Saturday 28 March 2015

Banishing the blues - will sweets help?


Jelly candies...! 
This is yummy, my all time favorite :) As they say in the advert this is something that makes children, as well as adults, crave for every now and then.

Wiki says Haribo founder Hans Riegel Sr. introduced this attractive delicacy for the very first time in Germany in 1920. Now we have countless shapes and flavors that make us spoilt for choice all over the world. Gummi bears, Gummi worms, berries in all shapes and sizes, sour, sweet, fruity, mixed...it is mind-boggling, indeed!

Well, anything in excess is poison. It is a well-known fact that we all reach for ice creams and sweet dishes when stress kicks in. It is not only the sweetness of these wonderful foods but the beautiful looks as well that make us reach for such things almost always overpowering our willpower. Craving for such things is an unhealthy way to de-stress. If you have access to low-calorie sweeteners like Stevia or similar things like that it is acceptable to a certain level. But it is always better to deal with emotional issues through healthy, positive measures and there are numerous solutions available off / online nowadays. Sometimes a hug is enough to feel comfy :). So next time before opening the Refrigerator for ice cream or emptying a packet full of jellies, just try some vegetable salad or a piece of fruit!

Well, jelly candies...a cool treat😊, whatever...lol.😊
  • Beautiful things bring positive feelings. All sweet dishes look beautiful. No wonder these attractive cool delicacies help in banishing the blues. But there are much cooler, healthy choices available that bring positive vibes. 
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Sunday 15 March 2015

Exploring Nature, get to know the unknown - African / Mexican coriander

This exotic herb is known in different parts of the world in different names. Here it is known as "African coriander" (African malli, in Malayalam, our mother tongue). The popular names include Mexican coriander, Farang coriander, culantro, spirit weed, fit weed, saw-tooth coriander, saw-leaf coriander, bandhani yah, long coriander etc.

From what I read from the web this herb is widely used for culinary purposes in South America, the Far East, and Africa. It is popular in Assam and Manipur in India; in South India, it is not very common. Hope my blogger friends will enlighten us about this beautiful herb's popularity in their countries.

This herb has a flavor similar to coriander/cilantro, the difference is this is stronger and intense. We may need only a small portion of its leaf to garnish our dishes compared to the more common coriander leaves.

This has two types of leaves. The leaves that are at the lower portion of the plant are long and are about an inch in breadth. They have saw-tooth like spines at their edges. Not at all thorny, they are smooth :). The rosette-like leaves are also present in my plant, they are also palatable. Hope it will flower soon.

The above plant was small when brought from my ancestral home with my mom's permission. She has one more there. They use it regularly in dishes. This is grown in a purely organic way. The potting mix is the same I used to grow ladies finger; details of which you can get from my post about growing ladies finger - the organic way.
http://magicalpresent.blogspot.in/2015/03/organic-okra-ladys-finger-cultivation.html

She has grown well in her new place here with me. I guess she is happy to meet you all, my blogger friends :) She is no fussy plant; requires only little Sun and water.

This exotic herb has been claimed to be having many health benefits besides the culinary uses like garnishing, marinating and seasoning.

The claims include properties like:
  • anti-diabetic
  • anticonvulsant
  • anti-cancerous
  • anti-bacterial
  • anti-inflammatory
  • analgesic
In traditional medicine, it is used for treating hypertension, fever, worm infestation, burns etc. Well, nothing has been proved by well-controlled double-blind studies nor there are uniform acceptance and agreement among the researchers, like in the case of many other herbs said to be having medicinal value. So always get the advice of a qualified doctor before use.

It is actually fun in having a leisure time activity like gardening. Growing herbs, spices, and medicinal plants, as well as flowering plants, are cool ways to bring positive energy. It has become a productive hobby as well in the present day world, considering the value of organically grown produce. Such cool stuff is always in demand all over the world. There are many more exotic herbs still not very well known to people, having unique medicinal values. Besides they improve health in natural ways. The end result is we all feel better!

Enjoy exploring Nature...! Let this also be a cool method to reduce the skyrocketing stress levels. Help the needy, suffering fellow human beings. Identify such rare plants, spread awareness and push the scientific community to conduct research to validate medicinal value claims.

