My Farm Visit April, 16 to 20, 2018 (Revised)

I had visited my farm as part of vacation in the last two weeks with family.  I had family function, marriage, temple function, sight seeing etc combined.   However this time we determined we will spend quite some time in the farm.

As luck would have it, the entire family of four (Self, wife, two children) were able to spend entire day in the farm working.  We ate lunch there. It was memorable. After that i alone visited the farm twice and encouraged the team.  Here are some excerpts in visuals.

(I had posted visuals from my mobile phone earlier. Due to roaming coverage or otherwise, I guess it did not post properly. I have removed that post.  I am sorry for those who visited the page and got disappointed)

God Sastha. The neighbourhood deity.  He is just at the entrance of the farm and facing the farm.  The temple has now got a proper roof and the damaged idols renewed by the family who worship him.

This is the road leading to the farm. On the left is a tank that gets filled once a year. This year however it got filled and drained fast as people had sucked water for farming using motors according to Subbu.

Well, our first mango.  Very tiny tree. But mango was large. The plants that we purchased from Ramji nursary is good. 

There is eucalyptus tree too in the farm. Couple of them. It brings my ooty memories. Just squeeze a single leaf. The entire area will smell of eucalyptus thailam.

Myself, Subbu and my son Muthu.  Having a chat on the stone table in the farm near the windpump.

Kandan inside the banana patch.

Banana Flower.  Maintaining the farm free of chemicals is giving back dividends. I can see honey dripping in the flower and honeybee (wild variety) sucking the same.  

The good old wind pump. Working. (Separate post on that later).

This is the first tiny tank that we dug near the windpump. Those days for us this was looking big.

The vegetable patch at last !.  You must search for the small plants. Ask subbu he will list a dozen vegetables. But will say that without interest. He is still not convinced. (Separate post on that later). However I am forcing.

Kandan near the jasmine patch. The Jasmine plants are yielding now atleast around 200 to 400 grams per day. But not enough for market.  When we were there, we plucked and gave to temple. It was of good quality.

Jasmine flowers.

The pond. It is dry now. But I want to preserve the complex micro eco system that it has. So no further digging. (Separate post later)

Coconut tree fairs well. The windmill at the backdrop.

Me. Sitting on the stone table.  The purpose is accomplished. However it was hot. Need some shade. Not a priority though now.  Adjascent trees are growing to give shade.

Drum sticks. Looks good. Perhaps I must grow them more

I donot know what is this. But this is not lemon. No one knows. But must be some useful tree. Because we purchased only known ones from Ramji nursary. One day I must bring someone who can identify such trees. Presently let us grow them well.

A wonder and welcome development. Honeybee in toilet ceiling. That is a certification that this farm is organic and pest friendly.

Well I made this small patch myself. Kandan is finishing it. This is where I have sprayed the miscellaneous seeds that I carried from pune to farm. I hope the bricks lining will stop the tiny seeds from floating off when watered. 

Family chatting with staff and tasting mango pieces.

I am not sure. This giant tree has grown near the windmill. It will grow taller than windmill next year. Not sure when we brought this and what is this tree variety.

This patch is barren now. Subbu is planning more bananas. Currently he is on vacation.

Subbu showing the tapiaco freshly dug from mud. He has planted them near coconut trees so that they get water automatically.

The rice (paddy) grain after harvest. For the small plot the yield is good. Not sure what variety it is. Subbu has kept in the room for polishing later through a rice mill.

The farm as it appears from the road.

Jasmine flower being plucked. My daughter in the foreground having a bag full of jasmine buds.