Skip to main content

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.

* * *

ANTS CULTURE CITRUS APHIDS

Watch video: https://fb.watch/dMXk9TrezM/

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.

Labels

Labels:
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE LIFE SUSTAINING HOLLOW HEARTS OF PAPAYA

By Dr R Sudarshan A tall papaya tree bit the dust when the night rider wild pigs dug into its base to steal it's succulent roots. And a curious little boy visitor to the farm chopped and sliced it to feel the power of an axe. We then rediscovered a string of hollow chambers in the stem that we had long forgotten after the college days. The pith cavities are the multiple hearts of the papaya vascularity. Raising water and nutrition from ground to sky, holding them in steps to strengthen the tall growing stem and gradually filling those fruits with the pulp and nectar, the hollowness is the substance of this existence. A plant is a wondrous source of symmetry, geometry, science, technology and food. And a farm is a relearning device. For any relevant query,  message 81051 12990. * * * Padma Farms, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore. * * * Opinion [27/01, 1:45 pm]  Neel Mathews:  Wonderful new knowledge….  nature’s magics… [27/01,...
Post a Comment
Read more

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,...
Post a Comment
Read more

LOOKING FOR A PRINTER-DESIGNER

By Dr. R Sudarshan F armer's House on Kalidasa Road integrates organic farm activities, an organic outlet, weekly farmers' market, an organic cafe called Kutz Bowl, and a famous bookstore called Silverfish Books. We have regular work of printing labels, designing campaign material, bookmarks, stationery, packaging material, gift wraps, paper bags, cloth carry bags, and other merchandise. We wish that some upcoming designer groups or individuals provide timely and supportive services to businesses. If you fit the bill, please message on 810 511 2990 and arrange a time to meet to discuss. Farmer's House, Silverfish Books, Kutz Bowl and the Farmer's Market, # 1A, 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.
Post a Comment
Read more