Subho's Jejune Diet: What's Love Got To Do With It?

Subho's Jejune Diet: What's Love Got To Do With It?: There is no conflict that cannot be resolved through dialog. This belief of my mentor is at the heart of what I try to do with my life – in ...

Tale of a terrace gardener and rice husk

Being active on Facebook has become a time consuming job. I have neglected my blogs, neglected my readings and am only showing off my collections, which are not much anyway. But I learnt a lot of techniques , and being the newbie gardener that I am, I am eager to try it all out and get a (self)pat on my back, with a bounty harvest. When one has garden friends, achieving  bountiful harvest by using Panchgavya or Jeevamrithum, or whatever else, one  wants to try , organic of course, and prove to oneself ( and to other friends ) that one can activate nature to offer a basketful. I learnt to use cocopeat, and other stuff, and have a terrace garden and called myself organic terrace Gardener. Felt good. All that changed recently.

                               

I stumbled on to a FB group of knowledgeable, qualified and inspiring gardeners, who are harvesting such magnificent capsicums and lettuce, gourds, and cucumbers. I got hooked. Though the language was different, I scanned for days, to see the English versions too, embedded somewhere in conversations. They were growing it all by themselves, without relying on those chemical fertilisers. I saw in awe , the rows of neatly arranged platforms of grow bottles with special growing medium, full of greenery. I learnt that it contained soil, compost and some pig/chicken manure etc., most of which was not in my reach. 

                                

As I dug deep into their conversations, I was drawn more and more into their style of raising vegetables, which could feed a family of twenty at least. Rows and rows of recycled plastic containers, used in innovative ways, inspired me. I already knew how to cut a Coca-Cola bottle and put growing medium. I had raised some greens and felt very pleased. Here I saw the bottles were pretty big. That set me thinking, to find where in my dear city I am going to get those. I started looking at scrap shops, wherein the guy used to look at me strangely asking for impossible sizes of soft drink / or any other used bottles. ( I have not located any so far).

After scrolling through pages and pages of conversation , I figured that they were using some rice hull.  I know what the stuff is. After all, I grew up on my grandfather’s land holdings and seen them stack those stuff in summer. But to get rice hull in Hyderabad area seemed remote. I searched the Ice depots, requesting for information. I re-read the FB conversations. I Googled. All pointed out to the one thing that I must procure, to improve my growing medium and, and the yield. 

                      

Meanwhile, I noticed that another young garden enthusiast( Mr.X), had already procured some rice hull and was kind enough to share the photograph with the other FB friends. He was also generous to share the location where he procured it, a remote place from where I lived. Luckily another equally enthusiastic, experiment minded, excited gardener too wanted a look at that magic ingredient. That made two of us, trying to travel to the outskirts of our city, to add a special ingredient to our plants,resulting in good yield.:-). 

We both were, busy ladies, who are needed at home, our absence will be felt if it was more than two hours.

It took us weeks to plan the visit,contemplating how to get to that unknown area where paddy was being de-husked and hull was strewn about. We also bombarded the person who already bought it. 

Finally , the trip was in place,but it was raining heavily, next, it was threatening to rain, and another day, a forecast that it might rain. We waited. We were also worried that the roads may be lonely. It might not be safe for ladies to go that far, in an auto, to an unknown area.

What can stop determined gardeners?

One fine sunny evening, we did make the trip. It was a long drive, luckily on the main roads. We had to ask a few people on the way, and found the place, pretty easy.( after almost an hour’s journey by auto).The auto driver was very nice and helpful , and patient with two ladies and a child, trying to reach this rice mill. When he understood, he was smiling wryly. ( madcaps?). 

Added to that we also caused mild sensation ,to the helpers in that place, who were delighted that two well-dressed people came all the way from city, for the hull. We were asked to shovel them in the bags, ourselves, and we did that. (Gardening makes you do strange things). We came back, mighty pleased with ourselves, and a lighter purse due to the racy meter, and exorbitant auto fares. Never mind, we had the satisfaction of getting what we sought.

Well, this is not end of the story.There is another procedure to this. One is supposed to carbonate the hulls to add strength to the growing medium. Our enthusiastic Mr.X has already demonstrated how to do that, on the social web sites. Now you know , readers, it is not fair on our part to leave job incomplete with the damp hull. We need to learn to carbonate. That will be another long story…

All pictures except the first one is Courtesy Google.

