Farm Update 17th January, 2021 in Visuals (around the farm)

 Its been a quite a gap now in updating the status. Several reasons. Let me get to the point. Both self and Subbu (my farm manager) were in depression.  Some due to challenge in progressing on anything that we plan. The other is I had tremendous workload from my office. Now that we are working from home, staff availability is taken for granted. Consequently meeting calender is full, short notice and more critical things are discussed.  Overall Job is going fine. But farm is maintaining its status que.  Farm power bills are a shocker. More on that later.

Meanwhile Subbu fell terribly ill past 1 month. Typhoid he said.  He was not picking the phone continuously for 15 days. I gave up. Later he called to say he was admitted and did not have mind to answer calls. Fine.  I advised him to take care.  I cannot put any pressure for some more days to come.

On the day he recovered, he ventured not into the farm, but around the farm and clicked these pictures. Generally local guys donot pay attention to obvious and simple things. Nor they communicate. But since he came from hospital bed, must have felt of re-conquering all that he left.  I compare this with animals marking their territory to assert themselves.  Rest in pictures.  These are rare and oneoff pictures  around the farm. 

This is how it looks in front of the farm gate.   It was plotted long back. Hardly
anyone would have purchased from that real estate company. Anyway it is a potential threat as well as 
opportunity for my farm.

This is the approach road to the farm gate from the main road.  Sastha temple is visible.
Sastha is the deity that overlooks my farm and protects us.

The sastha temple as it is appearing.  I can understand how Subbu would have felt as a thanksgiving
he would have visited the temple after curing himself from typhoid

The pond inside my farm. Cute and filled with water. Coconut trees are healthy

This is how the farm looks from main road from front of Sastha temple.  Banana trees are visible

Adjascent to Sastha temple is this pond. Nachankulam is the name.  One one side of road is this pond. The other side is my farm.  This gets hardly filled with water. Even if it fills, it dries quickly.  But this pond is the reason
for ground water in my farm.   I wanted to plant trees on its bund. Subbu is not taking interest. Perhaps there are
hasseles with local corrupt Panjayath officers who may object

  

A look outside from one of the fences of the farm.  Single Palm trees are nostalgic for me. Because 
when I surveyed this land, i was only accompanied and greeted by single lonely Palm tree that gave
hope !

Jasmine bush.  This is supposed to yield but not doing when prices are high. Jasmine sells at 1000/- per KG
this season. But hardly any flowers.  Small quantity is plucked by Subbus wife or his girl friends. I donot mind

Subbu told me recently that he had planted some moringa branches. May be it has sprouted. I donot know what this bugger wants to tell me. He never explains by word of mouth.

Another part outside the farm.  Look at the dry ness.  I deliberately sharing this to show the contrast my
farm would have created in this arid desert.,

Inside the farm. Coconut trees are maturing with life. Must be good to be in. I miss this.

The area that got burnt, now recouping.  

One of the new batch of trees. Safe and growing.  This is inspite of issues like Kandan absent, water bills
Subbu completely absent etc.

Near the room and toilet near the entrance.

Near the windmill tower.  Euclyptus must have grown fast. Can see its dry leaves.

Under the main resting shelter. Relatively kept very clear. I appreciate

Another beautiful view.

End of post.

Farm Update Sept, 2020

 Slight drizzle at the farm.  Subbu is very busy on his own work paying less attention to the farm. He had a mouthful from me.  I was upset due to very very high electricity bill that was received. Not his fault though. But consistent ignorance of windmill has resulted in running pump on electricity resulting in high bill.   Kandan is not keeping well, but is managing to attend daily.

Farm is growing fine. But no new activity though. I want to start more cultivation. So far there is no monetary output, but satisfied that a complete ecosystem is working there. Some of the pictures

The above is a satisfactory sight of the palm tree for which we were waiting for long time. Growing well. Now it will grow fast as it is the native tree.

Orange fruits taking shape

Gives a garden look. Must be good to spend some time here.

green coconut and red coconut.  Shaping well

This is the immediate place after the main gate and to the left towards toilet. Full of shade now.

Worker assistants are fixing the windmill pipe that got unscrewed.  Actually this is the pain point for me that Subbu has not taken care of this because there is electricity and deep borewell pump resulting in huge bill. Now i need to cut down everything. Which is why I am pushing them. 

Fresh sprout seen from the plant that was scrotched by Kandan when he lit the grass instead of cutting them.  Good hope.

A portion of the farm which used to be infertile. Some signs of life.

