LORANTHUS - THE MANGO MISTLETOE

By Dr. R Sudarshan

The sunbirds or spider catchers drop the seed on a branch. Drinking the moisture from the air, the seed germinates. It then sends out the roots that slither over the bark, dig through into the stem, and travel like a catheter in the innards of the host to steal the sap of minerals. Loranthus needs no soil. It just doesn't step on the ground at all. Its job is just like dropping a pipe into your stomach to suck out all the food that you store. In Africa, it sucks out Cocoa. In Europe, it drains Chestnut. It may have its own decorative or medicinal uses. And it is a parasite par excellence.

In Padma Farms, Loranthus thrives on mango trees. Indistinguishable in form of the host but deep devouring. Only when the beautiful pink flowers blossom, do you know who is living off your mango trees and hoarding all the sunlight. By the time you find out, the host and parasite are inseparably intertwined and married.

Who thrives and who shrivels is a game of nature. But surely, both gain and both suffer in the end.

For any relevant query, message 81051 12990.

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

Comments

ITO OF THE EAST

By Dr R Sudarshan I to Hiroshi came to Farmer's House over two years ago to take a look. He so much liked what we do that he came to the farm a few times to discover more. He told us then that he feels so inspired to open a cafe to use fresh farm produce. We liked what he said, but forgot about it all in time. Ito of the East walked again into Farmer's House this morning, after years. He narrated how he opened a store in downtown Tokyo and named it Mysore Cafe . He explained that he now grows some ingredients and cooks them fresh. He was thankful to have walked into Farmer's House, years ago. He was proud that he had linked 2 different cultures by a tether of common excitement. Yes, it feels good. For any relevant query, message 81051 12990. Silverfish Books, Farmer's House, # 1A - 13th Cross, Kalidasa Road, VV Mohalla, Mysore.

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,...

A CURATOR'S AMARYLLIS

By Dr. R Sudarshan T he maiden book of the Silverfish Books curator ( https://www.amazon.in/Beauty-Queen-Pathway-Pageantry-Sudarshan/dp/9390924103 ) was published by Amaryllis in August 2021. To commemorate the day of publication, we planted Amaryllis at our farm. Some 8 months later, the Amaryllis has begun to bloom at the farm, coinciding with our curator's signing an agreement with Trinidad and Tobago in the wider Caribbean to provide them her mentorship in pageantry, based on her book. Coincidences are as impossible to explain as the spirit of symbolism is. Nonetheless, the book is now a milestone in the life avenue of Silverfish and the Amaryllis flower now is a milestone at the farm that's an integral part of our bookstore. 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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