Such activities bring a lot of happiness to everyone. Remember, happiness is our birthright.

The botanical name of this herb is Eryngium foetidum.
  • There are many things still unknown to us in nature. Some things may seem so common, but they may be priceless. Nature still has many secrets and we have just begun unveiling those.
Note: Please read the DISCLAIMER attached to this blog.

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Wednesday 11 March 2015

Indoor gardening, a cool way to de-stress

Greenery indoors is something that makes us relaxed. It is refreshingly cool to see live plants inside our homes. Live plants are not at all difficult to grow indoors, give it some tender love and care, sure they will grow well.

Money plants are the easiest to grow, you may have to keep it once in a while in warm Sunlight. It will thrive well even if there is only limited Sunlight inside. I am growing money plants in water-filled containers. All others I am growing in soil, cocopeat or a mixture of both.

In my experience, we can depend on green lucky bamboo plants with full confidence. As you can see these two plants are placed where very little Sunlight falls. They are growing well, no problems whatsoever. They were never kept outside to in direct Sunlight! I am growing these in a potting mix of only cocopeat and not in water-filled containers or soil.

NASA has released a list of plants that purify indoor air. The emissions from TV, fluorescent lamps, refrigerator etc. pollute the indoor air and such plants help in improving the air quality.

Selection of plants, as I mentioned above, is very important. Even indirect Sunlight is enough for some plants to grow well. Self-watering containers limit the need for daily watering; it helps in keeping the plants hydrated when we go for vacation. I have already posted about making self-watering containers at home.
http://magnificentdewdrops.blogspot.in/2015/01/do-it-yourself-self-watering-plant-pot.html

Attractive containers, beautiful plants...well, let us make our interiors lively.

No doubt, greenery indoors bring positive energy. Such cool sights inside our houses send positive signals to the brain that eventually help in banishing the blues we may experience in life. A clean and lively environment is a sure way to better our mood level. Add some life to our environment inside buildings. Use this to become a better person; let it also be a personal development tool. Plants provide excellent positive vibes.

Let us make our indoor environment also a better place to live.
  • Environment plays a lot in giving us positive energy. Adding a touch of greenery to our interiors is something that makes us relaxed and happy. 
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Monday 9 March 2015

Leisure time activity - Organic Okra (lady's finger) cultivation at home

This is my first attempt at growing Okra/Bhindi/lady's finger organically at home. Fortunately, it has become a success, Thank God😊

Urban farming, as you all know, is challenging. With limited space, Sun and other constraints growing vegetables and fruits, that too organically, is very difficult and frustrating.

Armed with some farming experience in the past, preparing myself ready to accept setbacks, I took the first step in researching a lot, both online and offline, about organic farming at home. I learned that if we want better yield we must get top quality seeds. This has much better resistance to common diseases as well. So went to the Krishi Vigyan Kendra sales counter at CMFRI located on Goshree road near High Court Junction at Kochi and purchased Okra seeds (Arka - Anamika, an awesome variety of interspecific hybrid!).

I mixed organic soil with vermicompost bought from AVT gardenia at Panampilly Nagar, Kochi and cocopeat (a natural, organic soil conditioner made from coconut husks and fiber which has great water holding capacity) from Sterling, Poonithura. To this potting mixture, some cow dung powder and a handful of neem cake powder were also added. Neem seed cake, as you all know, is a good organic pest repellent. Two Okra seeds were soaked in water overnight and planted about two centimeters deep into this potting mix. Within a week seeds germinated. Watered it regularly and kept the pot in the narrow backyard at home where we get some amount of Sun...mind you, this is a metro city in a tropical country, lol, packed with concrete structures all around, not allowing full Sun to get through!

The terrace of my house is already covered with a sturdy aluminum sheet truss work so no Sun :) there too, else I would have tried terrace gardening. There is a balcony, well...will try something out there as soon as possible😊

However, my cute Okra plants grew happily. Now it is only a month and as you can see my beautiful plants have begun producing lovely fruits! These ladies are just a foot tall...! :), there are so many lovely fruits sprouting, as you can see!

I would like to share the joy with all my blogger friends worldwide and decided to post this :)
Buddies, aren't they cute?

