Silverfish spill the Golden word!

By Dr. R Sudarshan Y es, over a hundred well-grown and totally chemical-free cabbage heads have been still standing on our organic farm floor, in spite of our two appeals so far that they are in excess of our capacity to sell, we won't give them to pesticide stained vegetable markets and orphanages are free to pick them up. This is our last appeal - orphanages and old age homes may walk into the farm, harvest cabbages, and use them in their kitchen. If that doesn't happen soon, we will be constrained to plow the bounty back into the soil and free ourselves of the curse of excessive production. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Padma Farms, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr. R Sudarshan O nce a poor man, ravished by famine, prayed for a square meal in faraway Japan, and the Goddess of harvest and prosperity, 'Inari Okami' brought this plant from heaven and handed it over to him. The chestnuts he grew, made him rich. Whatever be the legend, the Pachira Chestnut or Malabar chestnut, or French Peanut is an immensely beautiful plant. In the raging heat of summer this week, the 4-year-old has bared its chest and sprung out a lone flower. The flower is so popular on the farm among insects that it looks like those who can fly have all been landing on its filaments. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Padma Farms, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr. R Sudarshan N ow into the 4th week, a miniature market to dispense greens and a few essential farms produce. Only those that are harvested at 6 in the morning. Few things in small quantities for a short time. From 8 AM till 10 AM Tomorrow. Organic Farmers' MIDWEEK MINI MARKET - 4, Wednesday, 30 March 2022, 8 AM to 10 AM For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Farmer's House, Silverfish Books, Kutz Bowl and the Farmer's Market, #  1A, 13th Cross,  Kalidasa Road,  VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr. R Sudarshan W e are looking for one or two people to assist at the store.  Anyone of any age or any qualification is fine if they can find satisfaction in the work normal to an organic store plus book store plus farmer's market.  If you know someone, please ask to message 8105112990 and meet us to explore the possibility of helping in running the Farmer's House. Please don't enquire details here. Message us and meet us. * * * Farmer's House, Silverfish Books, Kutz Bowl and the Farmer's Market, #  1A, 13th Cross,  Kalidasa Road,  VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr. R Sudarshan S unday at 6 AM, the farmhands were harvesting greens to bring them fresh to the market while their mentally challenged little girl was goofing around. She found Russell's viper that had just eaten a rodent and standing its ground next to the vegetable patch.  Promptly, clubs and stones rained down on the serpent's head and the story went wild in the village that has seen scores of men, women, and children bitten, maimed, or even killed by the silent slitherers. As urban organic farmers, we counsel them all the while, save snakes from their ire when we see them, and build a wrestling ground for 'reason' and 'fear' to fight each other. Nonetheless, when panic dawns in the bush, prudence finds it hard to slither in. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Padma Farms, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr. R Sudarshan L azy Sunday afternoon. Just when the eyes flew over the fifty-odd cookbooks on our shelf, this one sent up the eyebrows. Eat to save the planet? Who eats for something else other than the pleasure and hunger of self? Annie Bell articulates well. There are farming practices that destroy you and the planet. There are ways of cooking that don't respect nature or your body. There are recipes that waste more just to taste well. Ultimately, there is a delicate body and there is a fragile world. You can't afford to abuse either. The book offers over a hundred recipes for stews, curries, pies, roasts, porridges, pasta, dishes, and even a 28-day clean meal plan.  Eat to save the planet. And a book to help you cook. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Silverfish Books, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr. R Sudarshan J ust one evening of rains and the 40 coffee plants on the farm bloomed in pristine white and their fragrance dominated the air. The tremendous sense of their innate timing is so puzzling but so natural. With coffee bloom being the week's big news, the market has moved to the 77th week. Tomorrow, Sunday, 9 AM. 77th Organic Farmers' Market, Sunday,  13 March 2022 - 9 AM to 12 Noon For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Farmer's House, Silverfish Books, Kutz Bowl and the Farmer's Market, #  1A, 13th Cross,  Kalidasa Road,  VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr. R Sudarshan N o one has ever escaped a fantastic negative thought in the mind.  Murder someone, steal something, teach a lesson or at least slap someone if that's the biggest negative that could be safely done. But we all step back by the fear of consequence, the prospect of getting punished, a vague moral underline, and some inexplicable self-restraint. But the thought of a crime of some level is an inescapable encounter of everyone's reality - at least once in the road rage of life. And thus, a queerly popping curiosity in thrillers. Agatha Christie, Jo Nesbo, Baldachi, Ashwin Sanghi, Dan Brown, Daniel Silva, Jack Carr, an impressive line of popcorn Angels in the world. Over 300 thrillers are on our shelf now. Read up what you wanted to stealthily do, what you didn't really want to do, what could you have done better, OR what makes you wonder about the shadows of the soul. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Silverfish Books, Farmer's House, # 1A...

