Farm Update 18th July, 2020

Its been a while that I have updated this blog.  Partly it is the boredom and depression due to continuous lockdown due to Corona. I am frustrated here in Pune where i reside.  1000 kilometers away, my caretaker  of the farm,  friend Subbu is also frustrated as his mobility is severally affected by local lockdown there. Less about me and more about farm now.

This time, it is difficult to get workers or material near my farm. Once Subbu went to Tirunelveli with a vehicle to purchase few hardware. He was stopped enroute and sent back by police.  Normally villagers are not used to such restrictions and they have never seen one like this in their life time. In short life is crippled. His children are at home and smartphones are used by them for studies.

Kandan, another worker is not showing interest, disciplined and not listening to Subbu. That is one frustration.  Our toilet pit need to be re-constructed, so also few things like putting a strong door to the farm room for safe keep of things.  These hardware items have been purchased, but our friend contractor Paramu has refused to come. He is either too lazy, or too cautious about corona or too frustrated. I believe he delayed so much Subbu got frustrated to look for another guy.  Because cement will get spoilt.

Now some visuals of the farm.

Above is Banana patch near the windmill tower. Looks good. But looks parched for water.  Water from windmill is less. Mostly pumpset is run for an hour or two.

The new patch of trees growing fine. This exactly requires tender care. And that is where Kandan is failing and subbu is frustrated.

Just asked Subbu to take closeup of few trees just to read their personalities.  After a long time just watching the trees grow which were small when I visited.  This gives satisfaction of having visited the farm.  Ideally if not for corona, I would have made a visit or two to the farm in this part of the year which is peak summer.

Well this is the reason for Subbu getting more frustrated.  Kandan had burnt a portion of the farm. Actually he was supposed to clear the grass with help of two workers. Subbu had arranged labor. But due to laziness, he had lit the grass which burned substantial portion including some of the upcoming plants.  May be a dozen.  Subbu was not having any mind to speak to me or send photos. I sensed some issue.  Made a heart to heart talk and came out this.   I pacified him.   Nothing can be done. This is part of life.  we cannot change a grown up man like Kandan who must be around 45 to 55 years of age.  

This is very classic. Look at the tall trees behind. one or two are eucalyptus, my childhood favourite ( was born in ooty), now growing in my farm.  In a remote future, I may start a small distillation unity for Jasmine and may be eucalyptus.  Plan is ready. Otherwise waiting.

The jasmine patch. Great going. Only the yield is always 400 grams or less. Not enough for market.

Farm in Visuals 23-May-2020

Of late the conversation with Subbu is getting more healthy.   In spite of corona lock-down, or because of that perhaps, the activity at the farm is having quality.  There is time to think and do. Impulsive expenditure is completely out.

I was exploring with Subbu if we can extract the essence from Jasmine flowers.  Since it is highly perishable crop, and nearby market is far away, we only get customers from local market for their own consumption.  (Ladies wear Jasmine in villages / towns).  Nearest airport is Tuticorin and it may take half day or more to reach anywhere. The cost and effort will not workout atleast for now to export it to far away places where there is demand.

Therefore alternative is to extract essence or essential oil. I browsed internet and found few useful pictures. Based on that we may develop our own gadget in coming months.  Subbu warned that any such distillation at farm will come under suspect by police as spurious liquor distillation is rampant these days.

That said, let us see the current state of farm in visuals.

Even I am surprised looking at this. This is the way leading to windmill. There used to be only dwarf plants on right side. The coconut tree is later addition and seems to have grown really well.  There is ground water near the windpump.
Seen in yellow color under the tower is the windpump amplifier that I fabricated in Pune and sent last year. This is still not
put to use to its fullest potential. I am coaxing Subbu to get that up and running to save on electricity (story later)

Banana trees adjascent to the windmill tower.  In another 2 months they will mature. Earlier banana patch was
large. But now it has shrunk due to other trees growing rapidly.

IT was a wise decision that we took 6 months back to plant tree saplings near the white tank. Otherwise this is an infertile patch. Once we planted banana and it never grew to maturity.  But these trees are looking better.

The classic entrance from the gate.  This view is a reference point for me to track how mature the trees are growing. I have several photos from same spot since several years. 

