‘This was the only way to help others’
PERCY Govender has combined his passion for growing plants and produce by dividing his back yard into a beautiful flower garden and a fruitful vegetable patch.
Govender, 78, of Bellair, near Queensburgh, Durban, is among a handful of people who have combined the two, making maximum use of his backyard.
The Hindu priest said as much as he loved garden landscaping, he preferred to do it in a different style from others, for food security reasons.
Farming has been his hobby for as long as he can remember.
When he came to his current home in Bellair 16 years ago, the backyard looked impossible for growing crops because of the ground.
He never thought it could be turned into the beautiful area it is today.
“Gardening is my life. I don’t think I could survive without doing it. But when I got here I had to bring life (plants) into this house,” he said.
“There was a time when I thought I should give up, but I realised that working in the garden kept me in good health and was going to give me bonus years to live in this world.”
Govender officiates at wed- 1 Donate your harvest to others – when they thank you, your garden will multiply the produce. 2 If you cannot grow your own garden, at least lease your backyard to your neighbour. 3 Visit local garden shows and nurseries to develop garden skills. dings and funerals almost every week because he is a priest. He observed while travelling around Durban that there were many underprivileged people. He said he believed in sharing his produce. “My strength is gardening and I have the expertise to do it. This was the only way to help other people, no matter how my new backyard looked.” Govender cultivated the bush and hard ground to suit his farming style. He grows herbs and fruits but mostly brinjals. There is also a poultry house where he keeps ducks and a few chickens. He uses chicken manure in his garden because it is best suited to growing his crops.
“It is very high in nitrogen and also contains a good amount of potassium and phosphorus, with balanced nutrients which were needed for my ground that was unkempt with a burden of trees.”
Govender has designed pathways in between the garden beds and around the house, using herbs such as thyme, rosemary, mint and chillies as dividers, which makes his garden look colourful and fascinating and exude a smell when they are rubbed against.
He spends most of his time trying new planting techniques which could be suitable for growing both flowers and vegetable at the same time.
“I never trained as a landscaper; this is a result of the time I dedicate to growing my garden and it has yielded positive results,” he said.
Govender is also a florist and supplies flowers to other florists in Durban or donates them to weddings he attends. He donates some of his brinjals to religious groups and he supplies the Bangladesh market in Chatsworth.
Govender has been highly praised for growing his own produce. “It gives inner peace and financial allowance. I feel satisfied after giving my harvest to needy people. As an old man, it keep me active.”