Author: Sagar
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Garlic & Thippili Spiced Soup
Poondu Thippili Rasam Traditional Tamil cuisine comprises numerous recipes that are as medicinal as they are flavourful. Medicine and food were not considered to be two distinctly separate aspects of living, in the manner in which it is often regarded in the modern era. Food was seen as that which nourishes the body, mind and…
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Drumstick Flower Sambar
The magnificent nutritional value of Moringa, or Drumstick leaves is quite well known, and they are still widely used in the cuisine of South India, but the flowers on the other hand have been somewhat forgotten. Drumstick flowers essentially work as a boost for the male reproductive system; helping alleviate conditions such as oligospermia, infertility…
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Kuthu song
Music, like food, is an essential part of life. Music has always been integral to the emerging Permaculture at Solitude Farm. Krishna’s band EMERGENCE is as much a fruit of the work as are the sweet papayas! In this video, we share with you a day at the farm; harvesting, cooking, eating, dancing, and celebrating.
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Agathi Keerai
Sesbania grandiflora / West Indian pea, Jayanti Agathi keerai is the Tamil name for this plant, also known as the Hummingbird tree or Flamingo Bill because of the characteristic shape of its flowers. It is a fast growing tree which thrives in plenty of sunlight. In Asia, this tree’s leaves are used in cooking, and…
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Insulin Plant
Chamaecostus cuspidatus These days what is commonly known in India as the Insulin Plant, is a species native to eastern Brazil. Its contemporary name comes from its anti-diabetic qualities. For a food to be accepted into our diet its medicinal benefits alone are not enough, it should also be palatable. The insulin plant leaves are…
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NAIMEH’S ANNATTO DYE
Native to tropical regions, Annatto is a natural yellow–orange dye obtained from the plant Bixa orellana. Annatto colorants are used in several ways, extensively in the food industry. Annatto preparations are also used in makeup products and in textile industries. This batch of the dye was made from seeds my dear friend Krishna McKenzie collected…
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Soil, Earth Divine
Bhumi Devi I walk out into the millet field as the light breaks into day. Looking at the stalks that emerge out of the earth, holding the heads of grain as though they were a humble offering to the continuum of all life, and it is self-evident – that as life begets life, the soil…
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MANGO LEAF
Mangifera indica Besides taking into account the primary produce from their farm by which a farmer can gain financial benefit, it is worthwhile, especially in today’s economic environment, to consider some other alternative ways in which they can earn a supplemental income. Using the leaves from the Mango tree can be one such possibility, as…
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Foxtail Millet
‘Thinai’ Setaria italica Millets in general are nutritious, tasty and easy to grow, thriving on seasonal rain and requiring little to no irrigation. This makes them a viable and sane option to consider adopting, or rather re-adopting, as staple foods. One of the earliest dated cultivated Millets (back to 8,000 years ago along China’s Yellow…
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Basil pesto
A pesto is a super customizable green sauce, traditionally consisting of basil, pine nuts, garlic and cheese. We, at solitude, have made it local! Basil grows everywhere in the country. It can be planted in gardens and in pots alike. It can easily adapt to varied weather conditions and soil types. It has multiple culinary…