In the hot Sun, Kandan seems to be rushing to water some tree.  Look at the moringa tree
it is healthy. That should be my next cash crop. I spoke to Subbu about it today.
Earlier last year he had promised to get sticks, but due to some issue that time, skipped.

Lots of shade due to growing coconut trees.

A beautiful and never before seen view of the Jasmine patch. The tree is a new addition that I donot know. The Neem tree seems to grow well and fast in the farm. 

This is the culprit.  A very fast growing weed type of tree (actually this is common in Pune. I got the seeds spread last time, but never expected this will grow like this). This is occupying prime portion of banana patch adj to windpump.

The sapota patch at the distance

Healthy

Unhealthy. Needs attention as there is attack of pest. 
Neem oil+soap was sprayed
the holes were blocked with lime.

The pond is try. The vettiver has grow well. It prevents soil erosion. Recall this was replanted from near windmill after it
grew like a bush with threat of snakes.

here also there will be snakes as it is around the pond with frogs.

Important to note in this picture is the growth of trees on the north fence side. This is important to stop the warm winds from
blowing into the farm.  A long planned dream come true.

Hope and Way forward with Jasmine

It has been several months now that from Remote, I felt helpless for not being able to control the farm.  My onground employees Subbu and Kandan were seem dodging my calls or followup. I had no clue of what is happening because there was no proper communication.  There were tons of excuse why something did not happen. But no good news anytime

There were failures of windpump tower, loosning of screws, falling of bolts, lack of attendance, crop drying up, floods, drought, high electricity bill, faulty generator and so on..... I almost lost hope.

But somewhere I was holding on to hope. Was never using hard words. Kept inner calm. Allowed time to pass.  Subbu also felt very embarrassing to take my calls. He avoided.  Later i learn, he cannot communicate on ground situation. He is used to communicating good news or no news.  But i wanted bad News also. After all I am a solutions Manager by profession. ( In IT).

Now things are looking better.  Jasmine has given hope. All hardwork is giving dividents.

Today also as a routine called him and spoke heart out.  He was but very happy and sounded better.  The fact is all these days, he was feeling guilty for not being productive.  Not his fault though.  Jasmine has given hope now.

Jasmine is selling at around Rs. 400/- to 600/- per KG.  But i believe local labor is asking Rs. 350/- as wage.  This is not affordable. Therefore he brings his wife and plucks flowes in hot Sun. She gets some 250 grams of flowers to take home.  Which lady is not fond of flowers ?

My jasmine flowers are of very high quality.  The scent is mesmerizing.  I never expected (Nor Subbu) that it will start flowering so soon and so much . 

I wanted to do an experiment of asking Subbu to send the flowers by flight, I receive it here in Pune and sell it at Rs. 1000/- Kg. Why not ?  Need to explore...............

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 status in Visuals Dec-2019

This is the maximum clarity that Subbu can shoot of the farm with his faulty camera phone. Something is better than nothing. This also after lot of persuasion, he could send because his touch screen is almost dead and he had to blindly operate the smartphone.  These photos must be Nov, Dec of 2019.

The portion adjascent to the Windpump tower. This is a beautiful place because on one side you have boganville and other side you have tower. Middle few plantain trees.

The newly planted banana trees near the windpump. After 2 years, it is being planted again in this area. It must be grown now. Photo is one month old

The lake: Finally having a natural setting. There are no fishes here. 3 times attempt has failed. They are fast depleting by snakes/frogs or getting washed away in rains. 

The patch of jasmine bush.  This is now manicured (cutting the branches) so that during summar it will start flowering. Presently Zero Flowers.  While market is selling Jasmine at Rs. 2000/- per KG.... Missing the opportunity for not being there and mending.

The hybrid red coconut

The newly added mango tree, part of the new additions

Nice to see few trees on the Northern border. However I am not that impressed. This corridor was supposed to be planted with more trees and was always a follow-up point in every conversation. My logic was that the warm air enters the farm from the north during severe summar. The trees were to reduce the intensity of warm air.  I see only one Neem tree now.

Well, just as you enter the farm, this will be the scene from the main gate.  Trees are maturing. The road will wind and lead to the windpump. My verticle windpump project is going fine here. I am keeping it low profile. 

