As 2024 drew to a close we decided to toss out the old and bring in the new as regards the many ways of stepping into a new year. Instead of being sleep de-prived and possibly hungover, we woke up on the 1st of January 2025, fresh as larks and sure of step. As was customary, we had however raised a toast, together with our fathers, to the year that went by, with gratitude.
Together with our “farming partners” and friends, Naju and Rajit Seth of D -58 we set off to enjoy lunch in the Sun-drenched and green openness of Zemya farms, where we have leased a ‘farmlet’.
After feasting our eyes on the produce of our piece of land, we sat down to a gastronomic delight which was literally from ‘Farm to Fork’. We started off with a freshly cut salad of carrots, radish and beetroot on a bed of lettuce and then graduated to ‘palak and methi’ pakoras. ‘Mooli paranthas’ followed close on the heels of the pakoras and not to be outdone, ‘makki ki roti’ and ‘sarson ka saag’ made a dash to the lunch table, while white butter and chunks of ‘gur’ tempted one and all. When we thought, we had done gorging ourselves, ‘gaajar ka halwa’ made an appearance and, stuffed as we were, we could not resist it. Needless to say, the food was delicious, and was prepared in the kitchen of Zemya Farms.
All in all, the first main meal of 2025 was a feast, and very fulfilling since we did not have to partake of undesirous toxins in the name of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
The meal was peppered by spirited conversation and lots of laughter which perhaps may have been given a nudge by some grape juice!
