N Harikeshan Nair and his family have been leading a sustainable life in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram city in Kerala, growing their own vegetables, using bio-gas for cooking, scientifically disposing of bio-degradable waste, and utilising solar energy. Their decision to embrace sustainable living has not only benefited their health but also helped them to save Rs 5000 per month.
Harikeshan Nair, 65, who retired from the banking sector in 2019, took up sustainable living 20 years ago when he noticed how humans were causing immense stress on the environment and decided to do his small bit to make a positive impact on nature.
His first decision was to make use of the over 1800 sqft terrace of his house at Kalippankulam, Manacaud to grow organic vegetables for his family. Despite his busy schedule as a senior bank officer, Harikeshan Nair established a small vegetable garden on his terrace. Later, he installed a bio-gas plant which uses all bio-degraded compost from kitchen waste to generate cooking gas. He also installed a solar pump for watering the plants and crops.
“When my small efforts yielded positive results, I got motivated to expand my vegetable garden. After my retirement in 2019, I started spending more time in my garden. Today I grow over 80 varieties of vegetables that include a few fruits at my home. We only eat what we grow in our vegetable garden,” he told “Open Digest.” Harikeshan Nair is supported by his wife Sreekala S, 60, who is retired from Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB).
Their rooftop farm now grows all types of vegetables like cucumber, brinjal, tomato, cabbage, snake gourd, bitter gourd and carrot.
Both Harikeshan Nair and his wife Sreekala spend nearly six hours a day attending to the crops and plants in their garden. “We feel motivated and extremely happy taking care of the crops. We only use organic pesticides and manure for the crops. As we process our kitchen waste to make bio-gas, we get bio-slurry which is an important manure for our crops,” he said.
Harikeshan Nair also collects dry leaves from nearby houses to make manure for the crops. “The compost made from dry leaves is mixed with neem cake and cow dung to make a strong base for planting the crops,” he said.
