Gardening keeps great-grandmother flourishing
Although, at her age, she can't do everything in her garden, she still checks on the vegetables and cleans out the weeds.
AT age 91, Panjally Virasamy enjoys spending hours tending to her lush vegetable and flower gardens, and because of this, believes it has resulted in her longevity.
Virasamy, who lives on The Bluff, celebrated her birthday on July 25. She was born in 1932, and lived in Kings Rest with her parents and 10 siblings.
At the age of 18, she married the late Valla Virasamy Naidoo, a policeman, and they moved to Merebank, where she had an acre of land, which prompted her passion for growing her own vegetables and planting flowers.
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“I started planting vegetables such as lettuce, carrots, beetroot, celery, green beans, and a variety of herbs, among other fresh produce. I would use the vegetables to prepare meals for my family and I would sell them at the Warwick Avenue market, for additional income,” she said.
The mother of 10 said even while her family grew, she spent many hours in the garden.
“I had a great support system which allowed me the opportunity to do what I loved,” she said.
Virasamy, who lives with her son, Jay Naidoo, said nowadays, soon after she wakes up, she completes her morning rituals before she heads to the garden.
“While I can’t do a lot of the hard work anymore, I will check on the vegetables and clean out the weeds. Jay helps to dig holes, and I plant the seedlings. I usually spend about two hours in my gardens, then relax with a cup of tea and watch TV.
Virasamy said besides enjoying a variety of vegetable dishes, she also loves seafood.
“Our home in Kings Rest was on stilts, so when the tide came in, it would bring in an abundance of fish. My brothers would catch and clean the fish, and I would prepare a meal, from fried fish to curry and breyani. Now, my family spoils me, when I feel like eating seafood, whether it’s fish, prawns or crayfish, they will prepare it,” she said.
Virasamy, said she believed her active lifestyle over the years has prevented her from developing any chronic ailments.
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Virasamy, a grandmother of 23 and great-grandmother of 26, said apart from spending time in the garden, she enjoys spending time with family.
“Family is very important to me, and I am always showered with love. For my birthday, some of my family from Durban, came to visit, and those who are not in the province called,” she said.
Virasamy, said her advice to others was to start gardening.
“Most of my grandchildren have followed in my footsteps. I always say grow your own vegetables, turn your own soil and you will never go hungry. I also advise people to eat healthier,” she said.
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