[BolliBatlu]

Though there was not much development in 'terrace/indoor gardening' arena a few important relevant developments have happened. I have also not made any progress on blog as I am waiting for (a) subsidy for terrace/indoor gardening (b) formation of terrace gardeners association. Forget special subsidy theough smart city project, even agriculture department subsidy is not available to urban farmers. Let us see what are relevant developments.

'Terrace Garden' set up at Milagres College

St Aloysius College holds workshop on grafting as part of Saavayava Saptaha
Valedictory of ‘Savayaya Saptaha’ held at St Aloysius College

Hope AIMIT can go for 'Saavayava Informatics' which includes all organic 'agropocessing informatics' which is much wider than what I am trying through berake attilu for food processing in a non-formal way. (I don't think IISc Online Database of Plants is as informative as we want. Let us wait & see what Mangaluru University does at Belapu for coastal and Westernghat plants both terrestrial and marine). In the berake attilu dictionary I am listing edible usages (I thought by adding things like glycemic index, gluten index, acidic/alkaline pH 1 2 3, nutritional value it will become a wikipedia instead being a dictionary hence avoided; may just add a vaata/pitta/kapha tag later for ayurveda diet against each dish with nutritional value) of plant parts but have left out non-food/non-medicinal usages which is useful for manufacturers of saavayava products like perfumes, soaps, organic plastic (it may be preferable to use organic plastic in farming for various uses like mulching, covering against frost but bioplastics are still dangerous for animals like cow and marinelife) etc. 'Saavayava Informatics' can include agriculture informatics, manufacturing informatics, service informatics covering primary, secondary, tertiary 1 2 sectors of organic economy (i.e can cover full saavayava vertical). Who knows just like saavayava vegetables delivery apps we may soon have saavayava products delivery apps for example saavayava homefood delivery app (wait, you can buy a robocook soon to prepare fresh food in traditional style - Japan roboticists predict rise of the machines - need not bother about evils of processed food, just give order to your servent robocook through mobile phone, hot food will be waiting for you as soon as you reach home). And organic farming apps and organic manufacturing apps. Later when enough knowledge is acquired AIMIT can introduce a degree in 'Saavayava Informatics & Management'. Various regulatory requirements 1 2 3 4 (organic regulatory informatics & management, regulatory compliance management apps; currently regulations are there only on organic food/medicine? products; non-food like cosmetics, textiles & others may also be regulated soon) can also be taught as part of this degree.

Main advantage of plastic industry is extent of automation leading to high productivity hence low costs. (manual labour generates more jobs but less productive ones). Not only labour costs but material cost is also high as in many cases makers have to search for resources in forests. People have stopped using cane baskets, mats due to their high cost. If we want organic economy to compete with plastic economy then we have to increase productivity & raw materials availability levels. The best way to increase availability of raw material is cultivating them like done by budding entrepreneurs here by growing bamboos themselves - Bamboo straws to eliminate plastic. Various plant waste parts which are grown mainly for other reasons can be tried out - 1 2 3 4. There is tremendous scope for automation of saavayava economy in each of its sectors. (we have already discussed about apps). For example, for manufacturing sector automation we need machines for cane splitting/weaving/knitting (like Mallige Maalaa Making Machine, Coir/Fibre/Grass/Seagrass Matting Machine), leaves stitching (for example, Moode Making Machine), pot making (want to try moulding or 3D printing 1 pots? how about automated assembly line for this) etc to achieve neccessary productivity level. Our engineering/diploma/ITI and other colleges should help by inventing these types of affordable machines.

Organic Economy has tremendous potential for increasing rural employment. In one of old posts we discussed about strengthening rural economy by developing a homebased industrial model for textile and apparel sectors similar to beedi industry but automated. A similar model is needed for saavayava economy.

Along with raw materials an ideal/smart village should be optimally self-sustainable in energy, fuel (biogas, solar etc) to support its industries, homes & transportation.

Currently the central & the state government policies are very poor not favouring the growth of agro-based economy hence organic enconomy. Where is policy for special agriculture zone on which DK MP harps so much? - 1 2 3. But we need policy giving more importance to dometic usage of organic product & rural employment than agriproduct export per se. (we will discuss more on 'urban x rural' & economic agglomeration in my upcoming series of posts titled 'Globalization x Localization'). So, don't expect plastic/bioplastic 1 2 ban to be successful anywhere in the near future!