Neem tree trunk. The size shows it is growing well. 

I am particular that current wires are secured properly. IT used to loop down touching the ground. First time i see they are properly kept in place by a series of poles.

Farm update in Visuals - 29-Mar-2018

These photos were take a month back. Neverthless it is more relevant.   I am not sure what is the relationship I have with my employee - Subbu and Kandan.

There are certain things they DO. There are certain things they DON'T DO.  This is irrespective of whatever level of motivation you do.

Like nature, we need to understand human behavior.  Sometime I get irritated. I must not show that in words. Everyone has a story and a version for that. They too have. They have priorities and I must be sensitive to that. Be very attentive and ears on the ground.

At first sight these photos reflect a water starved ill maintained farm. (Inspite of two full time employees). But on a careful look and talking, it will reveal the kind of hard work and toil that has gone into shaping this up. It may also show the future potential.  Rest in Pictures.

Paddy Field

The paddy field. Ready for harvest. Subbu's own farm needs his time. They will do this when they get labor. But he never projects this to me. Apparantly because it is not come upto expectations.  As mentioned earlier, I left it to him to chose the seeds. Next time it will be country variety.

The Vegetable Plot

The Vegetable Plot: The most disappointing one. Where I vested my hope and aspirations for several months/years now. Not coming up properly. I am creating huge pressure on Subbu to keep planting relentlessly. In Parallel, I am preparing an aunty in village to sell this.

I will be visiting the farm in April 3rd week during vacation. Subbu is aware of this. He is working overtime to get this make-up. Let us see. I am not going to give up.
Yesterday I had asked Subbu to delivery 400 Gms of Jasmine and 6 banana flowers, some citrus fruit for pickles and drum sticks to the Aunty in Nanguneri. She is to sell this today. There is a utsav (Festival) going ON. I want the word to spread. Her house will be the first organic store. The flower will be garlended to the deity. This could be my first sale this year.

Banana

The banana has come to fruitition. It grows well in this farm. Only need more water. I am sure this will be successful crop. But selling is a problem. This time I want to sell this by boxing it in small quantities.  Few bunches at a time.   Let us see.

The not so fertile plot of banana. Not growing well. This is what I pointed out to Subbu and we had some bitter exchange.  He was very much upset after i spoke. It too 3 days to pep him up back to action. Anyway I wanted to convey the message that Kandan is not working.

Not so fertile piece

The Lemon. This road is small internal road going to Windmill. This is the only road.

.

Moringa

This grew on its own. Yielding nicely. Perhaps why not plant this more ? Seriously. 

Farm Update in Visuals 07-Dec-2017

Banana Siblings growing. to the left of Wind mill

And to the right of windmill.  This is country variety and a few of Red banana

The majestic windmill. Not connected yet to the bore after its painting.  Currently freely running.

The farm is attaining some maturity as the trees are growing above shoulder

Just to show the soil not so fertile. this is after recent heavy rains. this happens eveytime. The soil gets eroded.

water logging just before the farm pond. Must be very mashy. Clay.

Another angle same place.

This coconut I purchased during my last visit from Ramji Nursary

The main road from the gate inside. To the right is the newly roofed resting hut.

Hey ! Hold on. What is Kandan doing ?  He is sitting on the bench and thinking deeply and very deeply.  He is a carefree soul and has worked very hard
on this farm from day one. Of late he has been less less productive. But that is ok.  After all he is a human.

Farm Update in Visuals - 30-Oct-2017

Hmm.. The new wire from room to boring is found on the ground. Needs to be raised above pole (tracktor height). Discussed with Subbu. Some blunders they keep doing inspite of several planning.  He said he will mount them on Casurina poles.

Trees are maturing

There are snakes in the farm. Why are there loose bricks near the seating arrangement ?

Nice to see that the coconut is growing

Perfect shot by Subbu to capture the growing bananas

The other side of Wind Tower.

Now the road inside will be good to walk.

Jasmine plot.

Windpump at distance. During recent heavy wind, it has exercised the strom control procedure automatically.
Meaning, the tail and rotor fan are now in right angles to each other. This is a safety feature.
But needs to be put back to operations. I want to take opportunity to do silver painting and grease packing.
A tower need to be built to reach and do the work. Waiting.

Some vegetables. I donot know what. Not so dense.

Subbu said there is a snake visible in this photo. There are far too many snakes in this pond he said
Unsuccessfully tried to captured

Jasmine plot. Another older one, now into shrubs. Yes, flowers are wasted because the minimum
marketable quantity is not there as this is off season.