A yield not just for the basket
The Hindu
There are enough signs that the organic vegetable garden raised by residents at IMH is headed for greater growth
Two years ago, during a heritage walk around the Government Institute of Mental Health (IMH) — one that curtsied to natural history as well — the guest of honour passed on a piece of information that shored up an ongoing initiative, imbuing it with greater charm, meaning and purpose.
Prof. O Somasundaram, former IMH superintendent — as directors of the institution were known back in the old days — told Dr. Poorna Chandrika, current director (full additional charge) of IMH, how the vegetable garden consistently left a “sweet aroma” outside the walls of the campus.
“At that walk organised by Nizhal, he shared that the institution would regularly win the best kitchen garden prize that would be organised by the local civic body,” recalls Poorna. “As Somasundaram is 98 years old now, you can imagine how long ago that would have been.” It would have been the Corporation of Madras. The organic vegetable garden has consistently caught the eye of bureaucrats and elected representatives not just for what is produced, but also how it is produced — by residents of IMH with support from garden supervisors.