Originally Posted by BolliBatlu

Jackfruit, in fact superfood, is emerging as main ingradient for vegan food as raw jackfruit chunks can be substituted for meat in various western meat-based recipes. I am going to list other local vegan substitutes in 'berake attilu' (बॆरकॆ अट्टिल्). ... Vegan food is gaining popularity in western & other developed countries due to environmental 2 3, ethical and health 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 reasons. ... It is important to know about various diets like vegan, paleo, keto (& mark it so on product manufactured) & their market potentials (better to train foodproceesing/nutrition/dietitian students on them including ayurvedic diet, siridhanya diet etc; is there ayurvedic food processing & ayurvedic complaint ready made foods as per dosha? many ayurvedic doctors forget to list all diet items hence we need apps for ayurvedic, siridhanya etc; ... ) ... Domestic & export potentials have to be explored not only for food products but also plant-based other organic products (सावयव उत्पन्न).

World population is growing. Demand for food, fuel etc is also growing. More food and fuel means more harm to environment and more unequitable growth. Why? Let me just focus on food. More food means more fertilizer; more fertilizer means more mining. Even organic agriculture needs certain amount of mined products. If we continue meat-based food habits then we need more food for feeding animals; hence need more land, more fertilizer. Endless needs. At the end some will have luxury vehicles, homes, meat and others will have nothing. If you are a socialist then your 'socialist economy' goal of equitable growth can not support luxuries like personal vehicles, meat-based food habits etc. That means along with 'organic economy' we also need 'vegan economy' (purely vegan may mean plant & human generated organic fertilizers) or at least 'vegetarian economy'. You know sugar is also unhealthy luxury product (luxury because growing canes consume lot of water) and hence we may also need 'sugar-free economy' (not rationcard supported 'free-sugar economy'). But how to build sugar-free economy? Yes, this economy will have policies to support healthy sugar substitutes just like vegan economy supports meat substitutes. Sorry if I sound like a 'communism reformer'! I will write more stuffs relevant to this in my upcoming series of posts titled "Globalization x Localization". At this stage it may be premature to talk about development of dedicated software apps for vegan or combined vegan & organic economy.

Nature has blessed us with vast sea to explore for saavayava resources. As far as seaweed is concerned we can continue to focus on shallow seas of regions like Kundapura and then Lakshadweep before moving to deeper seas. Anyway from Lakshadweep seaweed raw materials, if they can not be processed there itself, can be supplied to food processing plants, animal/fish feed plants, fabric factories, fertilizer plants, biofuel plants, paper mills, packaging/labeling industries, cosmetic factories, wastewater treatment plants etc in main land through waterways. We have to explore other sea plants also like seagrass 2 3 4 for fibre, mattress/floorings/rugs/carpets, furniture/baskets, fertilizer, heat insulation, bandages, paper/packaing, biomass for biofuel 2 etc (i don't know whether seagrass straw can be used for drinking bonda; 'tape seagrass' seeds are edible). And then mangroves, marsh grass etc. There are more sea flora listed here to explore for organic usages - Coastal and marine floral biodiversity along the Karnataka coast (no idea whether CMFRI has carried out any survey for non-food seaweeds & other sea plants potential in the region). Shallow waters of Udupi-Karwar & Lakshadweep stretch is useful for growing sea plant forests 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Most of sea plants are food to marine animals and we have to compete/share with them in a sustainable way unlike what we have done to terrestrial animals. And we can try to grow in abundance local varieties to preserve our local biodiversity and other sea plants from other regions of the world which can be adapted to sea climate here & then harvest in a controlled sustainable manner. By reviving marine flora we should be able to revive back marine fauna which was effected by increase in carbon dioxide level of sea (could help in controlling jellyfish population - 1 2) & scarcity of plant-based food sources. (organisms like planktons 1 could anyway enjoy plastic-free sea) All we need is one research & innovation institute to explore possibilities.

It is joyful to learn that people are coming up with ways to avoid usage of plastic in farms - multilayer farming 2 3.

#KissTheBonda challenge to give up plastic straws

Search in google for "natural straw" if you don't want to kiss the bonda! But you can express your love towards plants used for making straws by kissing the bonda.

Mangaluru restaurant packages food with banana leaves after appeal by MLA
Caterers in Kudla use sugarcane bagasse plates
Mangaluru man develops Ganesha idol that grows into plant
Go green with clay diyas this Diwali

Organic farmers’ federation opens outlet to sell products in city

Revival of traditional home industries after plastic ban

Local daily Udayavani has carried out a successful rainwater harvesting campaign. Here are a few sample links.

