We all thrive on sunshine, we are dependent on water for survival, and we are dependent on vegetation and greenery. No matter however high-tech we have become, we need to live in sync with nature. We need to build a stronger relationship with nature. Greenery is the one thing we cut out on every corner for constructing houses, buildings, bridges etc., yet it is the one thing we spend every day fighting to live with.

For all of us three things are most essential for life: clean air, clean water and healthy food. All of them are directly linked to plant life. Because plants produce oxygen, plant clean and retain water, and plants form the basis of our entire food chain. They do this very silently and continuously. We take them for granted because we often forget that that quiet trees, or that little greenery planted in our window is actually working very hard for us.

Recently I came across a WhatsApp message: a man from Akluj, in Solapur District, Maharashtra State who is a regular traveler from Akluj to Mumbai, never discards fruit seeds; instead of throwing away the fruit seeds (especially custard apples) he washes them, cleans them and throws them on barren lands/valleys/farms etc while travelling. This kindhearted man has mentioned in one of his interviews in a local newspaper: it seems he buys custard apples each time from the fruit sellers on the roadside during his travels. He casually asked them from where they purchase the fruits, and to his surprise the fruit sellers told him that they pluck fruits from trees grown in the valleys and roadside trees. This gentleman was overwhelmed with their response……..his efforts have borne fruits. He says don’t throw seeds away.

Many kind hearted people have been sending messages on social media about germinating fruit seeds instead of throwing them away in waste, my request to all is kindly don’t throw the seeds, wash them and keep it in a plastic pouch in your vehicles, whenever you go out and find barren land while travelling, on a highway throw these seeds. They will simply germinate in the monsoon. In many towns people have adapted this idea and have seen great results. Let’s have abundance in nature this way. Let’s make it a mission. Let’s have good future for our next generation. Don’t throw the seeds away.

I read Dr V Raj Shekar Tummala’s interview in Hindu newspaper – he is a senior scientist and ecologist. He says that the seeds of summer fruits such as mango, jackfruit, jamun germinate when thrown in barren land, only if they are soaked in water and the seed coats must be removed before they are sown. A bit of care needs to be taken, which I think is not a problem. We can do this easily.

Recently, I read the blog of Konstantinos Karoubas, in which he has mentioned that In October, November and December of 2013, he and his team placed about 20,000 almond and apricot seeds in the ground in different locations in North Greece, near Thessaloniki and the South Greece near Sparta. Elevations varied from 200 to 1100 meters. They were places at 8 different locations. The climate in each area is different. Although, the climate of Greece is typically Mediterranean, it depends on the location. The record hot and record cold temperatures are 48°C or 118°F (the hottest in mainland Europe, in Athens) and -29.9°C or -21°F (in the north-west city of Florina, commonly referred to as the coldest area in Greece), respectively.

It costs around 3.5 cents (euros) to buy the seeds and the labor to place them. They placed around 200 to 250 seeds per hour in the ground in flat terrain. In difficult terrain this drops down to 60 to 100 per hour and the cost increases.

When he visited the locations after six months in Northern Greece near Thessaloniki, where he had  planted hundreds of almond and apricot seeds, and a couple cactus pads were placed on the ground – the results were very, very encouraging. More than 90% of the trees survived the long hot summer. In his own words, he found this very amazing, almost a miracle. He mentions that his team’s effort to find ways to economically reforest and improve the soil in Greece have a very positive impact, and they all feel great. Karoubas and his team are monitoring the plantations and are making efforts rigorously to reforest.

Do you know that, the color of the Year 2017 is greenery! It has been announced by the Pantone Color Institute – they are called the authority on colors. The institute helps organizations make the most informed decisions about color for their brands, logos, mascots or designs. Whether it is color trend, forecasting or brand color development. The Pantone Color Institute can guide you through the development of a color strategy that fits your company’s unique needs.

The color of 2017 is full of life, a renewed sense of nature and the bright, cheery mood the world desperately needs, that’s how the color of greenery was chosen. In the year 2017 let greenery come shining into the world with vigor and surprise. While the message they have given balances both societal and political nuances. This happy-go-lucky shade cannot be disliked by anybody. It’s full of life, it’s refreshing, and it’s a breezy color of springtime. If anybody dislikes the color, it is like hating the morning sunshine peeking out from behind the hills.

