Functional Farming: Integrated Agricultural Systems

By on February 19, 2020   /   Agriculture & Farming Cooperative, Center of Development, Education, Empowering Women, Food in India, Global Neighborhood, Health & Wellness, Life in India, Natural Resource Management, Reflections, Social Fund   /   Leave a comment

Integrated Agricultural Systems are a sustainable practice that has economic, environmental, and social benefits. This farming technique is a “whole system” approach that utilizes existing biological relationships (Agriculture Sustainability Institute). It builds upon the concept of agroecology, which is the application of ecological principles to agricultural systems and practices.” (Oxford Dictionary) The goal of integrated agricultural systems is to minimize the amount of impact the agricultural process has on the environment while maximizing production yield.

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The Dual Season – Understanding Monsoons

By on October 11, 2019   /   Agriculture & Farming Cooperative, Center of Development, Education, Empowering Women, Food in India, Global Neighborhood, Health & Wellness, Life in India, Natural Resource Management, Reflections, The Grand Masala, Water for Life   /   Leave a comment

The monsoon season is a dynamic phenomenon that impacts life in many areas of the world. A monsoon is a seasonal change in wind patterns, resulting in extreme wet and dry seasons throughout the course of the year. Though they do exist in parts of North America, they are most commonly associated with nations along the Indian Ocean. It is no surprise then that those in Wayanad, near the Southwestern coast of India, are greatly

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Malnutrition and the Impact on Health

By on February 6, 2019   /   Agriculture & Farming Cooperative, Center of Development, Children's Club, Education, Empowering Women, Food in India, Global Neighborhood, Health & Wellness, Reflections, The Grand Masala   /   Leave a comment

Malnutrition is a public health issue affecting children under the age of five worldwide. 50% of the 10-11 million children under the age of 5 die each year from malnutrition and the preventable health consequences (Collins et al., 2006). Malnutrition is a result of inadequate nutrition to support growth and development of infants and young children. The absence of the essential macro and micronutrients such as protein-specific fats, vitamins and minerals contribute to maternal and

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Health & Wellbeing: Ayurveda

By on January 3, 2019   /   Agriculture & Farming Cooperative, Center of Development, Education, Food in India, Global Neighborhood, Health & Wellness, Life in India, Reflections, The Grand Masala   /   Leave a comment

I recently revisited a cookbook a friend gifted me a couple of years ago. I wanted to make Indian food at home and practice combining & balancing spices. I didn’t realize Healthy Indian Cooking for Vitality and Wellness by Monisha Bharadwaj would be a jumping off point for me to delve into basic ayurvedic wellness practices. As Monisha states in her cookbook introduction, Ayurveda is “an ancient Indian science of holistic healing and herbal medicine

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The Benefits of Purchasing Locally Grown Products

By on August 1, 2018   /   Agriculture & Farming Cooperative, Center of Development, Education, Empowering Women, Food in India, Global Neighborhood, Health & Wellness, Reflections, The Grand Masala   /   Leave a comment

Many people do not ever consider going to a local market or the local section of their neighborhood Whole Foods Market; however, there are countless benefits from eating locally grown foods.  Locally grown foods support the community economy, the environment, and are healthier for you. Supporting your community and it’s economy is easy when you buy from local vendors.  By buying products from local farmers, your money remains in the community and supports the wages

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