ಮಳೆಕೊಯ್ಲು ಅಳವಡಿಸಿರುವ ಹಲವೆಡೆ ಧನಾತ್ಮಕ ಪರಿಣಾಮ
ಮಳೆಕೊಯ್ಲು ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಅಳವಡಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ಧನಾತ್ಮಕ ಪರಿಣಾಮ
ಮುನ್ನೆಚ್ಚರಿಕೆ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಯಿಂದ ಮಳೆಕೊಯ್ಲು ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಅಳವಡಿಕೆ

I hope Udayavani (& other media including local TV) will come up with similar campaigns for 'urban gardening' and 'organic (saavayava) products'. Say, it can cover all endeavours of Tuluvas in primary to tertiary sectors of saavayava economy including about people producing saavayava products, people selling it in their shop and people using it at their home by publishing about them just like it has published about people who have implemented waterharvesting.

Manipal academy creates 'Mini-Palla' to harvest rainwater

Rainwater harvesting made must in Udupi

The Department of Horticulture would give free training on creating and maintaining terrace gardens to those who implement the rainwater harvesting, said Bhuvaneshwarai, Deputy Director of Horticulture.

Miyawaki Forest to come up at Katapady

Govt. keen on preserving environment: Poojary

Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyasa Kamath said a green urban project in which urban forests would be raised at select locations in the city would be launched. He said there is a need to make rainwater harvesting and sapling plantation compulsory.

‘Use open spaces to plant saplings’

The city has scope for planting saplings in available open spaces. It is advisable to avoid planting saplings of trees on the roadside due to logistical issues, said P. Sridhar, Range Forest Officer, Mangaluru, here on Wednesday.

Yes, as posted earlier concentration of trees with huge canopies will hinder pollution of vehicles escaping from road to outer atmosphere irrespective of whether they purify a certain amount of air or not.

Forest dept to plant 9.8L saplings in DK
20 lakh saplings to be planted in Udupi district

Saplings planted for the first Miyawaki forest in city
Urban forest set up in Kudla
Identify locations to create urban forests: Swamiji

Read these articles also Miyawaki forests are no substitute for natural ones: Experts, The Miyawaki Method: A Better Way to Build Forests?. As I posted earlier wood & leaves (fallen or through controlled harvesting) of miyawaki micro forests also can be used for biochar (activated wood charcoal), ash, organic fertilizer & pesticides in home/terrace/indoor garden.

ಗಿಡಗಳ ಸಿರಿವಂತಿಕೆಯೇ ಇವರಿಗೆ ಜೀವಾಳ !

After Swachcha Bharat now give up plastic campaign
Material recovery facility to be set up in DK, Udupi

Rainwater harvesting: Blend traditional and modern systems, says expert

‘Develop eco-friendly practices’

But here are some worrysome news

Why moode may soon fall off Mangalurean festival menus 24/8

I hope urban Tuluvas can save मुंडॆवु (common screwpine) culture by growing in pots in terrace. Screwpine can be used in production of various saavayava products - 1. Yes, screwpine leaf plates are more healthier than plastics for wrapping food.

Shankarapura jasmine costs Rs 1,250 per atti now

According to growers in Shankarapura, the prices are usually high during October-May, being the season for weddings and other auspicious events. However the heavy rain that lashed the region in the past fortnight has resulted in poor yield, jacking up its price.

Growing jasmines in greenhouses during rainy season may be a solution in future. But best way may be to invent something equivalent to multilayer farming.

One thing I missed to write while writing advantages of terrace/indoor gardening is, even if India's population hence food requirements does not grow in future drastically and hence no pressure to grow more food, urban farms will help in growing non-food farm products for supporting wider range of saavayava economy by diverting redundant farmland to this purpose and may also in converting farmlands back to forests.

By the way, one of Udayavani article was talking about water towers on top for storing water (if I remember correctly even for rainwater harvesting, link is not available now). Here is something else - West Coast Tallest Building To Use Water Tanks To Counter High Winds. I think along with storing water some of floors where enough natural lights available (higher floors are better) but wind effect is minimum (you may have to use some means to reduce wind speed in higher floors) can be used for gardening. MCC can encourage this by giving permission to additional floors for this purpose. But there is also risk of people diverting these floors to other purposes like basement floors.