Have you ever wondered how the world would look like without trees? Try to imagine a barren earth……… it’s so, so scary. Trees are a crucial factor to our existence, they serve an important role in the carbon cycle. Let us all join hands to grow more plants on this planet. Let’s take simple steps, let’s not throw the seeds of fruits, flowers in dustbins, let us store them and throw in barren lands, farms, roadside greenery, gardens and backyards. Seeds are life, I think we have lost connection with the life-giving properties of seeds. We are so immersed in our highly commercial and materialistic culture, that we are losing connect with the nature.

Several recent studies have focused on the positive effects of trees and nature on our mental and physical health. A recent study published in a journal using satellite images on 31,109 residents of the greater Toronto, Canada found that people who live in areas with higher street tree density report better health compared with their peers living in areas with lower street tree density. People living amongst higher trees density feel more contented and more cheerful.  Another study found that living on a street with 10 more trees than average (both on the street and in people’s yards) makes them feel as healthier as much as  seven years younger!!

Adding an extra 10 trees to a block might be a simple way for cities to improve health. Ten more trees in every block in a street can increase tree density in a diffusion area. So if you are planning to make investment in a new house, you should count the number of trees on the block. Why not make a little investment in planting few indoor plants or if you have a balcony or a backyard, plant few trees.

On occasions when you need to give a gift, please give of a flowered plant; by doing so, you are giving pleasure, creativity, and better health to the person. Fresh, appealing flowers come in colours and sizes to instantly enhance every home and patio decor. Additionally, the benefits of gardening and nurturing a living flowered plant can reduce stress, help in doing little physical exercise, and connect to nature that is healing. One need not be a trained gardener to grow a bloomed plant. Choose a hardy and easy-going plant that can grow in almost anywhere. I think this can be a perfect gift.

Trees are known to improve air quality by capturing six common air pollutants and toxic gases: ground-level ozone, particular matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and lead. In fact, a single tree can absorb 10 pounds of air pollutants per year. In a study published in 2014, U.S. Forest Service scientists and collaborators calculated that trees are saving more than 850 human lives a year and preventing 670,000 incidents of acute respiratory symptoms.

Have you heard of a concept ‘’Shinrin-yoku’’? It is a term that means forest bathing. It was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a foundation of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. The idea is simple: it is taking meditative, thoughtful long walks through the woods that reconnect the individual with nature.

Researchers primarily in Japan and South Korea have established a robust body of scientific literature on the health benefits of spending time under the canopy of a living forest. IN recent years their research is helping to establish shinrin-yoku and forest therapy throughout the world.  In the past several decades there have been many scientific studies that are demonstrating the mechanisms behind the healing effects of simply being in wild and natural areas. Many trees in the forest give off organic compounds that support our “NK” (natural killer) cells that are part of our immune system’s way of fighting cancer. The forest bathing reduced blood pressure, it reduces stress, it increases ability to focus, even in children with ADHD and it helps in accelerated recovery from surgery or illness. It boosts increased energy level and improved sleep.

Let us connect with nature by living a beautiful life among the trees.

A study published in Psychological Science found that green pathways, green stretch, spaces, parks and gardens in high-density city areas have the power to enhance the quality of life and the well-being of those who live there. People, who live in greener environment – where trees are grown, are happier than their counterparts who stay in tree-less environments.

The rapid pace of urbanization owing to the rural–urban migration is putting lot of strain on the urban infrastructure in cities. But seeing greener patches in the concrete jungles sooth the eyes and minds both. Privacy goes for a toss in cities; but, well-placed plantings offer privacy and tranquility by keeping the noise and harsh sunlight in the afternoons and glare of vehicle headlights in evenings. Gardening in your small terrace, windows, or flowerbeds in your gallery contribute to healthy, active living both physically and emotionally. Horticulture therapists have discovered that gardening provides a form of emotional expression and release. Seeing your plants growing taller and greener gives immense happiness.

