Narada, the Fight and All is Well

In puranic times there was a character called Narada Muni. He was the most traveled sage and used to be both wise and mischievous.  There are a number of parables about him which used to be bed time stories for children. He would kindle the ego of Gods and create a fight between them  (mostly Vishnu and Shiva). In the end it will turn out to become a moral story.

Likewise there was a domestic fight between me and my spouse. It was so intense for 2 days, she was accusing me of dumping too much of resources on to the farm project. She ordered for immediate reconciliation of accounts and stoppage of farming. It was 12 past mid night. I had to fight back, lest a loose end here and there could spoil my entire project for eternity.  

The next day luckily, i could prove things right, took time and explained the moral behind each of the expense incurred.  Investing in Farming is not for immediate livelihood. But it is definitely for a better future. 

As used to be done in corporate houses, the one who creates allegations against any project would be given the whole responsibility of that project itself, i passed on the baton to her to run the show.  She did indeed took charge,  called Subbu, took stock of the things, started creating some assignments. The changes would include firing two female workers for the time being because of their  performance also because there is no need to carry water manually across,   and start planting some marketable crops and so on...

In the bargain some of my plans remains altered, but that is justified. I can catch up.  Poor Subbu was fully motivated and given target to create Value out of the farm.  (Subbu thus has a direct reporting and a dotted reporting). As for me it is good that someone also take responsibility and farming will not be a lonely activity.  And I can continue my pursuit of dreaming green.

All is well at the end.

A good news and Fun News

The Good news is that Subbu is father again.  His wife has given birth to a cute male child in a local hospital in a town called Kalakkadu. It was a normal, but assisted delivery.  He already has a daughter. All are wishing him a complete and satisfied family and he is thrilled.

The Fun is that there were thief's yesterday in the neighborhood. Must be a gang. They have looted a brass lamp from a nearby temple in Shenbagaramanallur. Nothing else.  On their way back they have crossed over our farm, broken the lock of the small store  room and removed and put all things outside. No article is stolen. But fun is that they have wiped the brass lamp with a cloth and left the cloth over there. Someone from the gang had taken the sickle and chopped few plants in the darkness. May be to reduce his tension.  We have given police complaint which was a long procedure for Subbu today. Many of the officials are known to us as they are from neighborhood. The thiefs also must be from not far away.

Farm Update 13-Aug-2014

Rainfall History for 10 years near my Farm

There is no rain yet.  The last time some rain poured was during summer in the month of May due to an unscheduled cyclone.  This month, while the monsoon is seen raging all over the country and breaking records in Mumbai, here in Tirunelveli and surroundings, there is no rain. Not a single drop. There is no sight of even clouds. This is corroborating with the rainfall history in this region.

The rain is not likely to come untill October. Therefore we have 1.5 months to go. That is a challenge and  I should endure this, I should demonstrate survival on a dry land.

Wind Water pump is working fine.  Daily we are able to get between 2000 liters to 5000 liters of water. It is enough to maintain the trees kept around the fence. Water is poured in alternate days per plant.

I have asked the team to go at full hog planting all vegetables around the tower in small sections. This is basically to test the whole system, learn and generate more seeds. All these are indigenous varities. Brinjal, tomato, ladies finger etc.  There is also some millets sown to experiment.

The water pressure is enough to create sprinkler system to start i guess. I have asked subbu to purchase a sprinkler of brass make, get that welded to a tripod and start using for vegetable plots. The problem is the sprinkler guns are not available in Valliyoor. One has to go to Tirunelveli and for welding to go to valliyoor. This is scheduled for tomorrow. Meanwhile there is also one idea. Of attaching a shower head to the flexible tube and using it to spray water to the tender plants.

Meanwhile the large water storage tank (Fish tank) is completed in its construction. The bottom concrete for a thickness of 6 inches was prepared manually and poured last wednesday. The brick walls are in place. There are two support slanting structures on each side at a spacing of 10 feet to support the 25 feet side, just as in a dam to hold the wall tight. The tank appears to be elegant as per Subbu and is large with 25 feet x 10 feet x 5 feet dimension.   The inside wall will be cemented today/tomorrow. The outside wall will be left as is (with bricks visible). If required a red color can be given. No white washing, I told subbu. The tank should slowly merge with background with growth of moss around. That should look beautiful.