In Kerala too, like many other countries worldwide, toxic pesticide and fertilizer usage has resulted in a very high incidence of cancer and other serious diseases forcing people to go organic in whatever way they can. The problems with organic are the genuineness of produce, certification, and exorbitant cost. Many are not at all aware of proper organic growing methods, availability of seeds and planting materials.

My advice to all who venture out into this wonderful task is to go for the easiest to grow plants like Okra, salad leaves like coriander and fenugreek. Remember, Sunlight is crucial. Start small and expand gradually. Watering can become difficult especially if you travel a lot, with no one to help in your absence.self-watering plastic bottle with a wick, I will post something about it asap. It will keep your beauties happy for a week if you use a big soft drinks bottle, no big deal!

Well, pests...if the plant is healthy you don't need to worry about them especially if you have used seeds bought from reputed sellers.

Neem seed oil, tobacco-water concoction and chilli garlic juice, all diluted, of course, are very effective natural, organic pest repellents. These are 'repellents', so use them before pests attack. Online you will find many resources on how to prepare these effective organic weapons against pests.

CMFRI outlet has many organic planting materials that growers would surely need, 'Panchagavya' included. It is a concoction of diluted cows urine, cow dung, milk, curd, and ghee. Organic foliar sprays like fish amino acid emulsion are also available which is a mixture of sardines and organic jaggery.

I didn't feed my beauties with any of the above, they were growing happily in the pot enjoying the potting mix :). Well, I gave both of them a little support with sticks, it is fair...we all need it, something to lean on, isn't it?

Online you will find so many tips about organic soil fertilizers, organic foliar fertilizer sprays, and repellents.

A word about foliar fertilizer sprays, they are the future...micro quantities are only needed to supply nutrition to the plants, they are sprayed, diluted as directed, directly onto the leaves preferably under them. Will explain in detail about its usage later.

Search online about Okra has made me aware of the many important facts about it that I would like to share with you. I am calling Okra, a fruit and not a vegetable. Well, does it matter?

Okra is nowadays recognized as a superfood. It is rich in calcium (82 mg % ), magnesium (57 mg %), (potassium 299 mg%), vitamin C (23 mg %) and fiber. A notable feature of Okra is it is rich in Vitamin K as well (31.3 microgram %). The fiber present in this juicy fruit can prevent constipation very effectively.

The oil extracted from Okra seeds is rich in Oleic and linolenic acid. It can be used as biofuel as well. Roasted and ground Okra seeds is a caffeine-free substitute for coffee. Any experience, anyone?

Okra is rich in antioxidants that can neutralize free radicals that cause serious diseases. The slime / mucilage is claimed to be medicinal; it boosts heart health. Okra reduces homocysteine levels thus reducing inflammation. Some eat Okra raw, no need to tell you, better to eat organic fruit raw, one advantage of having a plant at home :) A few plants are more than sufficient for regular supply for a small family. It is an all year produce. Okra leaves can be put in salads as well.


Okra's scientific name is Abelmoschus esculentus.

http://kvkernakulam.org.in
http://www.coirsubstrate.com
http://www.avtbiotech.com

Organic cultivation is a fun filled activity. Moreover, it has nowadays become a productive hobby as well considering the value of organic produce all over the world. This is a good thing to do with no pollution or environmental damage bringing positive health to mankind. Inspiring people to adopt healthy ways to grow foodstuffs is wonderful.

Another valuable activity that radiates positive vibrations. Moreover, go organic for better health!
  • If there is a will there is a way!
Note: Please read the DISCLAIMER attached to this blog.

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Saturday 27 December 2014

Positive energy, Kashi art cafe, Fort Kochi - an update

Kashi art cafe is a very popular hangout in Fort Kochi.
I have already blogged about this amazing spot before, so please consider this post as an update. Kashi incidentally is one of the venues of the Kochi - Muziris Biennale 2014.

A visit to Fort Kochi will never be complete without a visit to Kashi, that is my opinion :)
This is an amazing cafe where art perfectly blends with coffee and the rest of the delicacies. Just sit where you can enjoy art, well...that means practically anywhere here, sip the cappuccino and you are in sync with the universe!



This massive portion of chocolate cake soaked in a golden brown chocolate sauce is a famous dish and is in great demand all the time.
Reasonably priced, of course😊




The old wooden railway sleepers put into use artistically... brilliant!

