Hello, fellow wellness enthusiasts and spice aficionados! I’m here to share the enchanting tale of turmeric, a spice that’s as rich in colour as it is in history. It’s more than just a kitchen staple for me; it’s a tradition that transcends time, and its virtues in healing and cooking are unparalleled. At the Dayboro Micro-Farm, I’ve had the unique pleasure of witnessing turmeric’s transformation from a humble root to a powerhouse supplement that sits on your shelf and improves the growing media for your seedlings.
Growing Turmeric
Every turmeric capsule begins with a journey, and mine starts under the golden sun of Dayboro, where warmth meets the perfect patch of earth.
Finding the right home for my turmeric plants is crucial, yet I am a farmer on a learning journey, trying as we go. They need just the right amount of sunlight, a gentle breeze, and rich yet forgiving soil. I scout for locations where temperatures linger warmly around 30 degrees Celsius, and the pH of the soil is as balanced as nature intended, between 5.5 and 7.5. It was not an easy task, but I found that my efforts in improving the soil were on the right track. It holds water and has a reasonably consistent temperature due to my mulching efforts.
Once I’ve nestled each rhizome into its cozy bed, I step back and let nature take its course. With the monsoon’s farewell, I ensure each sprout gets its share of attention, watering just enough to quench its thirst without drowning its spirits. As I walk through the rows, I treat them with organic feed, guarding them against the threat of overindulgence and wondering how it is possible that the BOM got the long-term forecasts wrong yet again. No El-Nino to be found.
My turmeric isn’t just growing; it’s thriving. I defend it against the fungal foes and pests with nature’s weapons—neem, turmeric’s bioactive protectants, and a vigilant eye. So far, I have been lucky to keep taps on it.
Harvesting Turmeric
As the turmeric rhizomes from last season lay drying in my “root cellar”, I reflect on this process’s beauty. It’s a time of transformation, where patience plays a key role. This is where we turn the corner from traditional farming to the modern marvel of health supplementation.
After the harvest, my turmeric embarks on its next adventure. It’s a journey from the earth to the jar; every step is infused with care, trial and error, and plain old research.
There’s something almost meditative about cleaning turmeric. I run my hands over each rhizome, feeling the soil’s roughness and the skin’s nubbly texture. Each one is washed with a gentle yet thorough touch, stripping away all traces of the field. Then comes the peeling – unveiling the bright, orange flesh that promises vitality and health.
Drying is no less an art. Gone are the days of sun-dried spices scattered haphazardly on a cloth. In my “kitchen”, the powdered turmeric is spread evenly on drying trays. After I pulverated them in my trusty Vitamix, a sea of golden dust that catches the light. I use low heat (not higher than 30C) to coax out the moisture, a process that preserves the potency of the spice while locking in the flavour and the curcumin – that precious compound that gifts turmeric its healing prowess.
Grinding and Powdering
When the drying is done, the grinding begins. The dried turmeric is brittle, crackling with readiness as I feed it into the grinder. The whir of the blades is a familiar sound, one that heralds the creation of something fine and powdery. The air fills with a pungent aroma, a cloud of spice that tingles the senses as I sip my coffee during the process.
Now comes the blending – a symphony of flavours and health benefits. Ginger is one-tenth of the total turmeric, with its sharp bite and soothing warmth; black pepper is one hundred of the total turmeric. You only need a little bit, a zesty companion that unlocks turmeric’s full potential, and the same for the nutmeg with its sweet, earthy whispers. Each ingredient is chosen for its contribution to wellness, creating a blend that’s more than the sum of its parts.
The blending is done, and the encapsulation beckons. It’s a meticulous process, one that requires precision. I measure the golden powder, now a mix of turmeric and its faithful companions, into each capsule. Using a capsule press I fill each capsule with the right amount and press them shut, it is an artform that is easy to learn and not before long I have a jar full of goodness.
It’s essential to recognize what goes into our bodies, and as I hold one of these capsules, I’m not just looking at a supplement—I see a tiny, encapsulated universe of nutrition. Each capsule is a trove of curcumin, the active component that grants turmeric its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant might. Something my knees, back, neck and shoulder scream for, I firmly believe it helps me move around and contributes to my exceptional beauty 😉
Each capsule is encapsulated, the carbohydrates, the proteins, and the fibres. It speaks of vitamins like B6, C, and E, and it whispers of minerals like iron, potassium, and magnesium. It’s a testament to nature’s bounty that I’ve captured in these small golden vessels, starting with a bare patch of land a few years ago.
The benefits of turmeric are vast and well-versed. It’s not just about supplementing a diet; it’s about enriching a lifestyle. These capsules are my daily ritual, a promise to my body that I’m caring for it with nature’s finest. They’re not a magic pill but a companion to a balanced diet and healthy living.
Turmeric has been linked to reducing inflammation, a boon for those with joint pain or arthritic conditions. They’re thought to boost the immune system, and in times when health is more precious than ever, I find comfort in this. The capsules might even protect against chronic conditions, playing a preventative role as proactive as potent.
As I seal the lid on the last bottle of the day, my heart swells with pride. This process, from the first turn of the soil to the final press of the capsule, is more than a job—it’s a passion. It’s about bringing a piece of the farm, a piece of the earth, a piece of healthful tradition to your daily routine.
In every capsule, the sun and rain blanketed the farm, the care and attention of traditional farming, the wisdom of ancient spice blends, and the precision of well-proven non-chemical induced health science.
Start growing your own herbs and food now, and replace the sloppy grown plant matter they call food with nutrition-rich proper food.