TIPS - How to prepare local produce? How to live cheaply in Mauritius?

Good initiative. I will think of a few things and post them.

One good tips would be to grow a few things in your garden (if you have one) or in pots for herbs (thyme, rosemary etc..) which can also help to keep the mozzies at bay!

How does one plant thyme? Don't laugh because it's a serious question. I would also like to know how to plant cotomili (coriander).

How to plant thyme:

Buy a fresh bunch from the market, clip about 2mm of the stem (bottom part) and put in it a cup of water for a day. At the same time, in a flower pot, yoghurt pot or anything similar, put some gravels at the bottom(large then smaller ones), some earth mixed with compost on top and the next day, just stick your thyme sprig in the pot and water. Be careful not to leave the plant in a scorching sun for a few days; rather where is mild sunshine and heat and water twice a day.

As for coriander, you find the seeds at any shop/supermarket etc. Prepare your pot one day prior to planting, then put a few seeds in it and cover with earth (not more than 1.5cm), then water 3 times a day till they sprout. Then twice after that. Repeat same process when it comes to sunshine.

Happy planting

I too have some points to share with you all, from my experience of my Farm Houses:
U can Also grow Chillies and other vegetables like, tomato Bottle Gourd (lauki), Ridge Gourd (tori) And Green Gourd (tinda) also
Prepare a small piece of soil for same at your kitchen garden. Choose 'red dried chillies' and that are in Big size (crop from them is always better).
Crush the skin / tip of the Chilly and the seed will come out, spread these seed and cover them with a thin laye of soil and spray water for 2-3 times daily for 4-5 days.
Pick up the healthy plants after 1 week and plant it in a different prepared place for chily crop, dont forget to spray water for 1-2 times daily every day.
Point of attention: lauki (bottle gourd), tori (ridged gourd/zucchini), tinda (green gourd) and kaddu (pumpkin) would need large space as there are creepers and shall spread over ground or over the neighbouring tree.


Further to add - Some Points for healthy living :
Fruits like papaya, pears, apples and cooked vegetables like lauki (bottle gourd), tori (ridged gourd/zucchini), tinda (green gourd) and kaddu (pumpkin) are always recommended for arthritis and as a diet for healthy Living.

Spices and herbs like cumin (zeera), ginger (adrak)[also good for upkeep of good blood circulation, 'to be consumed in very small quantity-quite hot in nature'], asfoetida (hing)[good for releasing alimenatry gastric problems], garlic (lehsun), fennel (saunf)[good for the digestion system] and turmeric (haldi)[considered as best antiseptic and upkeep of immune system] are also beneficial in arthritis and can be used in daily food preparation as a part of healthy diets.
(Choose these spices depending on the choice of your smell- some may not like the aroma of garlic / asfoetida).

'Attention- These are not Medical prescription, just good advise based on the Literature and self experience'

Enjoy growing vegetables and a Healthy living.   

Hi there

Would anyone also indicate the planting and growing of basil?

Thanks a stack!

Nice postings everyone. Yes I'm curious about the basil too. Cecilia (my partner) loves making pesto quite frequently. You get great basil in Winners but sometimes the price shoots up.

you can buy fresh plants(a few cms high) any type size, in a veg garden, where planting is observed. in vacoas there's plenty

Thanks Guys...

I bought a basil plant from Espace Maison for rs 35 - much cheaper than the supermarket.  Just watch out for the snails as they love it too!!

angelaluch wrote:

I bought a basil plant from Espace Maison for rs 35 - much cheaper than the supermarket.  Just watch out for the snails as they love it too!!

Barriers of wood ash or sawdust or  crushed eggshells will do the trick

I grow mine in pots ( have to with the weather that i have so that I can bring it in during the cold months)

Raghuvanshi , alisa very good points , some of the things you can easily grow are dhaniya , phudina where there is no need of seeds instead of throwing in dustbin we can use them to grow . Also for basil one can use totally dry seeds which are readily available on basil plant . Pot them they will grow

Is there a place where you can buy fresh Deer meat (Cerf). I checked the market in Port Louis and Quatre Bornes, not much available.

Hello arif,

You are completely offtopic in this thread. May be you shall start a new discussion!

Its time to be a farmer...Thanks for the tips..