In a study done by the American Institutes for Research, a group of sixth graders attended outdoor school for six weeks, while another group did not. During the outdoor programme, students did hands-on activities like searching for aquatic insects in a stream and identifying tree species and drawing conclusions on the “health” of a forest.  At the end of the programme, the students, teachers and parents were surveyed. The group that did the outdoor education rated better in self-esteem, conflict resolution, relationship with peers, problem solving, motivation to learn and behavior in class. The children who attended outdoor school also had an improved Science score, measured by a pre & post test. This study measured how ‘green’ the children’s homes were, stressful life events (such as being bullied in school, relocating to another home or fighting with one’s parents), and how well they coped with these events. Nearby nature was found to buffer the effects of stressful life events on children’s psychological distress

Doctors have shown that people recover faster in a hospital when given a landscape view, rather than seeing only the walls of adjoining buildings. If you can manage to make gardening your hobby it acts as a as the perfect antidote to the modern world; as it is a perfect way of reclaiming some of the intangible things we have lost in our busy lives.

If you don’t have a terrace, balcony, house plants are the ultimate choice. They are a source of functional decorating, and brightening your and also they purify the air. Palms, Peace Lilies, African Violets, Marginata, Hedera Helix, Boston fern, Bamboo Palm, Hanging Petunia, Rubber plants, Variegated English Ivy are some very commonly available indoor plants. They are easy to manage, can be shifted as per liking, and need little care.

The study surveyed 5,000 households across the UK over a 17-year period, keeping track of the people’s self-reported psychological health as they moved from place to place, the BBC noted. The impact of green things on a person’s psychological health remained positive, backing up what has come to be known as the “green space effect.”

A study done is Philadephia indicates that vegetation abundance is significantly associated with lower rates of assault, robbery and burglary. Greenery has a calming and therapeutic effect on people, resulting in the deterrence of tendencies towards violent acts. The presence of vegetation also acts as a social control in public spaces. This is because places with vegetation, such as parks, tend to attract large groups of people, which discourages potential perpetrators.

Feng shui is the art of stability and solidity. It is a method through which one can bring stability to their lives. Feng shui uses a combination of signs, structure and color to bring all the necessary modification in a person’s life. It is the belief that certain structures and items can actually build harmony among people and would also improve their condition. In Feng Shui green color represents energy, regeneration, renewal, nature and nourishment. Green is one of the best feng shui colors and the most significant. This is one of the best ways through which a person can integrate nature into their lives through the feng shui color scheme. Green is the feng shui color for rejuvenation and renewal. It is amazing for people’s health and it can also promote new beginnings. It is considered to be an inspirational color as well, for it draws power from the nature itself. The Feng Shui practitioners suggest assortment of indoor plants for the positive energy in house. Lucky Bamboo is use on large scale in Feng Shui.

One of the oldest members of the lucky plants fraternity, they are grown in a water medium like a jug of water. Money Plant is believed to bring plenty of money in your house while it is very easy to grow. It adds beauty to the house while balancing the color combination on your walls and furniture. I have experienced this it does bring good fortune! Snake Plant also known as the Mother-in-law plant. It has been scientifically proved that this good luck plant absorbs certain poisonous gases in the air. It exudes water vapors in large quantities to give natural humidity to its surroundings. Thus, in extremely dry climates like Pune, Nagpur, Delhi this is good luck plant to have at home. Besides, ‘luck’ it brings good health to you. Tulsi or Basil is is another plant which has a mythological and religious significance for the Hindus. It is considered the wife of Lord Krishna and therefore bringing purity in the household. Its leaves can be used to purify anything be it food, clothes etc and it otherwise used in offering prayers. It is supposed to purify the home of negative energy.

These days, due to scarcity of place, Hydroponic gardening is becoming famous in cities. This style of gardening uses no soil; rather, plant roots are suspended in specially formulated clay pellets and bathed with liquid nutrients. This keeps roots tightly compacted, which allows you to hang dozens of growing plants in a single window. You can build your own hydroponic garden using recycled materials or purchase kits available in the market.

A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust. – Gertrude Jekyll