Ezekiel Poulose is not an ordinary engineer. He is also a passionate collector and protector of rare medicinal plants. For the past 14 years, he has been growing hundreds of varieties of herbs on his 4-acre land near his home in Chottanikkara, Kerala. He has also adopted integrated farming methods that involve livestock, poultry and fish farming. His inspirational story shows how one can pursue a hobby that benefits both humans and nature.
How it all started
Ezekiel comes from a farming family where his ancestors were full-time cultivators. His father was a mechanical engineer who loved farming and started collecting medicinal plants. Ezekiel inherited his father's interest and began his own collection in 2007-2008, when he got his first job as a systems architect.
He travelled around the country as part of his work and collected and bought saplings of various medicinal plants from fellow hobbyists and communities. He also got help from his friends in Karnataka and northern states who sent him rare plants. He started off by planting nutmeg and was inspired by its yield to plant more varieties.
What varieties of plants he grows
Ezekiel's medicinal herbs garden has over 500 varieties of plants, some of which are well-known and some of which are very rare. Some of the plants he grows are:
- Rudraksha: A sacred seed that is used for making rosaries and has various health benefits such as lowering blood pressure, improving memory and reducing stress.
- Parijatha: A fragrant flower that is used for treating arthritis, cough, fever and skin diseases.
- Cluster fig: A fruit that is used for treating diabetes, asthma, piles and ulcers.
- Gurmar: A plant that is also known as sugar destroyer as it can reduce sweet cravings and lower blood sugar levels.
- Lakshmi taru: A tree that is also known as paradise tree as it can purify air, water and soil and has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
- Betadine plant: A plant that can heal wounds and prevent infections.
- Shimshapa: A tree that is also known as Indian rosewood or tree turmeric and is effective for skin problems.
- Anali vegam: A plant that is also known as poison devil tree or snake wood and is used as an antidote for viper bites.
How Ezekiel Poulose does it
Ezekiel practices integrated farming, which is the maintenance of livestock, poultry and fish in the same place. He keeps ducks, black fowls and fishes in a 1,45,000 litre tank. The excreta of one becomes the food for the other. For example, the sludge from the fish tank is used as the food for the ducks and black fowls. This way, he reduces waste and increases productivity.
He also uses rainwater harvesting and solar panels to meet his water and electricity needs. He visits his home every weekend to look after his plants while working in Bengaluru. He says farming is his hobby that calms his mind.
Why Ezekiel Poulose does it
Ezekiel says he collects and protects rare medicinal plants because he believes they have incredible properties that can benefit humans. He says he wants to create awareness about the importance of these plants and encourage others to grow them too. He also wants to conserve them for future generations.
He sells or gives away some of his plants or medicines to people who visit his garden depending on the availability. He says he dreams of creating more than 1000 medicinal plants in his garden. He calls himself a "collector of herbs" who loves nature.
Ezekiel Poulose is an engineer who has turned his home into a hub of over 500 rare medicinal plants. He has devoted 14 years to finding and growing these plants and practicing integrated farming. His story is an example of how one can pursue a hobby that is beneficial for both humans and nature.
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