*SIOLIM'S FESTIVAL OF PLANTS AND FLOWERS* *Nuturing PLANTS and TALENTS* *By Miguel Braganza*
On 13 August, 2010, Mr. Orlando Rodrigues, Managing Director of the Goa State Horticultural Corporation, inaugurated the 19th annual Festival of Plants & Flowers and released the book “*Growing Vegetables Organically*” at a colourful ceremony in the SFX School campus, Siolim. The 3-day Festival of Plants and Flowers is organized by the *Green Heritage Eco-club of St Francis Xavier's Higher Secondary School, Siolim*. The Club is affiliated to the *Botanical Society of Goa [BSG]*. Dr. K.G. Hiremath, who had inaugurated the very first event in 1992 as the Secretary of BSG, visited the event as the current President of BSG and attended the presentation on earthworms and ecology by Dr. Sultan Ismail of the New College, Chennai, currently on a visit to the Central Secretariat of the Organic Farming Association of India [OFAI] to conduct a workshop for the faculty. Today, the 19th annual Festival of Plants & Flowers concludes in this school. “This is an unique event where students of different schools will get to learn about organic way of growing vegetables this year.” he said, adding, “We cannot be sure if the vegetables sold in the market are really organic, but one can grow vegetables organically in the home garden or kitchen garden.” He complimented the school and the parents of the students saying, “Through gardening at home, parents pass on the values of caring for the environment, love of all living creatures and of each other and create a feeling of togetherness. It gives us exercise and yields safe food for the home. With organic cultivation we will live a healthier and longer life.” He assured the assistance of the Horticulture Corporation to groups of persons willing to grow vegetables on a total area of at least 10,000 sq. m. and wanting to market it locally. It will supply supplementary vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes and onions which are required in bulk quantities not locally available. The inaugural programme was ably compered by a student, Miss Merlin Rodrigues "A village school seems an unlikely venue to host an event on such a large scale. It will surely serve as an example for others. Exhibitions like these also make the students aware of various career opportunities in tune with nature--plant nurseries, landscaping, biotechnology, taxonomy, mushroom cultivation, vermiculture, spice cultivation, medicinal plants and other related aspects," said Dr NPS Varde, Director of Science, Technology & Environment (Goa) in 2001. "Such exhibitions leave a lasting impression on students. One exhibition can be better than ten talks in career guidance," Dr. Varde had added.. The St. Francis Xavier’s High School, Siolim, commonly called “SFX” in Siolim was founded by Mr Miguel Antonio de Souza, B.Sc., on May 21, 1937, in Corlim, Mapusa. Later, in December 1953, it was handed over to the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman The institution has been a blessing to the village of Siolim as well as to the neighbouring villages, moulding thousands of youngsters in order to develop them into responsible citizens of this country The students of over 20 schools participated enthusiastically in the very interesting exhibition, in which Goa's top plant nurseries, florists, green shop and bookshop for environmental publications set up their stalls selling plants and other inputs of every kind and things meant for gardening. The students of the school have also put up a stall selling snacks, sweets, savouries and pickles. There were a number of competitions like fruit basket arrangements, vegetable carving, presentation of projects on food adulteration and a quiz on vegetables in Goa for the students of High Schools as well as an essay competition for Higher Secondary School students. The prize winners for the “Fruit Basket competition were from 1. Saraswat Vidylaya, Mapusa; 2. Holy Cross HS, Siolim and 3. Lourdes Convent, Saligao. For “Vegetable carving the winners were 1. Mater Dei HS, Saligao, 2. Holy Cross HS, Siolim and Green Valley HS, Pilerne. For the “Food Adulteration projects” the prizes went to Holy Cross HS, Siolim 2.Saraswat Vidyalaya, Mapusa and 3. Lourdes Convent, Saligao. Thirteen schools including St. Michael’s HS, Anjuna; Mater Dei HS, Saligao; Lourdes Convent HS, Saligao; St. Anthony’s HS , Monte de Guirim; St. Anthony’s HS, Duler-Mapusa; Chubby Cheeks Green Valley HS, Pilerne; Holy Cross HS , Bastora, Holy Cross HS, Siolim, SFX HS, Siolim; St. Anne’s HS, Tivim; St. Britto HS, Mapusa; St. Mary’s Convent HS, Mapusa and St. Xavier’s HS, Moira participated. While the preliminary rounds produced clear winners, the finals had three of the four teams tied at equal scores. In breaking the tie, Chubby Cheeks Green Valley was the first casualty and St. Mary’s followed to leave the host school as a clear winner. Everyone learnt from this quiz that included written question bank and surprise identification of vegetable seeds. The Quiz was conducted by Miguel Braganza with Mrs. Poornima Ghadi as the timekeeper while the Score Keeper was Miss Drushti Commar . Mrs. Christine Fernandes was the Chief Guest while Fr. Santow John, MSFS, Headmaster of the SFX School, Siolim, Presided. During the first two days of the festival, the vast school hall, packed with a wide variety of plants and related items, was visited by a continuous flow of schools students, parents and general public, from all over Bardez and Pernem talukas. Green Heritage's seeds sown almost two decades ago have borne a handsome harvest already, with a number of schools in Goa having picked up the interest to organize similar plant exhibitions. The festival ends today at 4.00 P.M. when the students begin to take back their potted plants and projects and the various stall begin to pack up so that the class rooms are vacated to take back the furniture used for the displays in the hall. The plant loving Siolkars must be hugely grateful to Rev Fr Paul Sagayam MSFS, Principal of SFX Higher Secondary School for hosting the grand event graciously, and for embedding plants and flowers and talent.in Siolim's long list of typical traditions, which include fish, football, the unique Sao Joao Boat Parade and the rustic Wednesday Bazaar. Also see earlier reports at: *http://www.goacom.com/goanow/2001/sep/environment.html* *and* *http://www.mail-archive.com/goan-nri@yahoogroups.co.in/msg07566.html* *SFX** High School & Higher Secondary School, Siolim –Goa, has inspired other schools to do likewise, though sporadically.* *1.Green Breakthrough [twice 1994 & 1996] at St. Thomas Girls High School, Aldona* *2. Britto flora [thrice since 1995] at St. Britto High School, Mapusa.* *3. Plant Show [in August, 2000] at Saraswat’s P. Valawalkar HSS, Mapusa* *4. FESTIVAL OF PLANTS & FLOWERS [2002]at Sacred Hear HS, Parra* *5. Environmental Exhibitions at St. Xavier’s HS, Moira, 2008.* *And in other High Schools, Higher Secondary Schools and Colleges across Goa.* -- -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Miguel Braganza, S-1 Gracinda Apts, Rajvaddo, Mapusa 403507 Goa Ph +91-9822982676;91-832-2255913 www.ofai.org www.pgsorganic.in Horticulture.Facilitation.Networking -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
