Israel Lemon in Ollur Thrissur Kerala

My Blog although has the name Blogsownkitchen has photos of many plants. It looks awkward for the visitor but the fact is to run a kitchen, one needs vegetables and fruits apart from other food items. My aim is to grow organic vegetables, fruits, fish, cereals like corn etc. and use it in my kitchen experiments. I love Western food, Mediterranean, Middle East, Asian and Fusion food. I mix and match the recipes of various cultures. I chop some fresh veggies from my backyard, add a dash of chilli, Olive oil and Turmeric powder and little salt to make some salad or soup. There is no fixed quantity, measurement or routine chef job. I post it on the web so that people get inspired by my simple recipes and organic farming methods. Please call George 9895039531 for any assistance.
Seen here is Israel Lemon which produced one Lemon which was originally on the plant when I bought it. It never flowered after that for the last 2-3 years. I am pruning it and giving enough organic manure. I bought it for Rs. 350. I have other Fruit trees like Pommegranate, Grape, African Cola Nut and Rambutan as well which had some flowers and produced zero or some poor quality fruits and less yield. The people selling these plants in Kerala are either greedy and selling sub standard plants with a huge price tag. I have seen fruit plants with price of Rs. 3500 per plant which they say is imported from Thailand and Australia etc. Who knows. I feel it is logical to grow local fruits. 

Kili Njaval for the Birds and for Jamun Lovers

Kili Njaval is a miniature from of Njaval Pazham or Jamun. It also resembles Grumichama of the South American continent. It looks and tastes exactly like Njaval. But the flesh is very little. It is recommended for diabetics to control the sugar level. As the name suggests, a lot of birds flock on the tree once the fruit ripens. This is my share of food to the birds and giving back to nature.

Organic Ginger farming in Ollur Kerala

Ginger one of the most essential spice in Kerala cuisine is grown in my backyard completely organic. I water it with the nitrogen rich water from the fish pond. Cow dug of grass fed cows. Ginger borders my pathway and also is handy when I make Beef Kaya or Beef Kolli.

Organic farming of Tapioca in Kerala

Tapioca or Kappa in Kerala has achieved a star status now. The staple of poor man and the working class which was available for Rs. 8.00 a Kg 5 years back shot up to Rs. 40 per Kg. now. The Chips and Wafer manufacturers in Kerala started large scale operations and the junk food generation started munching packets of Kappa fry in various forms when they cannot get their hands on Lays etc. Star Hotels and Thattukadas in Kerala started to experiment with Kappa in various names and forms. Even foreign tourists were offered the unique Kappa Kanthari mulagu chammanthy. Farmers in Kerala started to cultivate Tapioca in large swathes of land to meet the demand. Some how Cassava as it is known in the west got an untouchable status in Kerala. The lavish weddings had special stalls offering authentic Kappa meen curry, Kappa mulagu, Kappa Beef dishes to boost the value of the once humble Tapioca.
Seen here is "Payasa Kolli" as known in Thrissur with its unique rose and pink skin. It is a very good combo with beef. 

MANGOSTEN in Ollur Thrissur

Mysore Puvan Vazha in Ollur Kerala

I had Robusta Banana in my backyard for the past 6 years. Then I thought of having more varieties of plantain in my collection. So I planted this Mysore Puvan, 2-3 Tissue culture Nethra Vazha, one Chengalikkoden Nethran and one Palayankoden.  

N 18 Rambutan in Ollur Thrissur Kerala

N 18 is the new star among Rambutan. I planted one in my backyard and is growing up. 

Organic Elam or Cardamom in Ollur Thrissur

Organically grown Elam or Cardamom in my home in Ollur Thrissur. The plant was brought from my cousins house in Kattappana, Idukki. It is 4 years almost. Waiting to see it flower and give me some fragrant and spicy Cardamom. It is carefully nurtured in the shade of a Papaya, Kili Njaval, Mexican Wood Spinach. Ollur is too hot for the poor plant.

Organic Farming and Aquaponics in Ollur Kerala

Organic farming is catching up everywhere and so is in Kerala. The dumping of toxic and pesticide laden fruits and vegetables to Kerala market from the neighboring states have woken up the Malayalis. I am doing my share of helping my family to avoid such unhealthy and disease causing diet. Here is my Paduthakulam where I rear GIFT Tilapia and also cultivate vegetables near to it so that I can use the Nitrogen rich water in the pond to water the veggies. Also seen is organically grown Mint in the pond in a styrofoam box. The Mint automatically gets water and nitrogen from the pond. No need of soil to grow. 

Organic farming in Ollur Kerala Brinjal or Vazhuthana

Brinjal or Vazhuthana is a very good vegetable which has medicinal powers also. Organically grown Egg plant or Aubergine is much sought after by food connoisseurs. It is staple in Mediterranean recipes. Baingan Masala is a top menu item in North India as well. 

Organic Banana Farming in Ollur Thrissur

Nenthra Vazha is the King of Kerala Plantains. Nenthra Pazham is the identity of Malayali household. Ollur Krishi Bahavan recently gave away free Tissue culture saplings to farmers in the area. I too got 4 pcs. Seen here is one Nenthra Vazha growing slowly to maturity probably next year for Onam. 

The importance of Fish farming in Kerala

Fish is a staple dietary item of Keralites. Fish is consumed in large quantities in Kerala and the favourites are Chala, Ayala, Kayal Meen, Karimeen, Vala, Chemmen, Neymeen etc. Malayalees also consume dry fish along with rice. But the fish available today in Kerala markets are highly toxic, contaminated and have deadly bacteria in it as per newspaper reports of nov 2016 (malayala manorama) People are knowingly eating fish as there is no option . Tonnes of fish are eaten in kerala everyday and the demand cannot be met by the fish caught in Kerala waters. So fish comes daily from Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Andhra, and Goa to Kerala. Fish is also imported from Thailand, Indonesia and Gulf countries like Oman to Kerala. The highly toxic chemical sodium benzoate which is used in very limited amount in canned foods as preservatives is found in high levels in fish caught from the sea and sold in kerala markets. Also the presence of formalin, another chemical used to preserve dead bodies in morgue is used to preserve fish. Bacteria's which causes various diseases are found in the fish.
This is where organic fish farming in Kerala should be given top priority. Fish can be grown in small Paduthakulam, Cement Tanks, PVC Tanks, Ponds, Lakes and Paddy fields. For urban people, Paduthakulam is a very convenient solution. I made one which is of dimensions 20 x 8 feet and 2 feet deep. I am growing GIFT Thilapia successfully for the last 2 years. I even sold fish and used it for my own kitchen. Last month, we made some fishing rods and caught fish from our own back yard. It is pure fun for the whole family and relatives. Also I provide my family and friends organic fish which is great in taste and rich in essential nutrients. Please call George 9895039531 for setting up your own fish farm in Kerala.