It is sometimes required to pause, re-collect all pending things and list down them as action items. Today I had a long telephone call to Subbu and passed on the following. I read that twice to him so that he remembers. Moreover the points were delivered in such a way that we start discussing from one end of the farm and traverse to the other end. So that while looking at that part of the farm, he remembers the action item. So we start from a corner....
1. Already the 50 Nos of Andhra special variety Banana plants that were laid near the windmill is sprouting. Now as per our original plan, we were supposed to buy Karpuravalli banana. Subbu told we will go for 250 Nos to begin with. Presently banana samplings are rounded with mud and water is poured through hose from windmill. The bunding will be done later once it attains a height.
2. The windmill boring pipe has been extended by another 30 feet totalling 130 feet. That involved removing entire length of the pipe including central rod from borewell and then re-fitting again with extended length with pump at the 130th feet. This was a full day activity and was done on Friday. There was a risk that if not done properly they may loose the train of pipe and it will fall down to 300 feet never to be retrieved along with pump. Anyway our guys were careful and experienced. After this and some adjustments, the windmill is making no noise at all. It is having smooth operation. Presently the water outlet has been raised to 15 feetbelow above the ground level. That means water is flowing like a shower and everyday our guys are taking bath in that shower. Great.
3. Water tank of 1000 liter capacity is being planned. It will be ready-made plastic tank to be purchased for around Rs. 6000/-. The iron stand for that has been ordered in Valliyoor welding workshop with a simple design with 4 angle pillars. That will be 10 feet height Costing around Rs. 10000/-. Iron costs around 56 per KG. This stand will be mounted on a cement foundation of 3 feet height totaling around 14 feet. That must build water pressure in the hose for a gravity assisted irrigation. Our experiments that we did earlier is coming handy to take such decisions.
I must mention here that One of our friends had earlier suggested experimenting with Cement pipe to be used as raiser stand to water tank as a cheaper alternative. Mounting the pipe vertically up like a pillar can be done over concrete base. But after that placing a platform slab of 5 ft by 5 ft will be a challenge. That platform will have a water tank. There is no way such a platform can be balanced at the tip of cement pipe unless a clamp is done. Moreover cement pipes are not manufactured properly with quality cement. It cannot be safe. I guess. But still this experiment is open and need to try later.
4. Subject to pressure, small sprinklers will be setup. Basically I told to buy two brass sprinkler guns and weld them to a tripod stand. So that it can be moved. There will be some vegetable raised beds will be made adjascent to the tower. This is for seed multiplication only. So many varities as we collect in small place under supervision.
5. It is time now to visit Nursery at Parassala, Way to Trivandrum from Nagarcoil. Need to buy 30 Coconut saplings and other trees. This time we want to buy useful fruit trees and few outdoor trees for roadside planting during Rainy season in July. The neighbourhood Sastha temple will get renovated soon. It will be good to have some trees there too.
6. We need to now put proper road inside the farm. A modest one with a width of 5 feet is enough for small tracktor and carting. I donot know if we need to bring mud from outside to raise the path. If we donot do this now, due to rain, there will be too much slush created making it difficult everyday to move around.
7. Need to put a dustbin inside the farm. Day by day polythene covers are getting accumulated. They are simply thrown down by workers to be carried by wind. They are landing here and there and are also spoiling the neighbouring farms. I asked subbu to by fence mesh and bend it and make a round shaped open holding area where people can throw all plastic bottles and bags. We can decide what we do later.
8. We will be implementing "Point Forest" Soon. I communicated what it is to Subbu. And asked him to buy concrete rings from Parappadi town. Basically I told him it is for growing small wild bush to attract and grow spiders and other insects to act as predators for worms which will affect crops.
9. Need to plan and buy Co4 Grass cuttings. We need to grow cow-grass in one place.
10. Swale cutting and cutting of a small fish pond should be done quickly. I have explained where and how. Just need to execute. We cannot do this after rain comes. Moreoever we need to catch the rain water.
