Farm Update 29-Feb-2016

1.   Business as usual.   Just watering activity on the farm.  No new initiative.  The construction of sitting place and repair of green house is pending as Paramu has accepted some civil works and is away.  The farm is waiting for him.

2. Meanwhile the sand required for mixing concrete for the seats are being gathered by the lady staff from adjacent places.   Sand is everywhere around the farm, where top soil is eroded due to rains.  One has to just bring it.  I am happy we are just using the resources from around and not purchasing everytime.

3. I discussed with Subbu on farming activities and future.  My long standing dream is to grow many different varities of palatable vegetables and make it available to small vendors.  The small vendors - mostly ladies who carry vegetables on their head in a basket will go to nook and corner of villages and sell them.  I hope I can equip them with produce early in the morning. By noon they should sell out everything and earn 50 to 100/-.  They must have lunch in my farm.  It must be simple lunch with lentils and Dal (pulses) with rice.  They can go for 2nd sortie if possible in the evening or retire.  I hope we are somewhere 40% in this journey.

4.  Onion will be ready for harvest in a month.

5. The malligai (Jasmine) has started yielding. I believe a vendor is purchasing this every day @ 50/- per day.  That is good news.  Every day the jasmine is plucked and hung near the gate. The vendor will collect them and pay money.  This has been happening for the past 4 days.  Let me see......

6.  The reamaining plot where rain destroyed jasmine will also be planted with more jasmine.  I believe even the ones thought gone-case has sprouted.  That means Jasmine best-fits in my farm

7. I was discussing with Subbu to construct a 2nd water tank for the Windpump.  Presently we are getting more water, which is drained into the mud pond.  what if I store them high above in another water tank so that we irrigate vegetable plots from there. This 2nd one will be around 100 to 150 meters from the wind pump and will be at 15" high.  It must be in the same height of the earlier one so that when interconnected they share water.  Subbu said he wants to construct in the cheapest manner possible.  Something like putting a plastic tank atop a concrete single pillar.  Hmmmm... let us study some models around.

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seating Arrangement in Farm

Currently I have no place to seat the guests.  There are no chairs, benches or even a reclining place. All I have is a Kutir (Shade) with sand spread on floor. People can squat down.  It is ok but not ok for elders when they visit.

I was always thinking what to do.  Wheather to purchase and send some wrought iron garden benches. But that is a project by itself and I have no time for that.

Casually when I checked FTII college in Pune, I chanced on the below design near their canteen. Brilliant idea.  With bricks and granite slabs one can construct this.  Very permanent, elegant etc...

I took photo of this and send to Subbu and Paramu. They took print out and hopefully today they will start the work.

I would want two sets of them to be made. Each with 6 seaters.

 Paramu calculates it will require 800 bricks, cement, slabs etc.  Brick costs 6/- each and slab (Kadappa Stone) costs 70 sqft.  I asked to do in cheapest manner possible with locking tiles on flooring.

Subbu and Fish Phobia

Subbu is possessed of Fish.

While casually talking he was mentioning he wants to go and sleep in the farm tonight.  And tomorrow and Day after and continuously for next 1 month. !.  I was surprised and asked why ?

He said "Sir, someone will steal the fish in the night. You see the fish has grown to 3 fingers width."

"Who will steal the fish ?"

"Sir there are people who come in the night to take mud from around the farm. Recently due to rains, there is lot of mud that has got accumulated here and there. Those people will steal the fish."

But our farm is compounded.  Put a board "Crocodile here !' or "caution Snakes".  He laughed but ignored this. He said he has the responsibility to protect the fish till we sell them in a month.

I said "Damn it. Let it go.  ".
"But how sir, I cannot let it go "

"Tell me how did they ever know we have fish in the pond ?"

"Sir we have tied silver ribbons to ward off the birds know.  They are glittering in the Sun Shine.  People who are passing by are asking what is happening. Then they come to know "  So thiefs are known guys only.

My God.  How to solve this problem.  ?  Suddenly the idea came to my mind.

"Subbu, eat those fishes and distribute to your friends.  I want no money from Fish.  It is all yours"
"No sir, I want to sell and give that money atleast to you. There is no income for the farm"

"Tonight I am going to call Paramu for company. If he doesnot come I will sleep alone. "  Few days I must show there is movement in the farm in the night to ward off evil people.

I donot think the situation is that bad..  This is only because of intensive love Subbu has towards his Fish. he is so obsessed.

Farm Update in Visuals - 16-Feb-2016

For the first time Subbu has taken clear pictures of the farm. I guess he has taken this through smart phone that I left with him.

Samandhi Flowers bed

Onion is growing on the mud bars

Paddy has come to flowering stage so fast. I hate this hybrid variety. As mentioned already
this is our first paddy attempt. Did not have native country seeds on hand. This
is Ambi-16 rice variety. Hmmm. eager to see the harvest and post harvest cycles.

Something amiss in this patch. I have to consult Subbu. I guess he has put assorted vegetables in this.
If not I want to spray millets here.  I guess he has covered the ground with straw (milching)

Well, the pond is now taking shape. With glittering silver ribbons to wade off the birds, this pond
is now having around 2000 fish. Each has grown to the size of three fingers in width. So told Subbu.
I asked him to eat them all. He said he wants to make some money for me. I donot want
money from animals. 

The sapota trees are growing well after the rains. Could see kandans hand work in cleaning the area and milching

Coconut trees are growing. Some bugs are present, Subbu told.  Want to apply organic pesticide. Neem ofcourse.
I need to follow

I asked him to send the photo of bug. He sent this. I could not see the bug. But there is damage to the coir.

Just adj to the wind tower. Looks different now.  Red banana trees that have escaped draught is seen. Papaya tree is new.
In the background is the vettiver.  Good growth. Need to be transplanted to near the pond.

A view near the fence.  Casurina has grown as adult trees.

So too boganvilla.  I wanted Subbu to try grafting from this. If time permits.

This Lemon tree is always having damaged leaves. But good fruits.  May be insects are fond
of citrus plants.

A rare view from front.  Subbu is artistic.  The approach road to farm from the main road. This road I laid
Far distance is visible Sastha Temple new roof.

Another view from outside the farm looking inside.  Density of vegetation is not there.

Road Side view of farm. The casurina has grown so nicely that it is forming a canopy hiding the farm. That is what I wanted.