College teacher Moshfeka Begum was diagnosed with breast cancer six years ago. At 59, her vision for a long life was suddenly blurred by this revelation. She was devastated.

Beyond what has happening to her body, Moshfeka was also breaking down mentally, and at times, this was harder to deal with.

When she went to Singapore for treatment, doctors told her to spend time in serene settings, specifically around greenery. They told her to begin gardening, with the hope that tending to leaves and petals help her.

Moshfeka was desperate for a way out of her woes, and she took their words to heart. Immediately after getting back home, she started planning a garden. Living in an urban space, she had no choice but the roof of her four-storey building.

Six years later, she is now the owner of a splendid little rooftop oasis, but more importantly, she is happy as ever.

Fellow green enthusiast Barkat finds a similar kind of zen in his garden, which has over 150 species of plants. PHOTO: TITU DAS

"I spend most of my time with my plants. It's as if they're my children," the 65-year-old said. "It definitely helps (the fight against cancer)."

This whole concept of gardening as a lifestyle, as a meditation, as a cure touched Moshfeka so much that she has become something of a gardening advocate.

"To spread this concept, a couple of us have opened a Facebook group called 'Green Agriculture Barishal'. We are trying to build a platform for green enthusiasts," she told this correspondent.

The group has helped her during the pandemic, she said. "When the going got tough, we kept each others' spirits high talking about plant care."

"With 'Green Agriculture Barishal', we are spreading the idea of a green Barishal to thousands," said Barkat Hasan. A textile engineer by profession, he is one of the founding members of the group.

"People from all quarters are flocking to the group. There are agriculturists, researchers, students, teachers, engineers -- everyone is getting involved with this initiative," he added. His own garden hosts 120 different species of rare fruit and flowers, he told The Daily Star.

This creates a unique mood for knowledge exchange in the group. Members share opinions, articles, donate saplings, raise green awareness, and respond to each other's queries. There is also a budding network, as members are exchanging information on buying and selling gardening-related items. On top of this, many members are also going out of their ways to physically help others set up their gardens.

"I have been associated with rooftop gardening-related activism since 2012," Barkat said.

"We have another platform called 'Sabuj Krishi Barisal' which has over 3,700 members."

Some of them are renowned agricultural researchers, like Prof Abdur Rahim, founder of Bangladesh Agriculture University's Germplasm Center. Government Barisal College's professor Latifa Akhter, herself a rooftop gardener, is also part of the community.

"Our dream is to build a green Barishal," she said. "It will be built with the love of all."

Humayun Kabir, the recently retired deputy director of Rahmatpur's Barisal Horticulture Centre said rooftop gardens are trending up. At the moment, about 3,000 orchards have sprung up across Barishal's skyline, he added.

When one such garden has helped Moshfeka with her fight for life, who knows how many ways the 2,999 help their gardeners.