AROUND A BEND - CARDAMOM

By Dr. R Sudarshan

As always, we were looking for excitement on the farm and stopped around a bend to see what was happening in the cardamom bush. Over a hundred pods of cardamoms glory. Our first.

Cardamom is a capsule of history and a long-time fascination of the world. Philosopher Hippocrates (yes, the guy who gave the language of oath to medicos) mentioned it. Venice was the global hub of cardamom trade from India some 10 centuries ago. At the end of Egyptian civilization in Alexandria, there was already a luxury tax on cardamom. Ela of Sanskrit became Elettaria in Greek, but God knows why the world called it unimaginatively Cardamom.

Everyone has taken to it. Sweden uses 18 times more than per capita world average consumption and Norway uses 30 times more. Tiny Guatemala stands first in production with much more than what its native India grows. Every country has tried growing it because it is green gold.

And you thought we won't try that here in Mysore!

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A SCENT OF FRUIT, DESCENT OF JACK

By Dr. R Sudarshan

Watch video: https://fb.watch/dQO4twUH9W/

A scent of ripe fruit pervaded the farm from a high branch of a tall jackfruit tree. The farmhands climbed atop the tree and found four prime fruits, yearning to descend. Dropped from there, they would break into pieces. Left there, there would be bird war in the air to claim the bounty.

The farmhands filled them into sacs and slowly brought them down with ropes, with care, with honor.

The store now has four prime tree-ripened jackfruits, each over 10 kilos in weight.

A scent of the descent.

For any relevant query, message 81051 12990.

Padma Farms (Gaddige Road), Farmer's House, 1A, 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

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COMMUNITY DIALOGUE - 1

By Dr. R Sudarshan EATING CLEAN: COMMUNITY DIALOGUE - 1; Featured Speaker - Sindhu Ramachandra; Friday, 15 July 2022 at 5:30 PM E ating clean is a lifestyle fundamental, easily ignored and abused in the fast lane of tongue temptations. And the long convoluted tube that we call 'gut' is often turned into a gutter that is forced to process what it is not meant for - synthetic food, herbicides, pesticides, and life-threatening substances. Sindhu is a biochemist with work experience from IISc. She pursues data science and AI in the context of biochemistry. An ardent believer in organic farming, she cares for clean foods. And she knows how unclean foods can turn your life upside down. Community Dialogues at the Farmer's House are an engagement with reason to restore the dignity of life. Come, listen, interact and benefit. Attendance is FREE. Register with Gagan at 97421 62956. * * * Farmer's House, Silverfish Books, Kutz Bowl and the Farmer's Market, # 1A, 13th Cross,...

SISTERS OF THE WAR

By Dr. R Sudarshan T hose of us that are born in a land and society of relative peace will never understand the pains and perils of war. The extreme sufferings people undergo for no fault of theirs and their inescapable fate of circumstances are unbelievable stories for us, as we sip from our mugs of comfort coffee. The civil war in Syria is an ongoing reality of our times. Rania Abouzeid writes the real story of two pairs of sisters, surviving the bullets, broken homes, blasted childhood, and a routine of a revolting rut. Those are real-life stories of how hope works. A reflection on how the one earth and one time that we all share is an unequal opportunity of existence. On the shelf - a mood that grips you and makes you grateful for what you have. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Silverfish Books, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

LITTLE ANUSHKA

By Dr. R Sudarshan L ittle Anushka comes every Wednesday to the midweek mini-market, with some produce from her farm. She arranges the vegetables and greens with a sense of elegance. She picks up pieces of paper and labels the display. She uses freshly washed clothes to drape the greens that would otherwise fade and faint in the sun. She is a draper, designer, and fashion maker of the midweek market display. And as she waits for the customers to come and shop, she collects bugs, praying mantes, and insects and watches them wiggle. * * * * * ANUSHKA'S MIDWEEK MARKET ENCOUNTERS W atch video: https://fb.watch/dxj9C0DTvC/ We earlier wrote how little Anushka brings her farm produce to the market, helps manage the floor, and sits fascinated with bugs and butterflies. Today, she helped keep away the orders, labeled them, and then sat down with a blob of jackfruit latex, playing with its elastic ecstacy. Pasting okra tops on the wall, breaking the beans with a soun...

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