There is a certain magic associated with gardening, touching the soil, dirtying the hands and establishing a deep connection to nature.
Many have turned this activity into a hobby while others have used it to set up flourishing micro and small entreprises.
Truth be told, plants and flowers have a natural therapeutic effect on people apart from enhance the aesthetical beauty of streets, homes, communities and the natural environment.
Established more than 60 years ago by European ladies during Fiji’s colonial days, the Suva Orchid and Horticulture Circle has grown to become a space for women and men who have a shared passion for plants, flowers and gardening.
The original purpose of the circle was to help in the designing and beautification of the city of Suva as it was them.
Today, there are about 70 members. At one stage some years ago, there were over 200 members said the circle’s president, Akosita Raicebe. Raicebe joined the circle after she bought a property in Namadi Heights and developed an interest in gardening.
She said one of the aims of the Suva Orchid and Horticulture Circle was sharing the knowledge of floral art and building a community where members could come together as one, sharing vital tips and information on industry trends.
“We meet on the first Monday of each month and we teach, share and discuss matters pertaining to the circle,” Akosita shared.
“During each meeting we invite someone to talk on various topics relative to the group, such as how to look after plants, how to plant, how to tend to sick plants, marketing, transplanting, and other related stuff. The circle is a melting pot of different women and interests. Some are growers, some are just florists, some are both and some are working and do it as a part-time business.”
The circle used to have its big annual flower show at the Suva Civic Centre prior to the building’s renovation but now members hold mini flower shows at the Wesley City Mission Church hall at Butt Street.
“We are trying to revive it (flower show) again and have it as an annual event but the challenge that we face is the venue.,” Akosita said.
She added gardening was one of the best therapeutic activities in life that could be done at home alone or with loved ones.
“Even when I was working, I always wanted to spend a few hours outside in my nursery before retiring for the day.”
The Orchid and Horticulture Circle had a tent at the National Agriculture Show last week where its members displayed various flowering, vegetable and fruit plants for sale. Circle member Shanti Prasad has been part of the group for the past 12 years and her plants are like her babies which she carefully tends to daily.
She considers herself an allrounder as she does both gardening and sewing and has also spent 10 years of her life as a pre-school teacher before retiring to focus fully on her plants.
From citrus plants, flowering plants, herbs and vegetables, Shanti’s Garden is home to a variety of colorful plants.
At the show, all her citrus plants sold out, adding that this was a highly sought after plant because of its various uses. She also had a range of herbs, from rosemary, lemon grass and basil to Thai basil, mint, and oregano — perfect for those homecooked spicy meals.
“I’ve also ventured into landscaping and I always like to have people who are well organised on my team.
“My sister has given a portion of her farm to use and that’s where I have my landscaping nursery, in Nausori.”
While she tends to her garden during the day, at nights and at spare times she finds during the day, she does her sewing orders for her customers.
Registered in 2014 as Kevin’s Fantasy Garden, Shanti has moulded it as a well-organised business with a growing clientele. Since then she has never looked back.
“After my children were born, it became a hobby to plant, but I didn’t go into large scale planting until I joined the Suva Orchid and Horticulture.”
Shanti grew up around nature, spending most of her days out in the garden of her childhood home in Dawasamu, Tailevu before moving to Nausori after her father’s passing.
“I used to cut tyres, use milk tins and plant whatever I could as a young girl.” She attended Queen Victoria School from form three to form six stating that Matavatucou was where she learnt how to sew.
“Those were good fun times, there were only two other girls with me, and we all really enjoyed it. I started there (QVS) in 1983.
“I didn’t further my studies because I got married at the age of 19 and by 26, I had all of my three children. It was hard for me to raise them up as they were two years apart.”
Despite the challenges she faced in the domestic front, in her mind she slowly braced herself to do something on her own one day, one where she was not referred to as someone’s wife or mother, but a businesswoman.
“I feel at peace when I’m with my plants, and I forget about everything. All the stress and tension just go away.
“I can’t stay without them, even when I go abroad to visit my daughter, I ask her if I could go outside and do something in her garden because I just can’t sit idle.
“When you come around to my house you won’t find any empty space.”
She plants in empty containers and even on the roof of her house. When there is a cyclone warning her heart beats because she has to find refuge for her plants and bring down those on the roof and other high places.
Shanti loves shopping for her plant collection and can easily spend around $100 to $200 on a plant.
“But when you tell me to go and buy food, that’s when it becomes too expensive for me. I don’t buy expensive clothes so I try to sew my own.”
Shanti enjoys calm and serene environments and says that when she gets tired.”
She loves spending time by the sea, watching the waves crash because it gives her inspiration to never give up in life.
“My willpower is very strong. Whatever I dream and try to achieve, I usually achieve in the end.”
