A Garden of Love: A Woman’s Way to Save the Climate

PAHARI BARUAH

A woman who sees magic in every leaf and branch turns her garden into a living wonderland. In the quiet town of Hojai, Riju Barthakur lives a simple life, but her passion for plants makes her extraordinary.

She isn’t just a gardener; she’s a quiet hero in the fight against climate change. With her hands in the soil and her heart full of green dreams, she shows us how small actions can bloom into something big and beautiful.

Her garden is like a secret world, home to more than 300 different kinds of plants. You won’t find rows of store-bought flowers here. Instead, she has a unique passion; she collects branches and cuttings from neighbours’ yards or spots she visits with her family. She skips the nurseries on purpose, choosing to grow new life from what others might overlook.

Through simple methods like dipping stems in water or soil until roots sprout, she brings these pieces to life. Her collection includes indoor plants like snake plants and ZZ plants that clean the air, along with colorful outdoor beauties such as dracaena, poinsettia, rare crotons, and a rainbow of orchids. Each one tells a story of adventure and care.

But her creativity doesn’t stop at planting. She has a clever way of reusing things most people throw away. Old plastic bottles, fish boxes become sturdy pots, empty cans turn into hanging planters, and even worn-out tires get a second life as garden beds. She once took her son’s outgrown bicycle and transformed it into a stand for her blooming treasures.

Paint drums and water jugs join the mix, all recycled with a touch of imagination. By doing this, she keeps waste out of landfills and reminds everyone that trash can become treasure. “Don’t toss those plastic bottles,” she often says with a smile. “Give them a new purpose in your garden.”

Alongside her flowers, fruits thrive in her space too. Mango trees, jackfruits, pomelo, banana, pomegranate, and myrobalan bushes add bursts of flavour. She keeps everything natural, avoiding chemicals that harm the earth. Her secret?

Homemade fertilizers from everyday scraps. Vegetable peels, fruit skins, eggshells, onion layers, used tea leaves, and even leftover rice water, she saves them all, lets them break down over days, and turns them into rich food for her plants. This gentle approach not only helps her garden grow strong but also protects the soil and water around us, making her a true friend to the planet.

This love for green things didn’t happen overnight. About 15 years ago, around 2010 or 2012, she caught the spark from a close friend who shared a few plants. At first, it was just a handful, but soon her collection grew over the days. Challenges came her way as some people wondered why she spent so much time on “such things,” urging her to focus elsewhere. Yet, her husband, Anup Kumar Barthakur, who is a retired government officer and well-known writer, stood by her side. He built a cozy greenhouse to shield her plants from storms and sun, turning her hobby into a shared joy. With his encouragement, she pushed on, treating each plant like her own child.

Her care is something special. On rainy nights, she stays up watching, making sure no one drowns in the downpour. In the heat of sunny days, she waters them gently and sometimes even sets up fans to keep them cool and happy. It’s this deep bond that makes her garden thrive, and it inspires those around her. Women in her neighborhood now plant their own trees and flowers, thanks to her gentle nudge. She’s shown them how easy it is to make a difference, one seed at a time.

Today, her passion has grown even more. She sells her plants to locals who want a piece of her magic, and she has launched an online shop called “Bagisa” on Instagram. There, people from farther away can order her unique finds and learn her tips. Through it all, she quietly battles climate change, her garden absorbs carbon, reduces waste, and spreads awareness about living in harmony with nature.

In a world rushing forward, she reminds us to slow down, reuse, and grow. Riju Barthakur proves that anyone can be a climate warrior, starting right in their own backyard. Her story isn’t just about plants; it’s about hope, creativity, and the power of one person’s love for the earth to inspire us all.

Mahabahu Climate Forum

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