Cropping green
``Greenhouses are economical in the long run,'' says Peter Van Den Berg, citing a valid reason for going in for greenhouse cropping. This gentleman from the Netherlands, with his twinkling eyes and infectious smile, is enjoying his eighth visit to the country, as he lists out the pros and cons of the greenhouse culture at a seminar organised by the Pune Municipal Corporation at the Ganesh Kala Krida Manch, which ends on February 13.

Avid gardeners and farmers are attending the seminar to learn the intricacies of a greenhouse, which give better yield and quality and can grow out-of-season products or plants which are difficult to grow in the open. Besides, greenhouse cropping is a more advantageous way of horticulture. ``There is a real possibility of greenhouse management in Pune, but research is necessary,'' says this gentleman. And he should know, being an economist and horticulturist who has been all over the globe to promote green housing.

Deconstructing materialism
Samanvay, a Pune-based theatre group, will stage a thought-provoking Marathi play, Darshan, on February 15 and 16 at the Tilak Smarak Mandir. Trained by Satyadev Dubey, the actors are expected to turn in good performances. The group has created some award-winning plays like Kolhi Unhe and Tenchya Prakhir Samajik Janivanche Nikhare, which received the 1995 and 1998 Natya Darpan awards for best experimental plays.

Their latest presentation deals with the complex theme of the lack of material comforts and its impact on creativity. Directed by well-known film-maker and architect Nachiket Patwardhan, who is staging a play for the first time, it has been written by Shyam Manohar and will be enacted by Nikhil Ratnaparkhi, Gargi Phule, Sandesh Kulkarni, Sameer Joshi, Shashank Shende and Jitendra Aphale among others.