This summer is not going to be easy !

On the topic of further on expanding the crop variety, Subbu has the following constraints.

a) "Sir, already the heat has started. This year we received heavy rain and all plants got used to ample of water. Now with the absence of that, past one month they are drooping. Let them settle down and get used scarce water. So I am going to 'train' them"

Satellite picture always shows clear sky these days.

b) Windpump is working absolutely fine. It gives plenty of water. However there is no wind for most of the day. (I referred to old anemometer recordings and found March-April are dull days).  But even though there is no wind,  even on windless days we get minimum one drum (1000 liters), thanks to the new foot valve that we changed few months back.  Windpump is working like well oiled machine. (indeed it is well greased)

Because more plants are there now compared to last year there is a demand for water.  But hope we can manage. Only I cannot expand my dream further of adding more varieties.

c) Presently the water that is pumped by windpump is just sufficient for all existing plants. "We feed water in round-robin fashion. We have the burden of sustaining all existing crops, having protected them with hardwork all these days", says Subbu.  He and Kandan had seen them growing from seeds. They know the pain of loosing crops in drought.

c) Casurina is still drinking water even though it has grown into adult tree and even started fruting.  If there is no water applied, the (Crown of) tree is showing its face down. Once a week is mandatory.

d) "Banana needs water too. There are around 200 trees. Let us not waste our money on purchasing Drip tubes. We just pour water from tank every alternate days through hose"

e) Jasmine to be watered. Though they consume less water. So also other plants like Sapota, lemon, guava and tamarind.  They are fed through drip irrigation.

f) Previously excess water was let into fish tank. Now the water is just sufficient.  With Sun soaring water level is coming down in the pond. This is exposing the fishes. A lot of birds (lot of them) are visiting our farm from all around.  Subbu says he cannot even identify the variety. So many of them.  Luck he.  I am missing the farm.  They are coming here for water and to eat fish.

Just an Illustration (Not to scale.)

I told Subbu to eat the fishes. It may be around 500 to 1000 of them. But he said let it be. want to see how big it grows. He wants me to come and see. But I told, just keep 40 and eat the balance. He wouldn't listen to. He has fallen in love with Fish.  He says it is a joy to see the fish playing. We can see them in clear waters.

g) Rice has come for harvesting. he wants to cut through rotovator (machine). I asked why not manually. He said it is better to cut through machine in one show. We have no manpower and it is cheap. Around Rs. 1000/- per hour is the rent. Don't know what is right thing to do. Anyway this time it was a demo for rice growing. Next time I will intervene.

h) For vegetable plots, Subbu advised let us not put Drip. Drip is useful only when space is more between the plants. In the case of Vegetables like brinjal, he is planning just 10 inches between.  So sprinkler is best.  He surprised me by saying that sprinkler is working even with the pressure of overhead tank. It is spraying few feet radius. That is enough. we can shift and manage it to cover all area.

So Sprinkler using gravitational force as planned. No motor. No electricity.  100% natural forces at work.

If this is not sustainable farming what is ?

Am I really doing Farming ?

Sometimes you start doubting fundamentals. People around you start asking pertinent questions and expect obvious answers.

They ask "What is that you are cultivating?".

Well Yerrr... really nothing, no we are growing onions... in small patch... then some sweet potatoes,... yes we have some fish... No actually we are not focusing on cultivation, we are growing trees, some 40 coconut, may be we need to plant more. actually there is no space ......

One of the issue with Corporate trained morons like us doing agriculture is that we spend more time on infra structure buildup.  We are exited by "projects" on the farm, like digging holes, welding rods or pumping water and blowing money. We cannot connect our investment with output because timelines are large.

You keep pumping resources, you donot get intended results, but you get something else - an eco system gets built around which is self sustaining and reliable. Next time around you stop supply, but it keeps going.. These are not tangible benefits.

It was running in my mind when I called on Subbu, I told him "Let's talk only about cultivation for the next 30 minutes."  He agreed and so we spoke.  It was fruitful.

Am I doing agriculture ?  What is my end result ?

My end result will be to supply continuous variety of vegetables to small vendors who would visit the farm.

