Shyam Beej Bhandar

You can find Shyam Beej Bhandar at 362 in Johari Bazar, right in the middle of the old city of Jaipur. This shop has been here for a very long time, and we specialize in selling all types of seeds. It is a very different kind of shop compared to the jewelry stores that Johari Bazar is famous for. Farmers come from the small villages outside the city to buy their seeds for the next planting season, and we also get local people looking for vegetable seeds for their small home gardens. The shop is filled with large sacks of wheat, bajra, mustard, and many other things. I sit on a raised wooden platform near the entrance and look out at the busy street all day. The walls are covered with old shelves and wooden drawers that hold the smaller packets of seeds. It has a very particular smell in here—an earthy scent of dried grain and soil that I really like. I spend a lot of time talking with the customers about the weather and when the rains might come, because that changes what seeds they will need to buy. It is a slow and steady business that depends on the cycle of the seasons. My son helps out when he can, but it is mostly me running the show. We do not use any modern marketing. People know our name and they know we are at number 362 if they need seeds that will actually grow well in their fields. (260 words)