Kerala Engineer Grows 500 Rare Medicinal Plants at Home

Ezekiel Poulose calls himself a "collector of herbs," but his 4-acre farm in Chottanikkara, Kerala, is more like a living museum of natural medicine.

The 40-year-old systems architect has spent the past 15 years gathering over 500 medicinal plants from his travels across India. His collection includes both well-known healers and incredibly rare species, each chosen for its unique healing properties.

Walk through his farm and you'll find chakkarakolli, a plant that reduces sweet cravings, growing alongside anali vegam, used as an antidote for viper bites. There's shimshapa (Indian rosewood), parijatham (night jasmine), and even a betadine plant with natural antiseptic properties.

Ezekiel's journey started simply. During work trips to Bengaluru, he'd collect saplings from fellow hobbyists and plant enthusiasts. His first planting was nutmeg, and seeing it thrive inspired him to expand his collection.

"Dad was into herbs. He had grown the usual herbs. That became an inspiration," Ezekiel tells The Better India. "Family-wise, for three generations, we have been in agriculture."

For years, he commuted from Bengaluru to Ernakulam every weekend just to care for his plants. When the pandemic shifted work home, he finally had daily time with his growing pharmacy.

The Ripple Effect

What started as a hobby has become a conservation mission. Ezekiel focuses especially on preserving rare medicinal plants that might otherwise disappear. He's not just growing plants but safeguarding traditional knowledge and natural remedies for future generations.

His farm serves as proof that individual passion can create meaningful change. Every sapling he nurtures represents traditional wisdom preserved, a natural remedy saved, and ancient healing knowledge passed forward.

Ezekiel believes everyone needs a hobby that calms the mind. For him, farming provides that peace while serving a larger purpose. His three generations of agricultural roots run deep, connecting past wisdom to future healing.

His living collection reminds us that nature's pharmacy is worth protecting, one plant at a time.