THE VERY FIRST COCONUTS

By Dr. R Sudarshan

In the Middle East, the first dates are exceptional produce. In the Mediterranean, first olives are packed with gratitude. In West Africa, the first cocoa pods are a festivity. And here in our whereabouts, the first coconuts are a gift of nature.

Our farmhands stand around the first stack of coconuts that they grew at Padma farms. What's so special when everyone grows coconuts here! Well, we hadn't yet. This is our first among the two dozen palm trees planted 4 years ago.

A new farm. Neo-farmers. Life complete.

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ANTS CULTURE CITRUS APHIDS

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On a succulent end of a Pomello plant we found a dense colony of insects, apparently trampled over by black ants. We called Anubhav in Chennai, who is our farm insect taxonomist that has photographed and cataloged over 170 insect species at the farm and posted them on the iNaturalist platform. "What's happening here," we asked.

"Ants are culturing aphids", he said. The aphids suck the sap of tender shoots and secrete honeydew. Ants feed on honeydew for a living and protect the aphids from other predators. Ants also groom the place and manage the aphids, in the nanoscale of animal husbandry.

Well, that's a life cycle. That's Formicidian civilization. That's peace. How dare we spray pesticide and annihilate a culture!

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.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF CULANTRO

By Dr R Sudarshan Y es. Culantro and not Cilantro. The long distance cousin of coriander that came from Mexico in the middle centuries to Europe and landed in India approximately some 300 to 400 years ago along with its Mediterranean cousin Cilantro, the coriander. Culantro is relatively rare but so much more stronger than coriander that once you are used to this, coriander recedes to a second choice. A couple of Culantro plants have been taken to the farm and are growing impressively well. Probably, there will be lots of seeds in a few weeks, so that we could propagate and feature the leaves in the weekly market too. And one plant of Culantro has prospered well in a pot at the store too. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. * * * Padma Farms, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

Silverfish spill the Golden word!

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