Reblogged from here , due to Indigblogger connectivity difficulties.

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the orchestra of life: Bare Reality

the orchestra of life: Bare Reality

WITHER INDIAN YOUTH?

This is a post from one of my good friends from the Internet. I would like to promote this post , for the issues it raises.

The link here

WITHER INDIAN YOUTH?

 Some disturbing trends proliferating in society catch your attention and you can’t help mulling over them. My observation in two states in the span of a few months has convinced me that a particular malaise is widespread and a telling symptom of the moral collapse of the youth of our country. How our youth is increasingly being misguided into a self destructive mode, is a point worth pondering! There seems to be a complete erosion of values which guided all of us in the past.

The case in point is the increasing inclination towards irresponsible drinking habits amongst our young population. A few days back we were on our daily walking regime in the park, when I saw some littered stuff near a bench. On closure inspection, it became evident that some people had a drinking session in the safe twilight hour. There were plastic tumblers, left over of snacks and small liquor bottles scattered there. On enquiry it was revealed by the residents who have their residences around, that some boys invaded the peace at night, guzzled alcohol and  were forced to leave by some brave hearts with a warning.

However such elements roam freely, indulge in questionable behaviour and pose a danger to the peace loving citizens. These are the ones who violate laws, snatch chains, commit day light robberies, and take part in kidnapping to make easy money. They indulge in drunken driving, cause accidents and take innocent lives. One can imagine the fate of their families suffering in silence. But can they absolve themselves of the blame? There are many such worrying examples reported in the press day in and day out.

A similar scenario, confronted me inHimachal Pradesh. One day, while enjoying a morning walk on Nahan road, we saw card board cases of branded liquor bottles, eatables and glasses thrown indiscriminately by the side of the newly constructed parapets. At many places empty bottles and food stuff containers are seen littered on the road itself. What impressions are created in the vulnerable minds of children, who pass by such scenes on their way to school? Once I saw stray dogs licking left out liquor in the abandoned glasses

The disillusioned youth take recourse to wrong choices and naively think that such actions make them trendy, in sync with the fickle world of movies. Most of the movies are harbingers of negative aspirations among the youth. They try to relate themselves to the larger than life images shown on celluloid and get a jolt, when these acts land them into trouble and public censure. For example drinking, sex and nudity are integrated in the screen play for its own sake, to titillate the youth who constitutes the large chunk of film goers.

Drinking has become a fashion these days even among highly educated and respectable families. There is always a danger of social drinking leading to alcoholism which has ruined many families. Murders, rapes, suicides and other forms of violence under the influence of liquor are daily occurrences these days. Women and Children are the worst victims of such episodes.

Since the excise duty on alcoholic drinks is high and also Governments earn huge amounts as revenue in the auctioning process of liquor joints, the ruinous effects of drinking are sidelined for the sake of taxes which get generated to fill the empty state coffers. Mushrooming of vends selling this stuff is evident every where, when you drive through the highways.

The easy availability of alcohol without any checks emboldens our youth, too young to gauge the consequences of their dangerous forays. A few months back(as reported in the newspaper) a couple of school girls, accompanied by boys, skipped their tuition classes and went in for experimenting with drinking and were found vomiting in a park by the police. In ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ and ‘Rock Star’ the heroines drink liquor neat and I’m sure, that was the inspiration for these girls to copy the act. These poor girls didn’t know perhaps that it was part of acting, at the most with coke filled bottles. One can imagine the stigma and lifelong mental scars which the girls and their families will have to suffer in a society which slanders rather than supports.

Many parents in their pursuit of glitzy possessions remain oblivious of the activities of their wards thinking that they’ve discharged their duty if they stuff their children’s pockets with moolah. Such an attitude of indifference and neglect results in the undoing of the children. Avoidable tragedies happen and the families are doomed for the rest of their lives.

Here are a few suggestions:

Parents must monitor their wards' lives to the extent possible. They should be weaned away from excessive use of addictive phone applications and virtual cyber world, which isolates them from the real world resulting in psychosomatic problems, which can wreak their lives.

