Green zone with your own hands

In order to plant flowers in your house’s yard, set up benches, or clean up near a lake or river, you shouldn’t wait for someone’s example. Some people act exactly this way.

Natalia Trokhymovych from Kirovohrad oblast together with a team of volunteers did everything possible to protect the Velyka i Mala Skala preserve zone that has a lake and also plants entered in the Red Book of endangered species. Owing to Natalia’s efforts, lifting gates were installed here to prevent vehicles from entering the reserve, the territory is constantly cleaned, and it has become a favorite site for tourists. Many years of continued effort on the part of Olena Khrystych from Ulianivka (Kirovohrad oblast) were not in vain, either. The woman has led an ecological circle for over 20 years during which time she created in the town park a few ecological paths where, together with students, she plants rare species of plants. But Olena’s greatest merit is obtaining the status of a landscape reserve for Skalky, a territory on the bank of the Balanukha River with a big number of rare plants.

Svitlana Khvatova from Kryvy Rih planted a public garden of 500 trees in the yard of her apartment block, which has been acknowledged the most beautiful green corner of the city.

The names of these women are mentioned here for a purpose. They became winners of the International contest for environmental projects “Earth of Women” held by the Yves Rosher Foundation in Ukraine. For eight years now the foundation has been distinguishing women who are full of initiative and make their own contributions to improving the environment in 15 European countries. Ukraine participated in this contest for the first time. The Day spoke to one of the winners – Svitlana KHVATOVA.

Svitlana, why did you undertake the job of creating a public garden, which does not seem to be exactly cut out for women?

“Everything started with my family’s moving to a new urban district which looked like a wasteland. The building stood here as if amid a dead zone. When only ragweed grows around, there is not a single flower or tree, one wants something positive. Therefore, initially I got rid of the ragweed and then, together with my husband, planted the first 40 trees. Every year we planted about 100 young trees, and now it’s a garden of 500 trees. It already has an official status and is recognized as a leisure site by inhabitants of my district.”

You did all this by yourself, without any help?

“The trees and the garden are all my job, and then municipal workers joined in to help me. In November last year I managed to create five big flowerbeds; private entrepreneurs provided stones for them. My husband and I put them around the flowerbeds, and in spring we’ll plant flowers there. For three years just two of us, my husband and I, did everything, and now when the whole city knows about our public garden (by the way, this year it was recognized by local government as the most beautiful place in Kryvy Rih), there are people who want to help. There are volunteers already who want to make a fountain in this garden. In my yard there are about 50 wooden statuettes. These are all fallen trees, and I give second life to them, cutting fairy-tale characters out of them. This summer I managed to make a small fountain in the garden.”

A lot of efforts must have been spent on all these projects. Did you by any chance calculate how much costs you already invested in the project?

“In our district there are old forest plantations, three to four kilometers away from the apartment block. At the distance of one-two meters away from big trees, young sprouts grow that they are be cut down. So we dig them out for the garden. We bought some stuff as well, for example, young plants of birch, mountain ash, but not more than 10-15 trees per season. And the rest, like paint and benches – we find it in the yard. When people renovate their apartments, they throw away many things, we gather all this and use for our needs. In other words, no money was needed. Though we spend money for gas and flower seeds, which I gather throughout summer around the city.”

Where do you find time for everything — your family and job? Or you have helpers?

“I have supporters who help me with a good word. There is a girl who helps me plant flowers and take care of them. But the good words alone are a huge source of energy. Sometimes you feel exhausted, and here someone comes up and thanks you for the beauty, and you get the second wind.”

What was the reaction of neighbors and friends to your ecological initiative?

“Of course, people are very thankful. When I come out to work in the garden, I hear as many good words as perhaps someone hears in their entire lifetime. And I feel it immediately whether a word is said formally or frankly. And then I feel like returning their kindness by work. You realize that you bear a big responsibility, and if you started doing it, you can’t stop it. And there is an endless amount of work in the garden: some trees should be changed, while others didn’t strike root, and we should find a replacement for them, and do it in a way that wouldn’t ruin the whole picture.”