A Farm Joke

Why shouldn’t you tell a secret on a farm?

Because the potatoes have eyes and the corn has ears.

a cup of tranquility

Stress is something one has to deal with everyday. Whether you are female or male; single or married; student, employed or unemployed, stress is something that you can hardly escape from. While there are many beverages that can be consumed to relive stress ranging from alcohol to molten chocolate to tea and to Stress-relieving beverages that are available in the market; not all are healthy for the body. The key to combating stress is to go healthy and natural. One of the easiest things to do is to add Tulsi to your cup of tea.
Indians have worshiped Tulsi or Holy Basil since centuries. The healing power of this herb is widely known; it has been used as A balm for body, mind and spirit, and is known for its amazing number of health benefits. The most known benefits of Tulsi is to reduce stress, enhance stamina, lower cholesterol, improve digestion, increases immunity, protect from ageing and improve over all well-being. How to make Tulti tea?  Put water to boil. Add tea leaves while the water boils. At this stage you may add dried or green Tulsi leaves. You may also consider adding A drop of lime, crushed cardamom, fennel, ginger to enhance the taste. Add Milk & Sugar if you like… and your cup of tranquillity is ready!
Many Households in India have Tulsi plant. If you do not have one yet, then you must consider getting one. It can be grown in you terrace/ roof top gardens as well as indoors. Tulsi does well in pots or window boxes – It needs sun, soil and water.

juicy secrets !

Are you missing your breakfast and just relying on packaged fruit juices available in market thinking that they are the best healthy option available?  If Yes! You ‘MUST’ know this.
Almost all fruit juices are processed to increase the shelf life. This is done by heating the juice to a high temperature to destroy bacteria, molds and other micro-organisms. While this process of pasteurization kills the unwanted bacteria, it also drastically reduces the natural goodness of a fresh fruit juice. Anti-oxidants, minerals, vitamins are all lost.   Packed juices then are fortified with sugar and other substitutes that make these beverages high on calories.
Also, the skin which contains much fiber is removed. Loaded with preservatives and added sugars, these fruit juices are anything but healthy! My village has a large fruit processing plant where products are manufactured for few of the big brands that are available in the market. I visit the plant regularly and have seen the manufacturing process. The fruits that are used to extract juice are in such poor condition that people like us will never think of consuming them raw. These are used for manufacturing because scientifically they are fit for human consumption. Fit for human consumption means that it will not cause any bodily harm however on the other hand it will also not provide any benefits. Here are something’s you can do to ensure you have healthy fruit juice – Make sure to check the nutrition label of fruit juices. Opt for those that have the least number of calories and a high amount of carbohydrates and other vital nutrients! Instead of drinking packed fruit juice it is healthier to have prepared your own fruit juice and consume it immediately. Better would be to eat raw seasonal fruits. This would ensure supply of antioxidants, natural minerals as well as the fiber needed by our body.

Organic Food – Are they really that safe..????

There are many reasons why someone might choose organic foods over conventional foods, from environmental concerns to taste preferences. Some people make special effort to find which store to purchase organic food from and pay more to purchase these products. In my previous posts, I have highlighted risks related to usage of pesticides. While many of us may feel that one of the ways to eat safer food is to ‘go organic’ – but is it really worth it?

Don’t get me wrong – The intention is not to create fear, but to create awareness. Some advocate organic food because the pesticides used are herbal based or derived from natural ingredients. But one must remember that poison has same effect let it be synthetic or natural. Also, while organic crops use less/herbal pesticides as compared to conventional crops, underground water used for both crops is same, and in most parts of our nation, underground water is contaminated. The farmer has to ensure that the water is treated before it reaches the plants. Further, very few farmers produce organic produce, so if you are purchasing an organic produce, know where it has come from. Specialists have said that organic or not, the chances of bacterial contamination of food are the same. Hence it is important to choose the one that has the least the food mile i.e the distance travelled by any produce from producer to consumer. Just don’t buy any food labelled as organic at higher cost thinking it is more healthy as compare to locally grown conventional produce. Take the same precautions before consuming organic food which you are suppose to take while consuming conventional produce.             Try to buy seasonal fruits and vegetables which are locally grown.             Try to grow some of the vegetables at home using the vacant space.

naturally yours…. or is it?

