Farm Status Feb 2020

It is very refreshing to learn several things that are now falling in place.   Subbu has brought his new camera phone. That means a lot. We can get clear photos any time.  The windpump amplifier again has been put into operation after a full long year.    Rest in visuals.

This was the state of Jasmine plants 2 months back.
Subbu had done pedicure to the jasmine. This snap is given here for comparison to see what it is looking now (below)

The same patch now All the plants are having fresh tender leaves.  Jasmine seems to be growing really well
in this soil and climate.  It was a wise decision to go for Jasmine. Only  that we could not make much money till now.
Hopefully this year, we must.

Same jasmine in another patch. Good and refreshing to see that it is being cared for by Kandan and Subbu.

Closeup of how the sprout happens. If I were there, i could not have dared to do this.

Some Bird Nest and eggs.  I have seen these birds in our farm never bother to build a nest.
They just lay eggs on the floor. Really wild

Citron plant is yielding.  Subbu said he had taken it to market last week. Must have fetched 500/-.
He will always ask for bank account No again and again but will never deposit.  :-)

The single lonley mango plant. Already flowering. Last year the mangoes were plucked by visitors. this year
we must be strict.

Already....

Not bad. The hybrid variety has grown. The coconut water is not that tasty. It is too tender now.

After a lot of followup, mistakes, repeat work, once again my indigenous make - water amplifier below the wind pump
tower is being installed.  The below concrete base took so many days, besides other works on the tower itself. The frame was
just kept aside. Subbu did not have motivation to install this. He perhaps doesnot know the magic it is going to create.

Installation going On.

And finally water being pumped out of the windpump.  Really good to see so much of water.
But this is only the starting. The device that I have made has some adjustments, by which the water can be
amplified.  However let it run for few weeks. Then I will take that call. because any wrong step (adjustment) may spoil / break
the foot valve or bearing on the windpump tower.

Farm Update in Visuals 26-Jun-2018

1) The windpump is fixed.  It is rotating happily without load.  Subbu has promised he will connect to boring today.  He was busy with school admissions for his siblings in the past 2 weeks. I was also doing similar admission work.

2) I will be travelling to native for a unprecedented religious function at our Temple. This happens after 108 years. The consecration of temple tower.  More on that later.  I may visit the farm if time permits.

3) My entire energy is now spent in once again creating (attempting) the verticle windmill. I have started the painting and other works in my terrace. I am relieved now that my Son has completed 10th standard. The R&D was banned at my home last year to give way for his studies. More on that later. I have also started thinking about the 6" off centre alignment correction of the main windpump at the farm. I need to prepare a gadget for that (more on that later).

4) The multiple formalities for 3 Phase upgrade of electricity has been done. Requisite govt fee has been paid. Tips have been paid. The EB team may come any time to fix additional wire to bring 3 Phase current. Hopefully that will solve the under voltage problem of deep well bore pump. 

Rest in pictures. 

The entrance. Shows trees are maturing. and welcoming

Slowly the seating arrangement is getting the natural shade.

A part of the farm 

Jasmine

My brinjal experiment. My wife was fighting that I should not grow any vegetables. I
 am incapable of managing produce and will be wasted. This is growing amidst the challenge.

The banana country variety

Finally the windpump is fixed refixed with blades in right alignment.
It is now rotating freely without connection to boring well.

Pond. Some water due to rains.

Wonder of wonders. Already started yielding. Something wrong or right ?

These are delicious country varieties. They have very less shelf life.

Two cats. A surprise. Must be kandan's

Produce at the farm. all delicious organic Jam Fruits and Sapota

Outside the farm. This is how it is. Barren. 

Fruit flower - Jamun.

I recall, all the nursary plants purchased from Ramji Nursery, Nagarcoil are good.

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.

Farm Update in Visuals Dec, 2015

The below are some visuals of the Farm as it stands today.  This doesnot cover all the corners but captures significant developments that were in progress in earlier stories.

Paramu feeding the fishes

The Paddy being sowed. Happy to see this that my farm also is going to grow rice.  Look at the professional
rice farm outside. I am going to match them now.

The sample patch and the big one are getting mixed

Tilling has been done north of Jasmine patch. This is for onion

Mud Bars have been made (through hand by 3 labor) to ready for Onion sowing.

Assorted common vegerables will go here

Look at the pond water. It is now green.  Earlier it used to be muddy color last year. I had lost hope
now it is clean and green. Thriving with microbes.

This is all the Banana that we have. These are daughter plants that have been left out from last harvest
Note further siblings (Suckers) have already started.  This will maintain continuity

The coconut trees have grown well. The space in between has been tilled to keep it clean.