960643245, 9423835182