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” they say. What if it’s the apple that takes u to the doctor? Highly unlikely you might think. My advice – Think again! Health consultants highly recommend fruits and salads in their prescriptions and we take the best advantage of the availability of the range of variety in the markets.

Ever given a thought before buying or eating that how are you getting fresh apples of Himachal in Mumbai and Oranges of Nagpur in Delhi? Fresh peas of Kinnaur in Banglore and coconut from Kerala in Chandigarh? Ripe fruits are not suitable to carry and distribute as they get rotten. So traders pick unripe fruits and use certain methods to increase their shelf life. For many years, ethylene had been used as a fruit ripening agent, but nowadays ethane, calcium carbide and ethephon are commonly used for faster ripening. Inappropriate use and long term exposure of these chemicals to ripen fruits is associated with many health hazards. Here is something that you can do to avoid exposure to such chemicals                             Wash your fruits and vegetables in a sink full of water in which a tablespoon of salt is added with a lime squeezed in it. Allow the fruits to float in the sink for 5-7 minutes before rinsing them with plain water and then draining them in a colander. Allow to dry and then consume. While selecting fruits, look for nail marks, punctures or powdered applications on the fruits. Do not pick fruits with any of the above signs. Buy produce closer to where it is grown– ‘Sabzi Mandi’ style Buy Seasonal fruits and vegetables. Grow your own – Wondering how? – Ask me!!!

food for thought

Should you be worried about pesticide residues in vegetables? They answer is ‘Yes!’ - Your diet may consist of toxic contaminants. Like alcohol and tobacco, pesticides are legal toxic products. Because they are legal does not mean they are safe. Studies link pesticide exposure to cancer, birth defects, stillbirth, infertility, and damage to the brain and nervous system (including Parkinson’s disease).

"Corn from my farm"

Rampant use of banned pesticides in fruits and vegetables continues to put at risk the life of a common man. Farmers apply pesticides such as chlordane, endrin and heptachor that can cause serious neurological problems, kidney damage and skin diseases Of the more than 800,000 species of insects known to exist, very few are harmful to plants, animals, or human beings. While pesticides offer some benefits, many question why they are still so widely used. Rather than killing insects, pesticides seem most effective at destroying human health. While it is nearly impossible to avoid exposure to pesticides completely, there are several things you can do to limit the amount you ingest through your food: Wash food with clean water before cooking or eating. Do not use soap. Peel if possible. Trim fat from meats; some pesticides collect in animal fat. Cook food. It helps reduce pesticide residues that aren't removable by washing or peeling. A Better alternative is to own your own farm. ‘How?’ - is what I am going to write in my next post.

my earliest ambition in life….

The earliest ambition as a child was to become a bus driver of a school bus.

I grew up in a small town of Himachal Pradesh called ‘Una’. Situated at the base of the Shivalik ranges, it resides in south west part of the state. It was amidst the legends of the temples, the holy Gurudwara, the Market yard, my home and my school that I spent my childhood. I am the youngest of four and by no means, like my other siblings would claim - a brat!

I was almost four when someone asked me what I wanted to become when I grew up. ‘A bus driver’ I said firmly. While others laughed, my mother only smiled at me, charmed by my high ambition in life (I thought). I had to explain further; ‘driver of a school bus’ said I; they laughed more. ‘They’ll never understand’ I though to myself and moved on

The school operated two buses on different routes to pick up most of the children. While the routes were different, we used to always meet the other bus at a chowk … and then the race began. Clutching hard on to the rail of the front seat, most of the children would enjoy the thrill of the ride. Sitting there, with all that noise around – some children screaming; some cheering; some even crying, the first ambition of my life took shape. The days when we won, I always used to salute our school bus driver - He was my hero. The days we lost I would sulk the entire day.

Like many of my other ambitions those that were yet to germinate in my mind… it was short-lived. Much later, the circus came to our town.... and then I wanted to become a bunny!

I am now - a farmer by accident!

… and this is the beginning of my story.