GoodSeeds.IN and Jiva Organics are Joining Hands

We are delighted to announce the combination of the organic food component of goodseeds with Jiva Organics.  Together, we will continue to grow both the brands – goodseeds as a market platform for all categories of sustainable products & services, and Jiva Organics focused on expanding our quality organic products range – fruits, veggies and grocery items.

What does this mean?

• More organic product choices; improved availability of items
• Together, we could ensure better quality and authenticity of organic products
• Our products will be available through goodseeds bazaars and our online portal; We would increase of delivery frequency significantly as well
• We will be able to work with more farmers and farmer groups across the country
• We could offer many classes, workshops and events around popular topics such as home gardening, traditional foods, millet cooking, etc., on a regular basis

How will it work?

• At present, no change. One can respond to Jiva’s weekly mails or order via email, call-in, order from goodseeds.in or call goodseeds’ contact numbers – the products delivered will be from same/similar sources.
• All the organic food products will be gradually merged under the Jiva Organics banner. GoodSeeds will continue to provide the marketplace (bazaars, http://www.goodseeds.in, and partner outlets) for all sustainable products including organic food
• Jiva and goodseeds deliveries will continue as is, and will gradually get integrated

  Why are we coming together?

• GoodSeeds brand has grown and prospered as a community based marketplace. Our vision is to spread awareness towards sustainable living based on 3 planks – 1) Health, 2) Liveihoods and 3) Environment, all based on our traditional wisdom including Ayurveda.
• Jiva Organics brand has grown and prospered as a high quality delivery service of organic products.  We have constantly endeavoured to provide authentic, affordable and the highest quality organic products to our consumers, simultaneously providing information on their nutritional benefits and usage.
• By bringing these brands together, we can build our marketplace better, offer the highest quality eco-friendly products and enable livelihoods.  Our customers can enjoy more choice, easier access to information and products and enjoy better value.

We are excited and hopeful on this new journey and look forward to the continued support from our community.

Narayan K Murthy & Shyam Penubolu

http://www.goodseeds.in  |  97044 96664  •  98495 14854

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How Much Do We Know About Organic Veggies and Fruits?

The latest craze all over is finding and consuming organically grown produce.   Conceptually, this sounds great; Do we really understand what organic means? And do we fully understand where and how these are produced?

What do we mean by organic? Is it just no chemicals or pesticides spayed on the plants?  Or do you think that the farmer did not enrich the soil with any chemical fertilizer and just used natural compost?  And what went into that compost anyway?  Just plant-based muck or some animal dung too?  And, what were those animals fed with?

Oh, we have not even asked what kinds of seeds were used to grow the plants that produced those ‘Organic’ fruits and veggies!

Confused? You are not alone. Even many of the farmers who I have interacted with have their own views on what they consider as “organic”.

What about those resellers?  Do the people who sell us organic fruits and veggies know what they are giving us?

Many resellers do not put in the effort to understand or verify what they get and simply pass on to the produce.

So, what can we do to make sure that we know what we are paying for and eating?  Here are a few things to ponder:

• The more local the produce is, the more organic it would be.   If we are looking for those Californian zucchini’s and broccolis in Hyderabad, we must be already compromising in ways we don’t know
• Knowing our farmer may not be a bad idea.   Why not pick up a weekend to visit an organic farm with the family?
• Let’s grow our own veggies and fruits! Home & balcony gardening can be fun and rewarding too.  Many of the home garden enthusiasts will bet their life on the taste and healthiness of what they grew!
• Let’s spread knowledge and seek knowledge.  How about being a part of a local community farming project?

Any other ideas we could explore?  Feel free to post your thoughts or write to me.

Narayan K Murthy | narayan@goodseeds.in | +91 970.449.6664 | http://www.goodseeds.in

Micro Greens, Another Exciting Addition to Your Kitchen Garden

Microgreens are tiny edible greens grown from vegetable or herb seeds.  They are harvested when very young – just 1-2 inches long including the stem and leaves. Microgreens can have wonderfully clear, intense flavours and they are certainly a very pretty addition to your plate, with their delicate and often colourful appearance.

Micro greens are simply “early” versions of greens or herbs that are less than 14 days old. Small in size “micros” are exceptionally tender and intensely flavored. Specifically selected for their unique flavor or color, micros are a stunning visual and flavorful addition to almost any plate.

Power-packed
More health experts are turning to microgreens for their nutrient value. Don’t let their size fool you; the mini leaves have more nutrients than grown leaves. In fact, a study has shown that the minis might have four-40 fold more concentration of nutrients. While sprouts contain proteins, other varieties of microgreens like young radish, has vitamin C. Red cabbage leaves have vitamin C and K and cilantro has lutein and beta-carotene. Also, young broccoli is packed with sulforaphane, a compound that is said to inhibit cancer activity in cells.

What are they?
A microgreen is that stage of a plant’s growth when its first leaves appear. These can be leaves of tiny greens, lettuces or herbs, harvested when they are young and about an inch or two tall. Microgreens are used to enhance flavour in dishes and as a visual component. They are young seedlings, so they have a fresh taste. Grown from the same seeds you use when you plant a crop, they are harvested in just a week or 10 days. They are not to be mistaken for sprouts. And once cut, you have to consume them quickly or else the colour starts to fade, the freshness decreases and it starts growing (optimum taste is when it’s between one and three inches).

Please let us know what you think.  If you have more questions, please contact Vijayalakshmi K Rao – kvlrao2@gmail.com.

Checkout for more such reads at http://www.goodseeds.in and http://www.fb.com/goodseeds.

 

Is Living Healthily an Expensive Proposition?

narayan k murthy

The other day, I was meeting a supplier who brought with him a few organic food product samples.  We were meeting in a crowded coffee shop in Secunderabad on a rainy evening.

Very soon we realized that our conversation and the table filled with organic product samples was catching the attention of people in the adjoining table.   Unable to contain his curiosity, a middle-aged gentleman from the next table got up and came over to have a conversation –

“Sir, can you tell me, why these organic food items are 2 to 3 times expensive?”

And without waiting for my answer, immediately followed it up with, “I am diabetic, can you tell me if eating organic food help me?”

I keep getting such questions all the time and feel like I am getting better in answering such questions every time, but the other person probably leaves still unconvinced.

Yes, to…

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