Farm

Moringa oleifera is a plant that is often called the drumstick tree, the miracle tree, the ben oil tree, or the horse radish tree.

Moringa has been used for centuries due to its medicinal properties and health benefits. It also has anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-depressant, and anti- inflammatory properties. The tree is native to India but also grows in Asia, Africa, and South America. Moringa leaves and pods are a nutritional powerhouse that provides a great range and amount of essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals. It is a rich source of essential amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins.

According to the USDA, Moringa pods also contains a significant amount of vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6, folate, and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Its mineral wealth includes calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. It contains a very low amount of fats and offers no harmful cholesterol. Various research studies have shown that Moringa exhibits certain properties which offer the following health benefits.

Most parts of the Moringa including the leaves, bark, fruits and roots are used as food items. Leaves of its tree can be added to salads and are also used in the preparation of sauces and soups. Moringa leaves are a great alternative to meat, because of the high protein content, especially for vegetarians. It contains the amino acids arginine and histidine which are essential for infants and it is also a boon in combating malnutrition in the underprivileged regions of the world.

The immature seed pods, popularly known as drumsticks in India, are used in various culinary preparations.

Moringa extracts are extensively used in the manufacturing of creams, ointments, oils, and moisturizers. Cold Pressed Drumstick oil is used for cooking and is appreciated for its long shelf life.

MORINGA AT OUR FARM
We have planted moringa trees which are AS Native, PKM1, PKM2, Karumbu, etc. in the sprawling virgin land of around 20 acres.

Besides its unique flavour and fragrance, guava has been hailed as one of the super fruits due to the numerous health benefits it offers. It indeed is a powerhouse of nutrients. “This humble fruit is extraordinarily rich in vitamin C, lycopene and anti-oxidants that are beneficial for skin and mind. Many scientists believe that the high levels of anti-oxidants and vitamins in guava leaves may help protect the heart from damage by free radicals. Aavaaram Organic Farm has its favourite pink guava in the sprawling of around six acres. Our fruits are very tasty and it became the “want of the fruits” among the buyers and customers. People from Bangalore, Chennai and Puducherry started ordering our fruits periodically.

Aavaaram Senna(Cassia auriculata) is a common tree in Asia, which has been widely used in Indian traditional medicine. Aavaaram Senna flower, which is called as Tanner’s cassia is bright yellow in color. The dried flowers and buds have many therapeutic benefits. In Ayurveda, Aavaaram Senna flower is used for treating diabetes. The wonder flower gives longevity to life. Aavaaram Senna flower is widely used as a home remedy for skin disorders and body odor. It is also used for the treatment of pain, fever, urinary tract disorders, rheumatism, conjunctivitis, ulcers and liver disease. It is also a natural source of anti-oxidants.

Palmyra, Borassus flabellifer, popularly known as panai maram in Tamil, is the official tree of Tamil Nadu. It is called karpagavruksham and is highly respected because all its parts can be used. Palm trees were the main source for sugar and jaggery till seven or eight decades ago. It has been slowly vanishing from the landscape, forcing environmentalists and NGOs to step up their efforts to protect the ancient tree. It can withstand drought and grow strong.

People have started demanding for palm products since there is an increasing awareness about its health benefits. Once the use of palm products increases, the number of palm trees would also increase automatically. The Palmyra offers its produce to the people throughout the year. There is Neera (the sweet juice of its fruit), Toddy (obtained by fermenting the sugary sap of the shoots), Nungu (a fruit with a soft inner kernel holding sweet water which has cooling properties) panangaai, Palm fruit, palmyra root, thavun, jaggery all of which have healthy nutrients in them. There are innumerable medicinal uses for all parts of the palmyra. The healthy alternate sweetener which can be obtained without harming the environment and without spending so much energy is this palm jaggery which can be used as an alternate to cane sugar. It is known to be rich in minerals, iron, zinc, calcium and potassium, along with some short-chain fatty acids like polyphenols and anti-oxidants. It also has a low glycemic index than regular table sugar

Pirandai, Cissus quadrangularis, is a perennial plant of the grape family. It is also known as veldt grape, adamant creeper, asthisamharaka and hadjod. Pirandai is largely available in India and Sri Lanka. Pirandai has been widely used as a medicinal plant since ages. In Ayurvedic, it is used as a medicine for stomach disorders and even as a poultice for sprains. It is a very rich source of some minerals, which are necessary for proper functioning of human body. It has been used in various Ayurvedic classical medicines to heal broken bones and injured ligaments. We manufacture our value added products of pirandai from the plants that are grown in our own farm.

Mudakathan, Cardiospermum halicacabum, commonly known as the balloon vine in English is a climber having balloon like fruits. It is mostly found in the villages and peripheries of Tamil Nadu. “Mudakathan Keerai” in Tamil, the name originated as mudaku+attran means “the one that relieves/alleviates pain”. The names itself suggest that it has strong anti-inflammatory properties. Its strong anti-inflammatory properties make it an effective home remedy for rheumatoid arthritis and nervous breakdown. The plant also has special gastric benefits and mild laxative properties. The leaves, roots, seeds and the baby leaves of the plants are used for medicinal purposes.

Thoothuvalai, Solanum trilobatum is an amazing herb with various medicinal uses and health benefits. Thoothuvalai leaves are traditionally used for treating cold, cough, asthma and also for thyroid. The leaves contain rich amount of calcium, iron, phosphorus, carbohydrates, fat, crude fiber and minerals. It is also called as purple fruited pea egg plant. It contains natural anti-bacterial, anti- inflammatory and anti-fungal property.

