The importance of farming

(curry leaf plant)

Farming is one of the noblest of all work. Till about a few years ago, the society used to look down upon people who were farmers and did not encourage young people to take up farming as a profession. white-collar jobs were the in thing and moving to the city, owning flashy cars, high-cost apartments and leading a busy life, globe-trotting across the world was admired and even inspired much youth to follow the same. - Read as situation in India.

At present, people have realized that globe-trotting leaves a carbon footprint. High rise apartments are not only costly but also limit the human within the concrete walls. No green; only the tiled floors and musty interiors. Flashy cars but more traffic blocks and time that never stops.

Man is suffocated by the city life and its idiosyncrasies.

The situation is changing and young people have learned to dream for themselves. They are no longer willing to follow the rat race for money. The importance is given to a healthy lifestyle and spreading the message of going green. Natural medicine is welcomed and hopefully can alleviate the deadly diseases that are still plaguing the beings of this planet.

Today morning, I was reading about the initiative taken by my classmate's sister along with her friends to help children with issues, on FB. It struck me that the children of today have such issues. During my childhood days, children were left free and not forced to study or be competent and aim for something extraordinary. The pressure on the children to achieve something out of the ordinary has created problems and this is what causes the kids to 'lose it'. The shooting cases that we all hear about certainly has a background. It did not come about in a day.

(saplings for a farmer's meet)

(seeds got in return - file photo from 2017. The group has grown now and regularly conducts meets throughout the state)

What does farming have got to do with this all, you might ask. It is all connected and parenting and teaching as well.

Children should be guided by people who are great motivators. The kids should understand that life is not a race to win. Man has to live in harmony with nature and not try to destroy it and end up losing it all.

This is where farming comes in. Modern-day education gives importance to technology. In my opinion, it should give equal importance to introducing children to farming and herbs. There are thousands of herbs that can heal the body but awareness is only about a fraction of it. The pharmaceutical industry need not choke the attempts to revive the ancient science of Ayurveda and Yoga but can walk hand in hand with it and make it available to the ordinary person. If they invest money in researching herbs and also promote farming of herbs, the life expectancy will increase and along with a healthy body and sound mind.

(coconut is known for its goodness)

What can I do?

• plant herbs
• study about natural medicine
• adopt a healthy lifestyle
• stop eating junk food and do not allow your children to eat it either
• live a simple life
• stop using chemical-based products like perfumes, deodorants and the like - read how to make your own by @riverflows Smell My Armpits!!! [Make Your Own Deodorant] - A Response to the Natural Medicine Challenge
• reuse, recycle and refurbish
• buy organic farm produce
• stop buying factory farm produce
• start to cook your own meals, it is easy

Happy farming and if I have managed to convince at least one person, then I consider it a blessing

All images - ©sayee