THE GREEN FIESTA

With Christmas and New Year just over, one can sense the festivity in the air. The gift shops
are full and it’s quite obvious why. Festivals are the only time when everybody wants to go out there
and get their loved ones something special and memorable. You don’t want to be giving them a
present they would expect neither something they wouldn’t like. A tough task indeed!
After a while you just run out of ideas, people however have moved away from the traditional idea of
giving presents and have embraced the concept of ‘gifting’. You haven’t really got my point? Well,
have you ever thought of the idea of gifting a living, fresh garden? Seems absurd right, but no this is a new gifting culture that is spreading in the city.

“I wanted to give my nephew something he could have for life and something he could benefit from. I just did not know what that ‘something’ was until I came across Purna Organics, Mr Mallesh the CEO, he gave me the idea of gifting a garden. I totally loved it,” said Veena Karlekar. Veena works in the IT sector, her love for gardens took her to Purna, and when she realised how simple it was
to gift a garden, she was thrilled at the idea.
Purna Organics is the only established company that is a pioneer in the concept of garden gifting in India. “One has to see the sparkle of surprise in the eyes of the receiver when a live garden with saplings, plants and vegetable ready to harvest is gifted”, says Mallesh, CEO of Purna Organics. All the customer has to do is provide the size of the garden they wish to have and also specify what variety of vegetables they prefer. And it would be delivered to them, he added.

You could have a garden that is just two square feet in size, with one variety of vegetable growing, like Lettuce, Cherry, Tomato, Cilantro or any other vegetable of one’s personal predilection. You can also have a complete garden of 12 to 24 square feet. This, Mallesh specifies is a modular garden. He expressed that not everyone would have a large space to grow a garden, but now with modular gardens that wasn’t a problem at all. And nearly everybody would have two square feet or more of an area to give for a garden.

“We provide ready to harvest gardens, and we also take up the responsibility of setting
it up. It is transported with care in firm bottomed boxes, so there is nothing one has
to worry about. In case you want a tomato plant then when we deliver it to you, you
will have a six to eight inches plant,” he added.
 It is not just vegetables but any kind of plants that you like could be given. It ranges
from day-to-day vegetables, exotic vegetables, edible herbs, an Italian herb garden and if
desired flowers and ornamental plants too, or a combination of any of these. It isn’t just a garden; it is
‘your’ garden in every sense. Mallesh pointed that garden gifting was merely an integration of the culture of growing into the art of gifting. This is a new concept that has been well accepted and appreciated. Anybody would love a touch of green in their houses.
This festive season engage with nature and gift your dear ones a garden. You could be assured it is not something they would expect. A surprise they would never forget, and a day you would never forget either. Add a little ‘life’ into somebody’s life. This Christmas, go green and take on the New Year to
embrace a healthier lifestyle
- Sarah Thomas