By Dr. R Sudarshan O ne powerful classification of humans is that there are two types of idiots in the world. The curious idiots are those who are uncertain about things and the idiots are those that are certain about things. There isn't a third type of human. So, all the way from Socrates to Richard Feynman, it has been said that your deep and intimate experience with 'doubt' is actually your freedom. That makes you interested in everything and regardless of your education, you will bear that unquenchable curiosity in the nature of things. And you will learn. Robin is no scientist. But his deep 'interest' in everything made him dig deep into scientific curiosity - biology, quantum physics, mathematics, earth science, et.al. And in his own inimitable and humorous way, he explains the nature of existence and the 'why' of everything. Razor-sharp wit and insight. An unusual book on the shelf. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Silverfish Books, ...

By Dr. R Sudarshan Y es, it is not far away.  2034 is just a front yard year that you would step on in no longer than a jiffy.  The Chinese cripple a naval squadron in the South China Sea. The Iranians take an F-35 pilot hostage. World war breaks out across the planet - Washington, Beijing, Isfahan, Bandar Abbas, Strait of Hormuz, Yokosuka, and New Delhi - the world war rages like a rogue wildfire caught in a devil's breath wind.  Then, the United Nations is shifted to Mumbai from New York as an Indian diplomat prudently de-escalates the war and negotiates peace.  Who wins this devastating war of our times, folks? Well, the famed author from the last century, Willam Faulkner once said - victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools.  What an explosively imaginative book on the shelf! For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Silverfish Books, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr. R Sudarshan T he dwarf Indian Hog Plum (Amate Kaayi) plants at the farm do not recognize any season or reason, big rain or sunshine as they keep flowering and fruiting throughout the year. They are just pleased with themselves. And again they are in a burst of bloom.  While that can be as it can be, we have moved into the 3rd edition of the midweek mini market. That's some pleasure in a small measure. From 8 AM till 10 AM Tomorrow. Organic Farmers' MIDWEEK MINI MARKET - 3, Wednesday, 23 March 2022, 8 AM to 10 AM For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Farmer's House, Silverfish Books, Kutz Bowl and the Farmer's Market, #  1A, 13th Cross,  Kalidasa Road,  VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr. R Sudarshan S ome 50 well-grown cabbages are to be harvested this week. Since we don't have the capacity to sell them this season nor do we want to give it to the market that sells chemical-laden produce, our only option is to use them as manure at the farm. Alternatively, if someone from among you wishes to provide a brief outing to either child of an orphanage OR old-age home, you could bring the inmates to freshly harvest from the farm, clean, and take away with them to their community kitchen for use. Please message us or call us to coordinate. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Padma Farms, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr. R Sudarshan Organic palak paneer laccha Paratha with hing aloo curry   Saturday, 26 March 2022 at 7 AM, Venue: PADMA FARMS   R uchika Naidu is an amazing juggler. A Punjabi married to an Andhrite, she home schools her daughter besides being a storyteller, counselor, networker, foodie, philanthropist, nature lover, wanderer, and soul searcher. Yes, yes, that's all in one life. What the world will know soon this week is that she makes brilliant palak paneer laccha paratha. On Saturday in the morning at Padma Farms, Ruchika will lead you to harvest fresh palak and teaches you how to make this delicacy with all organic ingredients. And then, you will feast on it under the banyan tree like soulful Punjabis do to the music of wing flapping chip heads. A participatory fee of Rs. 250 per person applies, which includes learning a skill, eating a dish, and romancing a farm.  Register through a message with Chef Akshay at - 96631 10632 Farmer's House, Silverfish Books, Kutz B...