Here "continuous" means in succession.  For this we need a proper nursery. Instead of building nursery we are building dining table.

Well Subbu caught what was in my mind and he was quick to pitch in.  After all,  all these years of conversation has worked his mind.

He said he also thought to grow vegetables and started rattling names... Some of which he had already started, but did not convey to me for fear of failure.

a) Chilli plants are growing success after third attempt.  First two were failures. Now it is fine. Subbu advocates growing seeds on a small patch and then transplanting instead of nursery. He doesnot like the nursery concept, because he says it is difficult to grow them in bags and discard them later. (Bugger should have told me long back).  That explains why nursery has not shaped properly inspite of pumping money.  (oh No infra talk now).

He prefers to cover with Palm Leaves for mulching so they protect the seedlings and sprouts from birds

b) Brinjal is also growing well in a patch, waiting for transporting. But now the problem of Water has started. The Farm is getting hotter by the day.  If we re-plant the brinjal with more space, we need more water. (Moreon water later).

c) Jasmine is growing fine. Even the new ones are fine. I can see the satisfaction in Subbu's voice of having accomplished something useful.

d) Ridge Gourd and Snake Guard : Are raised at ground level. I had earlier advocated "pandal". But as per Village practice, they are grown at ground level. It is ok so far the rain doesnot come.

e) Sweet Potato, Some Papaya, Turmeric add to variety.

f) Casurina has grown very tall. They also need water every week.

g) Sapota and Amla shrubs have become more mature into small trees. That is good news.

h). The coconut has escaped attack of the pest. Thanks to a concotion of "Kolinji" and "Thumbai", both common plants whose juice is applied on bore holes of pest in Coconut tree. They are gone.

i) Subbu also named "Kodukkapuli" tree has become big. They are enjoying its fruits... and started laughing.   Employee pride and owner's envy.

Well was satisfied with the agriculture activity that we are attempting...

Farm Update 15-Mar-2016

Finally the table and stool as planned is coming to shape for the farm.  Hopefully it will look beautiful and useful for everyone.  As I am talking Subbu is on his way to purchase the stone slabs (cuddapha stones as they are cost effective) from Parappadi Hardware stores.

The base work of constructing unfinished brick stools and table holders are in place as he mentioned a day before.

I have asked them not to put any foundation to save on bricks. That means we need not 600 but only 300 bricks.  Similarly there is no finishing job. Bricks will be visible as in an old fort. Nature will do its job of growing moss on it.

Stone has to be unpolished granite (Cuddapah) with only the sharp edges trained.

The windmill is working fine.  Even on windless days there is pumping of 1000 liters of water.  That is great news. Hope it works for entire summer.  I guess the 2nd foot valve that we purchased is magical.  From day 1 there is no issues at all.

The onions have come for harvesting. I guess they have removed 1.5 bags of small onions. Some more are left.  It will be kept for seed and balance used.  The onions were removed without peeling anything.  It should be kept like that for few days and cleaned.  For storing Subbu has to purchase large mud pot.  Otherwise if it is stored in any other manner, the rats may eat them.

They are fully organic and must be tasty. I told Subbu not to sell them to market, but to give them to small vendors.  Who will carry on head into interior villages and sell them.   Thereby we can build a relationship slowly.

Once again emphasized the need to grow more variety to engage the vendors.

Subbu's obsession with Fish has not diminished an inch. Talk of fish, he becomes bright and gleeful.  He said one by one all the natural ponds around the farm are drying up and all migratory birds are coming here for food and water. So there are angry birds all over.  Subbu it seems has brought crackers and busting them to "choo" them away.  Oh my my...

Oh No,  For feeding the fish, he brought urea.  I allowed it because Urea+cowdung creates more worms for fish.  But the empty bags are there and evoking undesired questions. Mine is organic farm and I want to maintain that way - No minerals or pesticides.

Now crackers and chemicals!!   I must tell subbu in his language why we should allow the fish to be consumed by his clan and angry birds instead of bombing the farm.    Or the other only way out is ask him to consume all the fish daily and be done with it !