In the yard of gardener Makhamadsaly Abdullaev, who lives in the village of Masy in Nooken district, a vineyard with 15 grape varieties is being cultivated. He is currently pruning branches, preparing the vines for winter insulation to prevent them from drying out from freezing in winter.
The scale of tending the plot
Preparing the vineyard for winter takes considerable effort. According to Abdullaev, from spring to autumn he devotes himself to working an area of more than 1 hectare. The plot contains more than 60 sotkas of vineyard, and strawberries have also been planted. In addition, the gardener has managed to set up a special sleeping platform, decorate the area with flowers and adapt a place for keeping 10–15 sheep, raising livestock. Pumpkins and mint also grow on the grounds.
The significance of the work for his well-being
Abdullaev notes that being in the field brings him great joy, and walks through the vineyard help him take his mind off everyday problems. He emphasizes that working in the garden keeps him on the move, which matters for his well-being. "If you sit at home, there is no movement, but here you are on the move and you don't even get sick. There is no need to sit at home citing your age — when a person moves, he feels better," he said.
The gardener also shared his experience, noting that he was accustomed to field work from childhood. He admits that he first planted a vineyard 10 years ago, but due to a lack of knowledge the vines sometimes dried out, so he tries to prevent diseases in time, because "as soon as the vineyard gets sick, it immediately loses its appearance."