By Dr. R Sudarshan I ts incredible blush doesn't make a tomato innocent.  It is one of those vegetables that can either make or break a farmer. Sometimes a 'Rajah' and sometimes a 'Runk', tomatoes transform into avatars and force their way to the dinner table in some form or the other. Raw, diced, sauteed, barbecued, sauce, ketchup, soup, curried or pureed they see that you just can't reject them from life.  And we are just discovering this pantheon of tomato avatars. Since you shunned its fresh blush at the market, we have now been sun drying them for a week. You might soon want what you didn't want. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Padma Farms, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr. R Sudarshan G rowing cabbages is a wholesome experience for an organic farmer. First attempt - they are eaten up by insects and customers even find annoying baby snails when they cut them open. The second attempt - you grow marigold to divert insects but they overtake cabbages and the heads can't be bigger than your fist. Third - you grow greens around, deflect the worms from grazIng and hand clean each one on-site to remove the insects. Somehow, you learn hand-raising cabbages, and finally, over 100 heads sit pretty on the farm floor. The other farmers in the village amaze at the succulent bounty in a chemical-free landscape. But then, for two weeks continuously, you can't sell even one cabbage head and you are clueless about the totality of market decline. Failure, success, perfection and rejection. You have finally achieved a beautiful wrong thing at a wrong time. Cabbage is a multi-layered mess. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Padma Farms, Farmer...

By Dr. R Sudarshan F orty-five of India's leading writers, among them - celebrities, animal welfare practitioners, individuals, and some outstanding new voices establish a testament to how we deeply owe to dogs. Unforgettable real stories, poignant reflections, and remarkable chronicles form an anthology of experiences that define the deepest relationship between two extraordinary animals on the planet. A great book to read and an even greater gift. The bark is a bad word. So, 'woof' on the shelf. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Silverfish Books, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr. R Sudarshan R esilience  is a much-cliched word, squeezed of all its essence, brought down from its once high vocabulary perch, and beaten even into high school PowerPoint presentations. And so, when a badly burnt mango tree springs out a rosette of delicate green leaves just a week after the rogue fire, you don't have a good word to explain.  It is just that in an organic farm, what we do to nurture life is nothing compared to the power of life itself that politely refuses to die. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Padma Farms, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr. R Sudarshan Ordinary people, extraordinary stories! K arishma goes about finding people that make this world, beyond their prejudices and predicaments. She doesn't call them men or women and dip their lives in a gender bin or racial cauldron. She calls them 'humans'. Someone is a transgender, someone is a meal courier, someone a homemaker, or someone an office rat. They are all ordinary people caught in the jet stream of existence. From their stories, one begins to recognize that beyond the walls that we build and the trenches that we dig between us, everybody has a glass ceiling above the head. Beau Taplin said - To hell with happy endings, you are here for the story. And Karishma Mehta says - this is a country of 1.3 billion beating hearts, one story at a time. On the prime shelf. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Silverfish Books, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr. R Sudarshan L acewing eggs - they look as delicate as the butter in the sun. In a week, the larvae will burst out and begin to eat aphids and mealybugs. At a time when every plant is fruiting and hundreds of species of insects have invaded our farm, the lacewings come as natural biological control.  Just one tiny droplet of any of the dozens of banned pesticides Indian farmers use indiscriminately to bring to you the cosmetically beautiful vegetables and fruits can annihilate these beautiful lives on the tether, although they are helpful. This weekend, don't visit an organic farm. Please go to a farm where pesticides are used and discover the fields of death where even ants don't crawl, but unblemished vegetables grow. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Padma Farms, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr. R Sudarshan W e asked a friend to send us a recent image of the farm taken from space. And there came a patch of green rectangle in a barren landscape of brown mud.  Recalling the story, we dug 600 pits and made compost in each one of them, some 4 to 5 years ago. Every compost pit was planted with a tender sapling. And even now, at least once a year, we push every pit to make its own compost on the spot with a top-up of tree discarded leaves, cow dung and village pond soil, brought from desilting.  So, if you found any produce sweet, it is from the fruit of patience of the land. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Padma Farms, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr. R Sudarshan I t is so rare for people of intelligence to be both witty and artistic. But this man from Mysore was both in a mega measure, as he ruled his domain for decades and remained a conscience keeper of the society in his own inimitable way.  Sitting in a soundproof room in Times of India for years, he heard every sound of the world in his mind and caricatured lives and events for what they are all worth. His whole works on the shelf - a collector's volume of over a dozen books. A reflection of the world in one of the sharpest minds ever. Video:  https://www.facebook.com/FarmersHouseMysore/videos/806021187456658/ For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Silverfish Books, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr. R Sudarshan W e are trying to build this midweek mini-market on Wednesdays. Some essential greens, vegetables, fruits, and eggs will be freshly harvested and brought in modest quantities. We ought to know if this is helpful. You ought to express if this was helpful.  From 8 AM till 10 AM Tomorrow.  See if you can walk in. Organic Farmers' MIDWEEK MINI MARKET - 2, Wednesday, 16 March 2022, 8 AM to 10 AM For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Farmer's House, Silverfish Books, Kutz Bowl and the Farmer's Market, #  1A, 13th Cross,  Kalidasa Road,  VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr R Sudarshan I t had all the elements of a matinee show this time. On Saturday while we were harvesting for our 75th weekly market, two young men threw a match stick into the farm from across the fence. The farmhands gave a short chase but returned as they had to quickly draw a hosepipe and douse the fire which danced well in the wind. In a matter of 20 minutes, the fire put on the death row a betelnut plant, a coconut palm, two mango trees full of marble-size fruits, a moringa, and a large mulberry bush. Raising an outstanding green patch in the middle of barren fields in a rural space by an urban farming family is fraught with the organic risks of jealousy and youthful mischief. This was the first failed fire this year, while we had three incidents of a much larger impact last year. Till the monsoon arrives, this summer landscape filled with fruits will not just be a patch to admire, but a target for the ire of belly fire. Well, organic farming is just a normal chronicle of life...