The excess water from windmill should be stored in this tank. Hopefully this should help during drought months.

At pune there is a workshop scheduled to be conducted by Subhash Palekar, a noted natural farmer on the topic "Zero budget Natural Farming" I will try and attend the same.

***** 

Farm Update 01-08-2014, No rain but Hope

2 inches PVC pipe is the backbone to take water across.

A total of 25 hours of JCB work has happened in the farm last week over a period of 3 days.  Each hour cost around Rs.750/-.  There was so much rumbling and so much of digging it seems passerby were wondering what is happening. It was hard to convince that we are doing agriculture work and not constructing a factory.  Subbu was restless until the pits were closed. It was an eyesore. They were closed indeed.

The pipes are of PVC make. 2 inches diameter. Costs around 400 per pipe of 10 feet. we needed 30 of them to create a Cross. There was a rock in the path for which the pipe had to be bent twice. I am not sure if the pressure will stay. It should.

Road being laid

Inside farm Road completed

I asked the team to use the mud that came out while digging the large rainwater tank to be used to lay a road - from gate upto windpump. Each mud heap has to be taken from the east and the JCB has to all the way go and place it. Mud runs have to be done patiently. The road ultimately came out very nice. My logic was that when it rains, the road will standup and will serve as dry passage to main areas.  Rain ?  When it will come?

Fishtank ready to be constructed. Material in place. on the right is the actual pit.

 The last piece of major construction pending is the fish tank or overflow tank from windmill.  I asked Paramu (a multipurpose carpenter) to build the tank from 3/4 feet depth and around 5 feet height. So that by opening the bottom tap, water should flow on its own. Earlier they had dug a pit with 4 feet depth. I asked to close it. (bit waste of effort, but neverthless).  Below material has come for construction and it will commence today.

For a tank of 25 feet x 10 feet x 6 feet height, it requires 3 units (Rs.13000) of bricks.  Requires tractor Sand and 3 units of gravel. Including labour it should cost upwards of 45000/-. However I was not for that game. I asked Peramu to construct with least cost. Finally i gave  the plan myself. The revised plan should be cheaper and goes like this.  a) Reduce thickness of floor. They had earlier planned for 3/4 feet thick concrete flooring. I reduced it to 6 inches. No finish. a) Construct thin brick walls. For providing strength to the side walls, construct sloping pillars at 10 feet each to push the wall as in a dam. I hope this should work out bit cheaper, say around Rs. 30000/-

There is a lot of water now when there is wind being wasted. But at the same time, if there is no wind, there is no guarantee as well.  We need to start some cropping at once. The plan is to start all vegetables in small quantities around the tower and create seeds. Shown in the picture are two nursary pits, not sure what seeds they are. I did not ask subbu. I just wanted more greenary. Seems to be a nursery bed. Will be re-planted later. Hope rain will come by that time. yet to experiment with sprinkler.

 The ramp from main road directly reaching the farm gate was filled will waste gravel from far away well many months back. The road was not finished as there were objections to bring granite stones on vehicle without permission. That road was not used. Now with the mud, the infilling was done. It looks better and reusable.

There was some mud available to put a road /ramp from the main road

There was no enthu in voice of Subbu. Naturally. Everywhere one can see only dryness combined with hot air. There is no rains. Only when rain comes, will the mud settle down and we can hope to see some greenary. Only when well water we cannot irrigate mud surface.  If you pour water, it is getting absorbed. If you continuously supply tube water, the water doesnot spread, but gets absorbed in the same spot.

Subbu was upset because we were just spending money, with no actual agriculture activity. I was convinced however and told him this is an investment. Once it starts rains, we cannot do anything of the sort we are doing today. There is hope for tomorrow.

The only crop now is banana. That is coming well.