No Filter: Gardening is a way of life for these city women

Surya Dinkar, a former model-turned-entrepreneur is someone who has always walked the talk. This beautiful lass is very passionate about living an organic lifestyle and has been this way for as long as I have known her. Surya tells me, “If we are the ‘cat ladies’ of the green movement, then so be it. We not only feed ourselves but enhance the micro-ecosystem of our dirty urban surroundings by increasing the population of bees, butterflies and insects which feed birds and of course my favourite, squirrels.” Speaking of cute, furry creatures, Surya can be called as the mother of squirrels for she has been rescuing and rehabilitating them. In fact, we have had them backstage at fashion shows taking turns nursing them. Surya has also been refurbishing water bottles and turned them into a DIY vertical garden.

Malini Kalyanam, a social activist/ pottery specialist, feels, “A home without a garden is like a married woman without a husband.” This made me laugh and you can see the same whimsy and sense of humour in her gardening style. Her sustainability philosophy extends to the ‘pots’ she has used for planting. They can be anything from discarded boots to WCs to old jeans. Malini has quite the green thumb and for her, gardening is a way of life and not just a hobby. After Cyclone Vardah, Chennai has lost a lot of its trees; so what little you can contribute in terms of a terrace or balcony garden can help the city. Trust me, with gardening, a little goes a long way. I might be having some fun with the phrase: plant lady is the new cat lady. But gentlemen, this is a unisex hobby!