By Dr R Sudarshan S omeone is a fashionista par excellence, someone is a showman, someone founded an industry,  someone lobbed a ball in Wimbledon, someone stayed enigmatic and someone else transparent. Warren Buffet, Ambedkar, Raj Kapoor, Nelson Mandela, Parveen Babi, Neeraj Chopra, Elon Musk, Kamala Harris, Rekha, Lisa Ray, Sachin Tendulkar, Milind Soman, Nehru, Gandhi, Demi Moore, Karunanidhi... we can go on. There have been people on this planet whom you may have idolized, hated, loved, awed at, admired or never really understood. Like it or not, there is this abominable power to some lives. Believe it or not, there is this amazement in some stories. Over 500 biographies on the shelf. Now. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Silverfish Books, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr. R Sudarshan T he whole week at the farm has been a summertime spent on tamarind. Getting them off the trees, drying them on a sheet, protecting them from the soil as they lose the shell, cracking them open, removing their seeds, and setting them for easy use in the kitchen are a chain of work in progress. Meanwhile, the market is 75. Not that we care for numbers, but numbers do matter. 75th Organic Farmers' Market, Sunday,  13 March 2022 - 9 AM to 12 Noon For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Farmer's House, Silverfish Books, Kutz Bowl and the Farmer's Market, #  1A, 13th Cross,  Kalidasa Road,  VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr R Sudarshan T he name is such a tongue twister and unfamiliar. Our insect specialist said it is easier to call it 'plant hopper'. 'From where do they come and why do they come', we asked. 'They love to chew on sandal wood', he said. We have half a dozen sandal wood plants at the farm that we did not plant. 'Where did they come from and why did they come', we wonder. The birds must have brought seeds and dropped at random. And why should the free nature conform to a farmer's plan of landscape, after all. An organic farm is a strange place of unplanned assemblage. Novelty renews forever. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Padma Farms, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr R Sudarshan O ne tall hanging illusion of an organic farmer in town is that the people of Mysore eat yard long beans. And one prolonged lunacy of this organic farmer is to grow the long beans repeatedly, though unable to sell.  But there are long beans connoisseurs in nature that know how to fine dine this delicacy. They are enamoured by its slender tender disposition Coming in the form of rabbits and squirrels, they just punctuate the bulge and steal away the seeds. Strangely, our foolish indulgence and your sustained rejection are a patronage in the farm wilderness. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. Padma Farms, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr R Sudarshan J ust a normal man, this Eddie Jaku was picked up by the Nazis in the winter of 1938 from his bed. Engraving swastika on his shoulder with a bayonet, beating him half dead, dragging him like a rabid dog, they threw him into a concentration camp and put him on a death march. But Eddie survived, miraculously. Once out of the gutter of death, he vowed to smile everyday. He didn't bear a filament of hatred for his tormentors and did everything possible to be happy and make others happy. He lived the proverb that every language in the world has said - "shared sorrow is half sorrow; shared pleasure is double pleasure" Eddie wrote this book in his 100th year. And a year later, some 5 months ago today, he passed away leaving behind the lesson of an impossible attitude. Just arrived. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Silverfish Books, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr R Sudarshan J ean was a neighbour in a distant land, once upon a time, where we never met or knew each other. He traveled China, Taiwan, Tibet for years and finally landed in Mysore to live for long and got a sound of our farm from the whispers in the wind. He came this morning, just when sun rose, and volunteered to water the plants. Yet again, the world turned smaller, stranger and understandably interesting. We have nurtured plants in the farm from around the world. But we never knew that someone whom we didn't meet just a few steps away would walk in here, crossing half the world and years of time. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Padma Farms, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