Art at the entrance...

Creepers, small plants, and trees intermingle with art and we also form a part of the whole thing, all in tune with Mother Nature!

http://www.kochimuzirisbiennale.org
http://www.kashiartgallery.com
http://magnificentdewdrops.blogspot.in/2014/04/art-and-food-brilliant-combination.html

There is no point in shutting ourselves indoors watching telly and munching on unhealthy snacks feeling stressed out avoiding meeting people. It will never make us feel better. Going somewhere where we feel uplifted, where we may get some clues to solve the problem that caused stress or talk to people who can offer some help are positive steps. When we get good vibes our brain will respond positively. Our subconscious mind will pick up all such good cues and make us feel better.

Some places are fabulous; there is positivity everywhere!
  • Anything, anywhere, anytime by anybody in sync with the rhythmic tunes of Nature will always be a success.
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Friday 26 December 2014

Enjoy art in sync with Nature, Aspinwall house, one of the awesome venues of the Kochi - Muziris biennale 2014

Aspinwall House, a heritage property, is the primary venue of the Kochi - Muziris Biennale 2014.

Cochin (Kochi) was actually the center stage of maritime trade about a century and a half ago. Chinese, Arabs and Egyptians had trade relations with the Malabar coast long before the arrival of the British, Portuguese, and the French. It was the British who paved the way for a well-established trade of spices and condiments involving Kochi port as a major hub of export.

One of such firms was that of the Oughterson & Campbell established in 1844. They sold the business to Finlay Campbell & Co. of London in 1863. Mr. John Hutchison Aspinwall was sent to manage the assets and business in Cochin as a partner. In 1867 when the parent company suffered a stock market crash, the assets at Cochin came into the hands of Mr. J. H. Aspinwall and the enterprise came to be known as the Aspinwall & Co. from 30th June 1867. He was instrumental in developing the Kochi port and was the president of the Cochin Chamber of Commerce.

Bordered by the Arabian sea on one side this beautiful site serves as the perfect location for the Biennale. In the warehouses, buildings and even on the grounds reputed artists from all over the world have showcased their creations.

A swing😊



This is one of the star attractions here. This undulating, curvaceous pavilion was created by Mr. Vinu Daniel. This is the stage of the 'Artists' Cinema' and 'History Now', two parallel programs of this Biennale.

Amazing architecture!





Nice seats, coconut tree logs...:)


http://www.kochimuzirisbiennale.org

http://www.aspinwall.in

The moment we enter some places we feel happier, cooler and uplifted. Those places are said to emit positive vibes all the time. They remain in harmony with Nature resonating with the fluidity of the Universe. It is like undulating waves of soothing energy slowly caressing everything and everyone around. Imagine creative art being portrayed at places like these; it is pure bliss! These are the must-visit places to feel rejuvenated!
  • Some places instill in us wonderful feelings the moment we enter there. Such places get energized by generations of people and the universe also resonate in harmony to each and every element over there. 
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Thursday 25 December 2014

Fluidity of horizons by Parvathi Nayar, an amazing art, Kochi Muziris biennale 2014

"The starting point of these explorations is the dot, the punctum (the point) whose endless iterations..."  I liked it, very meaningful words!

This brilliant artist has included so many facets of the ancient history of the Malabar coast in this work especially the skillful integration of 'astrolabe', an astronomical instrument widely used by explorers during that time.

Beautiful creation!

A must see art, do not miss it ðŸ˜Š

Pepper, dubbed as the 'black gold' and other condiments and spices attracted many explorers to this part of the world that led to a series of historical events which as you all know finally became a double-edged sword - the story of how the visitors became the rulers!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4CZoVIFGQo   watch the interview with the artist.

I have written a post some time ago about the 'Ibn Battuta mall' in Dubai where I have posted a picture of Islamic astrolabe http://magicalpresent.blogspot.in/2014/01/ibn-battuta-mall-in-dubai-theme.html

Artists are creative people. They express ideas in a creative manner stimulating us to think, enjoy and smile :) Art can become powerful tools to convey messages, and it may trigger many complex emotions. It is a powerful medium. 
  • Only art can reflect certain delicate aspects of life.
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