Fish, Food and Maintenance

"Where are you Subbu"?"

Sir I am at Moolakaraipatti, a small hamlet near our farm. I am in a pig farm purchasing pig dung.

"Oh !. Must form a good manure" - me

"Sir it is for our fishes.  We need to mix pig manure (3 bags) with Japan Urea (Some coarse urea crystals) (2 Bags) along with cow dung and keep it in a bag.  Immerse the bag after 2-3 days in water and keep a heavy stone on it.  Make a small opening in the bag.

The idea is the mixture will rot, create worms. Fishes will be able to eat them.  This one mixture is enough for days to come. Slowly there will be constant supply of the worms from this rotting bag inside water"

Great Idea. expert one too. Go ahead - me.

The pig dung costs Rs. 200 a bag. The urea is costing 310.  Though I hate the word urea, its ok since we are using it for fish feed first time. I need to discover some better things in organic.

"Sir we are also cooking ration rice for the fishes using women folk. They keep three stones and cook in the farm. we feed this rice also to fish."   Oh I am missing the farm.

"I guess fishes must be visible now?".  "Yes. I have seen them. Unlike last time, the water is clear now. We can see fishes.  Wind pump clean water is getting added and is cleaning the pond. Add to that fish waste is also creating the water into green. I will send photos tomorrow" - Subbu.

"Fishes are even fond of Ponnanganni spinach too. They are eating like mad. We enjoy feeding them".  (earlier I had asked him to plant this across all mud eroding sides).

It is strange that even common birds (sparrows) are very fond of this in my home here.  The sparrows never allow them to grow. They eat away.  In general  all small animals including fish are finding something good in this. This spinach must be really a good stuff.

English: Alternanthera sessilis, Dwarf Copperleaf.
Tamil: Ponnanganni
Telugu: Ponnagantikura
Hindi: Garundi, Guroo
Kannada: Honagonne
Malayalam: Ponnankannikkira

How is the frog population. Has it increased ?  - Me

No sir, strangely it has not. only small frogs are still there. I donot know what's wrong with them. Crabs are there.

I wonder myself what could be wrong in the food chain ?

Meanwhile Subbu said this will be the last feed. "Last feed ?"  what will happen to fishes?  He said they will grow in 3 months. This feed bag will contine to supply for some time, fresh worms.

I asked if they will lay eggs and if we can learn the technique of how to preserve them.

He said, "Sir it is a mistake we made. We should not have dug the pond using JCB.  (Earlier we wanted to widen and deepen a more).  We should have left the "karandai mud"  (Floor soil) as is."

"Will the eggs be preserved in hot sun ?."

"Yes sir, it will be inside the mud holes. We should not disturb them. When water comes they will hatch.

Strange are the ways of nature. It must be true. Otherwise how do you explain sudden arrival of so many small animals when apparantly they are absent for miles to gather and months togather.

Farm Update 26-Oct-2015 - Fragrance everywhere in the farm

Looking the success of Jasmine plant growth even in drought conditions,  It was decided earlier to expand the jasmine plot.  The other reason is, the existing 50 odd plants are giving only 200 to 400 grams of flower per day. This quantity is not sufficient for taking to market. Presently it is going waste.

Presently there is enough rain in the farm. Windpump is also giving more water. There is no scarcity and there is excess water.  Now is the time to plan all activities.

jasmine plant at Farm

Subbu had ventured to the town of Rameshwaram, the birth place of Dr. Abdul Kalam to get the Jasmine saplings.  This jasmine variety I am told is very special.  He had brought 500 of them @ Rs. 5/- each along with a companion in Bus. He had to stay overnight.

Today with help of JCB, another 75 holes have been dug.  Each hole will hold 4 saplings togather to create a bush.  Earlier we made a mistake of plating just one plant per pit.  Someone had advised to plant 4 at a time. It makes sense.  Jasmine is a bush variety.

Already the plantation has started with help of temperory workers.

FarmYard Manure Purchased earlier was waiting
for this season. Some quantity
will be put in each of the holes.

Subbu is going to Thirumala on pilgrimage for 4 days this week end. All other activities will be postponed for his arrival. He is taking Paramu and Kandan along with him for pilgrimage. The main event will be tonsure for his son.  On his coming back we need to do the following

a) Purchase additional 15 coconut saplings and plant them near the mud pond.  The coconut is growing well. Boosted by Panjagavya, it is the best plant suited for the soill

b) We also need to plant some more fruit trees, say 10 more

The existing Stock.  Not a bad growth with good care.

c) The space around the cement tank is not fertail. The banana crop has failed. I asked to clear that place and put navadhanya (9 grains) for fertility. But subbu has other plans. He has some assignment to be given to the lady workers  who will take charge in his absence. That includes planting bitter gourd, snake gourd, cucumber and onion around the water tank.

d) meanwhile I want the ladies to plant Ponnanganni Spinach (Alternanthera sessilis, Dwarf Copperleaf) around the resting place to prevent soil erosion.  We have seen this spinach grows faster and needs very less care. It will also be nutritious and is idle for arresting soil erosion. I hope so.

e) On the windpump experiments on fixing the new gadget on experimental basis to pump more water, I asked him to hold till he completes his tour. Let it be BAU activity for now.

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