11. It was decided to put 3 stay wires to the windmill tower for additional safety.
12. I asked Subbu to plan for a main metal pipe underground from Tower to far end. We will take lateral pipes as and we require. Presently two lateral pipes are planned one to reach near Gate and another the opposite end. The pipes if laid should look like a Cross.
****
1. Already the 50 Nos of Andhra special variety Banana plants that were laid near the windmill is sprouting. Now as per our original plan, we were supposed to buy Karpuravalli banana. Subbu told we will go for 250 Nos to begin with. Presently banana samplings are rounded with mud and water is poured through hose from windmill. The bunding will be done later once it attains a height.
2. The windmill boring pipe has been extended by another 30 feet totalling 130 feet. That involved removing entire length of the pipe including central rod from borewell and then re-fitting again with extended length with pump at the 130th feet. This was a full day activity and was done on Friday. There was a risk that if not done properly they may loose the train of pipe and it will fall down to 300 feet never to be retrieved along with pump. Anyway our guys were careful and experienced. After this and some adjustments, the windmill is making no noise at all. It is having smooth operation. Presently the water outlet has been raised to 15 feet
3. Water tank of 1000 liter capacity is being planned. It will be ready-made plastic tank to be purchased for around Rs. 6000/-. The iron stand for that has been ordered in Valliyoor welding workshop with a simple design with 4 angle pillars. That will be 10 feet height Costing around Rs. 10000/-. Iron costs around 56 per KG. This stand will be mounted on a cement foundation of 3 feet height totaling around 14 feet. That must build water pressure in the hose for a gravity assisted irrigation. Our experiments that we did earlier is coming handy to take such decisions.
I must mention here that One of our friends had earlier suggested experimenting with Cement pipe to be used as raiser stand to water tank as a cheaper alternative. Mounting the pipe vertically up like a pillar can be done over concrete base. But after that placing a platform slab of 5 ft by 5 ft will be a challenge. That platform will have a water tank. There is no way such a platform can be balanced at the tip of cement pipe unless a clamp is done. Moreover cement pipes are not manufactured properly with quality cement. It cannot be safe. I guess. But still this experiment is open and need to try later.
4. Subject to pressure, small sprinklers will be setup. Basically I told to buy two brass sprinkler guns and weld them to a tripod stand. So that it can be moved. There will be some vegetable raised beds will be made adjascent to the tower. This is for seed multiplication only. So many varities as we collect in small place under supervision.
5. It is time now to visit Nursery at Parassala, Way to Trivandrum from Nagarcoil. Need to buy 30 Coconut saplings and other trees. This time we want to buy useful fruit trees and few outdoor trees for roadside planting during Rainy season in July. The neighbourhood Sastha temple will get renovated soon. It will be good to have some trees there too.
6. We need to now put proper road inside the farm. A modest one with a width of 5 feet is enough for small tracktor and carting. I donot know if we need to bring mud from outside to raise the path. If we donot do this now, due to rain, there will be too much slush created making it difficult everyday to move around.
7. Need to put a dustbin inside the farm. Day by day polythene covers are getting accumulated. They are simply thrown down by workers to be carried by wind. They are landing here and there and are also spoiling the neighbouring farms. I asked subbu to by fence mesh and bend it and make a round shaped open holding area where people can throw all plastic bottles and bags. We can decide what we do later.
8. We will be implementing "Point Forest" Soon. I communicated what it is to Subbu. And asked him to buy concrete rings from Parappadi town. Basically I told him it is for growing small wild bush to attract and grow spiders and other insects to act as predators for worms which will affect crops.
9. Need to plan and buy Co4 Grass cuttings. We need to grow cow-grass in one place.
10. Swale cutting and cutting of a small fish pond should be done quickly. I have explained where and how. Just need to execute. We cannot do this after rain comes. Moreoever we need to catch the rain water.
11. It was decided to put 3 stay wires to the windmill tower for additional safety.
12. I asked Subbu to plan for a main metal pipe underground from Tower to far end. We will take lateral pipes as and we require. Presently two lateral pipes are planned one to reach near Gate and another the opposite end. The pipes if laid should look like a Cross.
****
