Fish farming in open Ponds and Paduthakulam in Kerala

This is Rosen Fisheries, Marathakkara from where I bought my GIFT Thilapia. It is a huge farm and have dozesn of large and small both artificial and natural ponds and lakes. They breed, raise and sell different species of fish like GIFT Thilapia, Nutter, Rohu, Mrigal, African Vala, Ornamental fish and even Vanami Prawns.

Fish farming in Paduthakulam in Ollur Thrissur Kerala

Fish farming is widely done in Kerala. But raising fish in Paduthakulam or water filled Silpaulin sheet layered Ponds are getting popular in Kerala. The photo shows a Paduthakulam in my house in Ollur of size 18 x 8 x 2 ft. in which I am raising a batch of 40 GIFT Thilapia's and 10 African Vala fishes. They were 2 inches in length when I bought them 50 days ago from Rosen Fisheries, Marathakkara. Growing up fast. now almost 200 gms and 5-6 inches long.

Brinjal Curry for Chappathi

Brinjal or Egg Plant is an excellent vegetable to make a curry or Subji for Chappathi / Roti. Vazhuthana as known in Malayalam is used by Mallus mainly in Sambhar or as Thoran which is not that good for Chappathi. But this curry here is very tasty made by my wife. Saute thin slices of Brinjal in a pan. Add sliced Onion, Tomatoes, Garlic and green chillis. Add salt and a pinch of sugar. Slow cook to make a dry but soft curry. The side dish is made of Basil leaves, Tomato, Red Chilli (Kanthari) 4 nos. Salt, extra virgin, Olive oil etc. Blend all of this in a Mixie.

Salad made of Basil onion tomato ivy gourd chilli salt and olive oil

Peperomia Pellucida or Mashithandu

Peperomia Pellucida or Mashithandu is a common green plant in Kerala. Used by Mallus to clean the Slate, it is not given any importance. This edible plant is good to make Salads and will scavenge all free radicals in the body. Powerful anti-oxidant, diuretic and renal disorders, lowers BP, Cough, Fever, Headache and Rheumatic Joint pain.

Purslane or Uppu Cheera

Purslane or Uppu Cheera is a common green plant in Kerala which is edible and highly nutritious also. It has the highest Omega-3 presence among plants.It is also a good source of 17 type of Vitamins and anti cancer flavanoids and is highly recommended for Liver cancer patients. It's anti fungal, anti inflammatory, anti bacterial & anti viral properties makes it one of the wonder veggies in Kerala.

Go Green Plant Something

The world is poised to fight a very serious problem of Food shortage by 2020 and beyond. The Climate change and natural disasters like Flash Floods, Severe Drought, Cyclones and Typhoons etc are testing the nerves of farmers worldwide. Crops are getting beaten up by the Global warming and Climate change. Food will be expensive and in short. Local Food security and turning to our own resources from nature will help to tackle the situation to a great extent. People all over the world has to explore the local edible plants and greens that can be included in their diet. A lot of species of edible plants are not used by modern people in their menu. Here is my humble initiative to introduce some local plants which are edible and highly nutritious and medicinal as well.

Fresh cut Parsley Celery and Basil at Home in Ollur

Parsley, Celery and Basil freshly cut from my backyard today morning.... I am planning to introduce a "Green Basket" at Green Kuriachira Open Market where these leaves along with other local edible leaves of Uppu Cheera, Muthil, Thazhuthama, Sambar Cheera, Muringa Ela etc. will be introduced along with the recipes on how to include them in our daily Menu. These leaves are medicinal and have great powers to relieve several ailments and enhance our health. 

Violet and Green Cabbages harvested at home in Ollur

Dried Irumban Puli for Achaar

Cabbages harvested at Home in Ollur

More Grapes harvested at Home in Ollur

Grapes harvested at home in Ollur

Pumpkin and Ash gourd at home

Celery and Parsley at Home in Ollur

Sugar Cane at Ollur Home

This 'Karimbu' was a discarded chopped off piece of last years "Malakayude Perunnal". 

Israel Lemon at Ollur Home

Robusta Pazham at Ollur Home

Violet Brinjal at Ollur home

Jackfruit Cornflakes Dates Power Breakfast of Kerala

A sumptuous breakfast with Kerala's seasonal delicacy "Chakka", Dates, Millet Corn Flakes etc. Ripe 'Thamara Chakka' sliced into small pieces, dates split by half, a bowl full of 'Pristine-Millet-Cornflakes' boiled in water. Add some Cardamom seeds, Cumin, Dry Ginger Powder, Jaggery etc to make a sweet and delicious morning breakfast. You can substitute Milk for water, add Cashewnuts or Badam as you like to make it more Yummy.   

Custard Apple Harvest at Ollur

Custard Apple is making me happy. Back to back two seasons with around 25 fruits on a small tree. 

Cherry Tomatoes at Ollur Kerala

Hybrid Cherry Tomatoes are getting common in Kerala.

Salad Cucumber

Hybrid Cucumber on my terrace at Ollur

Lucky to grow these Winter vegetables in Thrissur Kerala in the month of March

Cabbages (Green & Violet) Carrot, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Capsicum, Strawberry all Winter crops grown in Ollur, Thrissur, Kerala that too in the month of  March. Unbelievable right ? But this is the proof. Kerala is ready for the Winter crops. A lot of people are cultivating Cabbages and Cauliflower. But I was lucky to grow these major players.

Home grown Ginger

Nadan Inji sometimes go very costly. So I decided to grow some at home. This is great harvest and will be sufficient for a month. I have to plant more in April. 

Irumbanpuli just 2 years old. Pruning was helpful in the early flowering. One more trimming this monsoon will boost the plant growth I hope. Salted puli dried in the March sun is great for Irumbanpuli achar.