Parents’ and teachers should always keep the communication channels open with the children and teens, creating a comfort zone where they can discuss their problems with them freely.

A provision of counselling for all kids should be there in the school curriculum, where such habits take birth.

The teachers must encourage children to frequent libraries and help them choose good motivational books.

Taking part in sports should be compulsory for youngsters to canalize their energies in healthy pursuits

T.V. viewing should be monitored and time limit put in place.

Rich parents in place of spoiling their kids with expensive gifts should take interest in their lives and imbibe in them the spirit of giving to the less fortunate.

Vocational education for teaching employable skills should be introduced from lower levels to ward off frustrations. All children are not made for higher education.

Elders should lead by example rather than by precept.

The Police must take stringent action against violators of law and judiciary must ensure speedy justice with deterrent sentence.

Members of civil society should not look the other way when they see teens indulging in unlawful acts. Concerted efforts by all sections of society are needed to steer the youth towards the right path.

*****

Please feel free to share your comments on the link in Ms.Uppal's blog post.

Idiot box not idiot anymore

Idiot box not idiot anymore

Colours in my garden on a overcast day

It is raining almost all over the country. Yesterday was wettest in Hyderabad, I think. It was pouring throughout, the dampness is all-pervading., it is dark, even in the day time. Toady is little better, but still the sun-god has not appeared. I have been coughing since days, the weather not helping at all.

Today I feel a little better , and  am awake by 5 a.m. It is pitch dark outside. By 6.a.m. it is still dark, clouds hanging over the sky. I am eager to see my plants in the aftermath of leeching by incessant rains. I tip toe to the terrace, with a cup of coffee..

The sky is gray, but the plants .. I gasp. They are bathed in rain drops, but the colors.. my.. worth writing a blog about.. Please  enlarge and view the Pyramid :-)

 My Pyramid!

My Tomjal

 My calcutta paan

The Seethaphals are the major attractions for the birds, and the Kabhootars.

Hey forgot to show off my new nursery plants.. all from Vanastri.. More on the in the next post. Happy gardening.

Friends, the Indiblogger is refusing to accept my original post from here . Therefore I had to re-post for my friends from Indiblogger. Apologies.

For clearer picture Updates, please view here

Trees, Plants & more: Water conservation

Trees, Plants & more: Water conservation

Water and a City- Bangalore

http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/festival/play/5453/Water-and-a-City/VmtaV1JrOVdRbEpRVkRBOStF

All those friends, who are interested in water conservation, might like to have a look at this.

Wish all the cities in India make rainwater  harvesting a reality and benefit. Is anyone listening out there?

Lalbagh Flower show, a kind of scoop, Pattu's Terrace Garden

This season, when you  are in Bangalore, you are amazed at the cool and moisture laden air. In Hyderabad, though it is pleasant, once the rain stops, we are back to our dry weather and hot climate. You are also attracted the idea of going out often, as living in the city connects easily the  various places by friendly autowallahs, though heavy on the purse.

I anyway wanted to scout in Lalbagh for some Edward roses , and cajoled the hubby to accompany me to visit Lalbagh. And there we went, by 11.30 A.M. on Tuesday.

What greets us.. Surprise Surprise. the Flower show! Well.. not exactly...only the arrangements and various trucks and props, and flower plants being unloaded, and workers busy , with the Glass house cordoned off. It seems the show is to kick off on 8th or 9th, and we missed the actual show by a whisker.

Other places were teeming with screaming school kids, otherwise, it was pleasant and balmy. The gardens appealed to me , and as usual, I could not help comparing it with  our very own Public Gardens, which has so much space, and so much official apathy.

Anyway, I turned on corner to go the Nurseryman Society , and saw first hand what will be displayed in the vegetable sections during the show. If this is not Scoop... What else is ?:-)

Let me share with you, with pride, the container grown veggies , some of which I captured in my Cell phone.

    

I am sure all of you will agree that I can't help admiring those container grown gourds,

( which keep failing me ), and share them with you , in admiration.

While I was browsing through, I found more pictures, and have added them to the post, later, updated.

THIS POST IS FROM "PATTU'S TERRACE GARDEN" re posted here due to Indivine problems. Thanks for bearing with me.