Kerala Ezekiel Poulose, a systems architect by profession, has been passionately collecting and cultivating herbs for nearly 15 years, calling himself a “collector of herbs.”

Ezekiel Poulose house is a green surprise. His diverse farming methods on the sprawling four acres of land adjacent to his house have created an eco-friendly farm on Kochi outskirts with a bounty of natural resources — fish farming, tubers, nutmeg and whatnot! An electronic architect by profession, farming is a hobby Ezekiel picked up almost a decade ago. Now, the Chottanikkara native is known as the grower of nearly 500 varieties of medicinal plants on 2.5 acres of land.

Ezekiel Poulose proudly calls himself a “collector of herbs,” a passion that took root in his childhood. His father, an employee of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, was the one who first started collecting medicinal plants. Frequent work-related travels allowed him to bring back saplings of various medicinal species, enriching their home with nature remedies.

"Farming was our family livelihood back then. Watching my father deep interest in medicinal plants naturally influenced me," Ezekiel recalls. "I grew up hearing about their healing properties, and those conversations sparked my curiosity."

The first addition to Ezekiel Poulose collection was the Rudraksha tree, commonly found in the Himalayas. Its dried fruit, often worn by sages, is believed to prevent heart ailments. “Sages would place the beaded chain into a kamandalu (a pot for storing drinking water) before any activity. The water would absorb the essence of the fruit, which they later drank,” Ezekiel explains.

As his passion grew, he expanded his collection with rare and almost endangered species like Paarijatham, atthi, chakkarakolli (known for reducing sweet cravings), Lakshmi taru, and the betadin plant, whose gummy fluid can heal deep wounds. His green sanctuary also welcomed exotic additions, including the carnivorous pitcher plant, adding to the diversity of his thriving botanical haven.

Over the years, Ezekiel Poulose connected with fellow plant enthusiasts from Thiruvananthapuram, Kannur, and Shivamogga in Karnataka, deepening his knowledge and sourcing plants directly from their natural habitats. His dedication to preserving medicinal flora led him to collect and cultivate some of the rarest species.

Rare Growth

Ezekiel collection boasts unique medicinal plants like Shimshapa from Sri Lanka, tree turmeric—renowned for treating skin ailments—and anali vegam from Agasthyamalai, used as an antivenom. His mission is not just to grow these plants but to raise awareness about their significance. “If you truly care for plants, you”ll convince people of their importance. That when rare plants become common,” he says.

Ezekiel Poulose: Growing a Green Legacy and Inspiring Future Generations

For Ezekiel, nurturing his vibrant, ever-growing farm is deeply therapeutic and profoundly fulfilling. “Beyond the sheer serenity of being surrounded by lush greenery, it brings me immense joy to watch the trees flourish and thrive,” he shares with heartfelt enthusiasm. With an ambitious goal of cultivating over 1,000 unique species, his passion only continues to blossom.

Ezekiel envisions transforming his verdant paradise into a tranquil, knowledge-rich herbal retreat for students. “I want to introduce them to a world that stretches far beyond textbooks and rigid academics,” he says passionately. His dream also includes crafting valuable, nature-inspired products from his precious plants, ensuring their benefits reach even more people.

Edited by Gayathri