Vallarai, Centella asiatica, also known as Brahmi leaves is a very popular medicinal herb used widely in India. It has been used as a brain tonic for ages. The research says that it is known to re-vitalize the brain and nervous system, increase attention span and concentration, combat aging and improves blood circulation. It is rich in anti-oxidants and good for people suffering from gastric ulcers. With lots of medicinal properties, vallarai deserves to take place in our daily diet especially for kids and youth.

Mango, Mangifera indica is one of the delicious seasonal fruits grown in the tropics. Botanically, this exotic fruit belongs to the family of Anacardiaceae. Mango, known as “king of fruits”, is a tropical tree cultivated in many regions of India and now its farming has been extended across the world in many continents. It is a member of the drupe family, a type of plant food with an outer fleshy part surrounding a shell that contains a seed. There are hundreds of varieties of mango, each with a unique taste, shape, size and color. Some of the varieties include Alphonso, Sindhuri, Malgova, Totapuri, Neelam,Banginapalli, Ratnagiri, Raspuri, Kesar, etc.

Mango is a low-calorie fruit that is high in fibre, vitamins and minerals. It also helps to boost immune system, protect eyesight, and also helps in keeping indigestion at bay. This tropical fruit is refreshing, juicy and delicious, and like most fruit, it has some great nutritional benefits.

Sapota, Manilkara zapota, also known as Sapodilla or Chikoo, is a tropical evergreen, fruit-bearing tree belongs to the family of Sapotaceae. Sapota fruit is a storehouse of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, glucose, tannins and calories. Ripened sapota is a great source of minerals like potassium, copper, iron and vitamins, folate, niacin and pantothenic acid. These compounds are vital for overall health because of their involvement in metabolic processes in the body as co-factors for different enzymes. The wide array of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants found in the sapota fruit makes it an amazing choice for healthy and glowing skin. The milky latex secreted by unripe sapota fruits known as chuckle, forms the base for making chicklet and chewing gum. The varieties of sapota include CO 1, CO 2, PKM 1, etc.

Amla, Embelica Officinalis, commonly known as Indian Gooseberry or Nelli is an important crop in India with high medical value. The translucent green fruit, which derives its name from the Sanskrit word ‘Amlaki’ meaning “nectar of life”, can protect us against countless ailments, be it the common cold, cancer or infertility. Ayurveda doctors claim that amla can help balance the three doshas (Kapha/Vata/Pitta) in the body and eliminate the underlying cause of many diseases. Amla is one of the main ingredients in almost all Ayurvedic medicines and tonics. This superfood is often promoted for its powerful anti- oxidant property.

Curry leaves, Murraya koenigii, Also known as Kariveppilai, Kari Patta and Sweet Neem leaves. Curry leaves are extremely aromatic and have a distinctive flavor. Curry leaves are best suited for cooked applications such as boiling, steaming, or sautéing. They are commonly incorporated in southern and western Indian cooking and are used similar to bay leaves. Curry leaves are native and are prominently used in the southern and western parts of India.

In India, Curry leaves have been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine since ancient times and are believed to have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. The leaves can be boiled into a tonic or ground and used as a stimulant to keep the digestive system working properly and hair and skin healthy.

Curry leaves are herbs that are known to have essential nutrients that help in conditions like weight loss, blood pressure, indigestion, anemia, diabetes, acne, hair loss, etc. This aromatic leaves has nutrients like copper, calcium, phosphorus, fibre, carbohydrates, energy, magnesium and iron. They also possess many types of vitamins like vitamins A, B, C and E and amino acids beneficial for health.

Papaya, Carica papaya belongs to the family Caricaceae, also known as pawpawis a tropical fruit having commercial importance because of its high nutritive and medicinal value. Total annual world production of papaya is estimated to be 6 million tonnes. India leads the world in papaya production with an annual output of about 3 million tonnes. Although there is a slight seasonal peak in early summer and fall, papaya trees produce fruit throughout the year.

It is a rich source of vitamin A and C. It also has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti- inflammatory, anti-oxidant properties. The fruit, as well as the other parts of the papaya tree, contain papain, an enzyme that helps digest proteins. This enzyme is especially concentrated in the fruit when it is unripe. Papain is extracted to make digestive enzyme dietary supplements and is also used as an ingredient in some chewing gums.

There are various herbal plants that we planted in our farm that includes kadukkai (Terminalia chebula), thandrikkai (Terminalia bellirica), holy bazil, stevia, lemongrass, nilavembu, manathakkali (Solanum nigrum), kantakari, aloevera, aswagandha, vasambu (Acorus calamus), nerunjil (Tribulus terrestris), Henna, Hibiscus, Avuri (Indigofera tinctoria) and Nochi (Vitex negundo).

In Integrated Farming, various agricultural practices such as cropping, animal husbandry, fishery, forestry etc will be practiced together at the same place. Agriculture practiced with animal husbandry not only gives additional income and employment opportunity to the family members around the year and also livestock excreta utilized as manures lowered the cost of fertilizers.

The main aim of integrated farming is to reduce the use of chemicals by converting the farm waste into nutrient rich vermi-compost. The other advantage of integrated farming system also includes optimal utilization of resources, sustaining the soil fertility through organic waste recycling, reduced production cost, avoidance of soil erosion and generation of regular employment. It also help in environmental protection through effective recycling of waste from animal activities like piggery, poultry and pigeon rearing.

In Aavaaram Organic Farm, we integrate the agricultural practices such as cropping, animal husbandry and fisheries. The livestock that we rear in our farm includes cow, goat and country chicken. Also, we manufacture our own manures from the livestock excreta available from the farm activities.