HM's Food & Wine Magazine » Sharada KC

Organic Agriculture – Modern of Ancient

Sharada KC — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:09:16 +0000

This issue is about answering the questions of our readers. The readers have been sending me questions regarding organic agriculture being ancient or modern practice. In previous issues, I may have mentioned about the name “organic” origin. I have come to few conclusions after my research. It may not sound concrete but still it will provide some limelight to the topic.
Older technique may sound not practical as per experts’ saying due to low yield productions. The question arises how larger civilization feed their big population for instance Cambodian, Siam, Maya, Harappan or even Sumerians. Even Mahabharata and Ramayana talk about sage and king living for hundreds of years. How could it have been possible, it may sound fiction but definitely, due to good food, yoga and meditation. One region in Bolivia representing Amazon is filled with huge population based on the heart of Amazon. The technique we called raised bed fields surrounded by water filled Canals for irrigations. The soil taken out of the canals used to be added at the fields providing natural nutrients to soil to produce healthy crops. Infact it helped to re-fertilize it yearly, in other hand it helped canal being swallowed by removing marine wastes. It also helped to lower the heat in tropical region like Amazon creating natural air conditioner for the crops and surroundings as well.

In Peru, near Lake Titicaca similar system to Amazonian was used which provided frost protection from cold and wind in night. The anthropologists figured out how this system could help the local farmers with larger populations. They aid local farmers in Peru for renewing the fields which resulted the increased production of potatoes per hectare from 2-3 tons to 8 tons. This shows that even without using any artificial fertilizer how ancient techniques yield the production of crops.
The interesting story of Hanging Garden of Babylon, one of the wonders must have enchanted you. Have you ever thought how flat, plain land of mesopotamian could have such a fertile beautiful layered garden built by king to please his wife to preventing from being home sick?
The similar world heritage site in Peru, Machu Piccu referred as Lost City of The Incas reveals the stone terraces holding soil to sustain the cultures. It is quite interesting how they carried soil from the valley bed in basket with hard labor. This clearly proves that using what we have can create great fertility without hazard. >>Read More

History of Organic Food

Sharada KC — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:56:00 +0000

We have covered so much on Organic food and culture. The question still remains in when did it started? Many people are quite aware to organic growth in Nepal. Today, Nepal has reclaimed its organic food culture and even organic export is increasing day by day. Nepal is sending organic food to many nations by organic village and other organizations.

Organic farming has been in existence since long time with small farms where family members used to get involved with crop rotation using the cow dung’s and rotten plants or grass as manure. Many of us have seen the use of ash of dried plants makes a good fertilizer. It was a common practice in every household which is still in existence in our villages. My father in law at the age of 79 still makes and effort to use it and stands in healthy condition. The conversation with him opens up the elaborate view of organic farming however he is not aware of the word itself.

We all are quite aware of Nepali Kauli (Cauliflower) grown in villages and valleys few times ago. The taste is different and better than one tasted abroad. Even today when my father in law brings potatoes, greens or other vegetables from our own garden, it tastes 100 times better than commercial ones. The commercial grown vegetables and fruits need to be washed at least 3-5 times to get rid of unnecessary pesticides and it doesn’t work on full fledge. >>Read More

Organic Pesticides

Sharada KC — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:05:53 +0000

Organic pesticides are products developed from plants and minerals and used to kill or control insects. Natural pesticides have been used for hundreds of years to control pests in and around homes. A product labeled “organic” or “natural” does not mean that it is not hazardous. Some organic pesticides can be more toxic than synthetic products. All pesticides, no matter how it is labeled, should be handled with caution and used as recommended on the label.

Most organic pesticides are registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and can be used with other natural substances or with synthetic substances to control a specific insect. You should never mix natural substances together, however, because you could produce a mixture that could prove hazardous to humans and mammals, pollute water, kill fish and birds, or kill good insects along with the pests. Manufactures of pesticides, however, produce useful products using natural substances, such as Pyrethrum, Rotenone, Ryania, and other minerals to target specific pests. Here are some of the natural insecticides used in pest products today: >>Read More

Skin Care Organically

Sharada KC — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 19:26:34 +0000

We live in an organic world, and we are organic beings. In terms of skin care, there is nothing much to say. Living in harmony with nature is perhaps the best skin care advice.
There are perhaps hundreds of skin care products in the market today that seem to lure you into buying them by saying they are natural. Further inquisitiveness would prove they are not what they prove to be by reading the back labels. Always remember that whatever substances we put on the skin of our body, they eventually end up inside our bodies. Scary, isn’t it? Most artificial substances used in skin care products are actually carcinogens that gradually build up in your system and become full-grown problems in the coming years.
Unfortunately, “natural” or organic skin care is not FDA regulated so that products with even one percent of organic ingredient can be called organic or natural. The following are chemical offenders you need to watch out for.
Formaldehyde and imidazolidinyl urea are preservatives. The former is found mostly in nail polish, nail hardeners and cosmetics. Both have been associated with causing unfavorable skin reactions. Synthetic fragrances, being artificial, should be avoided. Opt for perfumes that contain natural fragrance or those coming from essential oils for your organic skin care. >>Read More