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As for its abundance problem, zucchini has been described as a “gateway drug” to combat rising food insecurity through community gardening and community engagement.

It just takes a bit of research, planning and, like most of gardening, patience until the plants start to bloom.

But all of this came to an end when Sergei was detained in April 2024 by armed men while he was shopping for gardening seeds in the regional centre of Tokmak.

It was publicity about the restoration that led to his first private gardening gig in the late 1980s — a wealthy client wanted him to create a rose garden as a Christmas gift for her husband.

"It really set me back, because I used to be able – in my own time – potter around the house and do a wee bit of gardening," she said.