Farm Updates 15th April, 2014 - Fire protection, Tower manufacturing

Fire Protection

There was a fire in a neighboring field due to presence of dry grass and weeds. I understand fire department was pressed into service for putting up the fire as it had engulfed a nearby factory also. Due to hot summer all the weeds have dried up making the area potentially viable for fire.  

Subbu was suspecting that it could be the handiwork of some miscreants who after consuming liquor and ciggrette (or beedies if you like), throw the remains ceaselessly.  In our farm also there is thick growth of

Dried Weeds are prone to catch fire...

these weeds all over which have dried up now. If anyone will throw fire, the whole thing will burn including the little trees that we are bringing up near the fence.  Therefore decision has been taken to shave a portion clean of weeds adjacent to the fence.  This will be done by a bulldoser.  Costing around Rs. 2000/-.

Clearing the weeds also may help keep a check on wandering snakes if any.  But this will increase the temperature on the tender plants.  We need to plan for mulching.

Tower assembly tested before painting

It is for this reason that even though thatched roof tops are always preferred for the coolness they offer, I would advocate first a sheet of metal roofing and then the thatched roof using palmyrah leaves for any shelter that we would build in future.  Especially for animal shelters, inflammable material is strict No No. We can even use asbestos or tin roof in that place.

Presently there is already a resting place, made with dried and mended coconut tree leaves. That is ok as this is meant only for day time shade.  It is a favourite resting spot for workers. 

Tower Fabrication

Meanwhile back in Mumbai, the tower fabrication is in full swing. The required components for rotor and tower are being hand made.  Contrary to my thinking (one more myth gets burst) that the assembly will come ready made from "somewhere",  I could see that they are being manufactured in a large engineering workshop from the basic raw material for me. They are solid iron rods and V bars. That is good news and a proud possession to have.  The above photograph shows the tower that I had ordered getting manufactured.  12 meters in length.

The tower is prepared section by section, bolted and tested for quality check - indoors.  Then it will be painted for rust proofing and then color.  Preparing the rotor is even more elaborate process starting from cutting and welding the plates. Machining the wheels...  Interesting... 

****