https://fb.watch/bBWMhcunqk/ By Dr R Sudarshan I t takes almost an year of time to ripen from the flower stage to the fruit. The tree suffers our ingratitude as we imagine hanging ghosts from its branches and fear it's night wind. It is one patient plant in the farm that the farmer hardly nurses. But it curates almost every delicious dish that we place on the table and devour at least twice a day. Sun beaten first and stick beaten next, it has just rained down at the farm. We now begin a long and arduous process of drying, shelling, seeding and packing for the store. If ever you haven't seen how laborious and manual this process is, come over to the farm to watch how it has been traditionally done over centuries. For now, hot summer tamarind rain. It's just the beginning of a meandering miracle of taste. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Padma Farms, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr R Sudarshan India is known for over 1300 bird species and even small habitats like our farms do host nearly 100 species. The major sites like a sanctuary or a national park may have 100s of species and a magnificent parade of nature that enables a grand awakening, a surreal experience and an exposure to the variety show of the planet. Literally, the bird biodiversity will take you under the wings. Where are these sites, how to reach them, whom to contact, what awaits you there and how to unravel the wild and colourful raw nature of this nation? Two renowned experts do the hand-holding. A collector's volume. Now on our shelf. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Silverfish Books, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr R Sudarshan I nitially when we began assembling the market over a year ago, Soursop was the ugly duckling fruit that remained on the shelf unsold. Gradually, the community explored its tremendous benefits and now it is a widely sought after fruit. A dozen plants at the farm produce the fruit twice a year. But the demand has grown twice over. Market is 74. More variety, much to offer and such a sheer pleasure. 74th Organic Farmers' Market, Sunday,  6 March 2022 - 9 AM to 12 Noon For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Farmer's House, Silverfish Books, Kutz Bowl and the Farmer's Market, #  1A, 13th Cross,  Kalidasa Road,  VV Mohalla, Mysore.

By Dr R Sudarshan GUEST CHEF WORKSHOP - 1 KOLUMBU EXPERIMENT WELL RECEIVED   K utz Bowl is keen to train chefs. It began a successful experiment on 4 February 2022. Guest Chef Rangamani, 80 years old, rolled out the first chapter beautifully, on that day. She has lived all her life in Melukote-Karnataka-India, and has made KOLUMBU for her children, grandchildren and great grand children. An exquisite traditional dish that you can eat with rice, KOLUMBU is a lip smacking delicacy of the old world. Rangamani taught how to make authentic KOLUMBU, using all organic ingredients. Her classroom on that day did cost Rs 200/- per participant, to cover the costs of material and and other arrangements. Participants were witnessed carrying containers to take away their share of what they created at the workshop. Mind blowing response inspired us to move forward with many such workshops in the coming months and years. * * * GUEST CHEF WORKSHOP - 2 ORGANIC JACKFRUIT CUTLET - A RARE DELICACY WITH...

By Dr R Sudarshan M ango the king arrives in an uncanny Gregorian precision of March, following a grand shower of flowers. The little nugget princes soon spring up everywhere on the tree. Aromatic and heavenly delicious green gold. And this year, the harem brood appears extra large. Recalling from a year ago, we had families walking the farm to pick mangoes of their size and type preference for pickling. We also had a dental surgeon holding a pickle workshop at the farm where people harvested from the trees and made pickles on the farm floor that they took home.  Soon, the pickling harem story of the king will repeat. We are only weeks away. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Padma Farms, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.