Farm Update 23-Nov-2017

1. The wind pump and tower painting with Green and Aluminium paint has been completed. The support structure dismantled and vendor informed to take and go.

2. The pump is not connected. It may be connected to the borewell today.  The foot valve had been overhauled. Subbu told the windmill is running freely. Hope it will run on load. Not much wind though.

3. The small anemometer that was long back dismantled will be fixed in the tower.  This was the instrument that helped me decide before I brought the windmill.

4. Vegetable is a sorry story.  None of the vegetable is growing properly. As per Subbu seeds of pumpkin or snake guard has not even sprouted.

5. I asked him to destroy and create raised bars with tractor. Subbu is also planning the same.

6. I suspect right amount of moisture is not there. Sprinkler is the best option. I have been asking him to experiment one. He has to weld a sprinkler head on a tripod so that it becomes portable.  I will follow.

7. Spoke to Aunty to check when she is coming. She got inspired and gave many ideas. One of which is making a film or documentary on organic farming.  I said all that later. Now it is important to generate and sell vegetables. Word of mouth, few pamphlets and a flex board should do.

8. Subbu said he will buy more seeds today in Tirunelveli. His other profession is a television cable business. Due to lightning some of the cable junction boxes had broken.  So he is going to Tirunelveli for some work.

9. We need to plant more trees. I inspired him to hire volunteers from schools.  Told we can support. Let us call local Village officer and create any activity and connect.

10. Like any other project this vegetable selling business is going to take its own time. Patience. Patience. Patience.

Progress On verticle Windpump by 2nd Week September

The central mast stands majestic
To this will be attached "wings"

The last week progress on the verticle wind pump construction was satisfactory.  On the 7th floor terrace of my apartment, I had started my work of assembling, drilling and painting the parts.

Each time I have to take my car,  drive down to nearest hardware shop and purchase things.  For 1" pipe i had to go to specific welding shop as the pipe of required thickness was only available there. The conventional hardware shops have good looking stainless steel coated pipes (to be used as screen rods), but they are not strong.

The following things were completed

1. Painting of A frame with rust free paint on top of existing one. I found rust on the frame because it was kept in Balcony among potted plants for long time.
2. Purchase and installation of the main verticle pipe of 8 feet.  It required boring on that pipe to lift and fix as the height was not sufficient.  I had purchased 8 feet because it can be carried in my car from hardware store to home. 
3. I learnt drilling on metal pipe. Initially it did not come. Then with a new bore bit and my bosch handheld drilling machine (10 years old), i was able to successfully make hole.
4. Fixing of the main verticle frame that was made earlier to this A frame using steel wires and painting them also.  Here the A frame acts as a stand so that I donot have to spoil the common terrace. Otherwise for field installation the A frame is not required.  This A frame I made last year for my solar experiments.
5. Fixing of ball bearing inside with rubber beading to fill the gaps.
6. Miscellaneous activities like planning for the wings of the verticle windpump.  The wings or blades will be made of plywood. I chanced on the plywood store in my locality and took no time to decide.

The below video summarises what has been accomplished till now.

More photos have been added to existing album.  This album is continuously updated.

https://goo.gl/photos/Rb7tyMSsWqLzeNJHA