Presently making some progress. Once that is completed I will annouce to public. Then I may get some visitors to the farm also who may want to see the larger windpump. I told Subbu to keep it clean, running.

This is how it gets flooded when rains. The water stagnation is a new problem. Due to climate change either draught or too much of rain in one shot.  The soil is clay. Water will drain only slowly. It will affect the sapota plants.  Whatever it is, the sapota planted few years back is still not grown tall. The entire farm has rock beneth with less soil. Trees are not growing tall. This is another challenge

Paramu, who is undergoing family issue due to his teenage son is seen pensive near a cow gracing. Grass grows on its own. It needs to be cut around each trees and that is the job of Kandan I guess.

Farm Status 31-Dec-2019

It has been a long pending work to update this blog.   I am not sure when and where I left.  but I just  simply got myself lost in time. And facebook. And politics threatning the country. Once a gap forms, it takes effort to get back to this routine. 


One of the reasons for this procrastination is, not knowing where to re-start after the gap.  Some of you may be thinking nothing is happening in my farm because of no information.  It is partially true. Though nothing spectacular was happening several good things were happening too. 


The other reason of not updating is ofcourse is to blame Subbu for not providing enough photos or news about farm.  His camera phone is in horrible condition with broken touch screen. Subbu and his entire family have defunct phones. All of a sudden his Oppo phone went bad. His wife phone also went bad.  Screen became dark, may be broken. He tried his best travelling to Valliyoor and Tirunelveli towns.


No hope of repairing due to frequent technology change. Villagers are deeply affected. He is barely able to attend phone with his dark screen. He went through several such issues.  It is because of this, he was unable to send any pictures for several months now. Only upon repeat followup, he uploaded some pictures (camera is working) from his phone blindly.  I am also not sponsoring him any new phone or camera which i used to do earlier. I am just waiting for him to buy a new phone himself.  And he has several excuses for not prioritising this.


He often keeps it switched off also (to avoid his irate customers in cable business). Subbu himself had issues in his own cable TV business. Recently due to rains and thunder lightning, some transmitter box got repaired. Only the company (Sun Network) can give replacement worth 45K. He went all the way to Chennai and got it after few days of stay.


Subbu has now three children growing fast. He had purchased an old car (for 60K) and enjoying shuttling in that. He went Tirupati. He was working for his monther-in-law to build her house and so on...... Overall he is enjoying his life.


Let me summarise the current status of farm as follows.


a) Farm is going good as per my own standards. As usual for my spouse, it is a white elephant or a liability and nothing seems to be happening. She may not be knowing several of small developments I better not discuss to invite more warth.  They are reserved for a future only when things frutify. Ladies donot appreciate efforts.


b) Last month I invested on new fruit trees. Useful fruit bearing trees were purchased from Ramji Nursery, Nagarcoil. I left it to Subbu to make a choice. I also spoke to nursary in charge. For purchasing,  I had to compel Subbu to get going with this initiative, because there is heavy rain in the farm.  He always excuses for heavy sunshine or heavy rain. But Only during these two months, ground will be wet and is a right time to plant trees.


Now they are planted in and around the white cement tank, a not so fertail patch. It is better to dot every space with some trees. My earlier hope of growing vegetables is kept aside mainly due to lack of interest from Subbu and Kandan.


I hope trees are the only visual filler that can show productivity over time. Trees will also be easy to maintain for Kandan with his frequent absentia.  The seasonal crops or vegetables, unless carefully grown and sold, will not be appreciated. They also require lot of labor and supervision and crop maintenance.  I am encouraging them to plant few vegetable crops for their own use (to engage them).


c) Paramu, the carpenter friend had his family issues. His son who is teenager ran away with a girl another teen ager.  Both from same village, same caste.  It has become police case. He is depressed and down due to that. I have asked subbu not to depend on paramu for any work. This time, I compelled Subbu to make a cement platform under the windpump tower to install the water amplifier frame which is kept aside for several months now.  Now it is in its place and is working. (I cannot appreciate unless I see a photo)


d) At the farm, there had been heavy rains and almost floods. The wall of adjascent pond was raised by local farmers. Now due to more water, our farm is flooded.  The walls of underground toilet sink which was nothing but a mud pit without reinforcement is broken. I asked subbu to first fence it. Once water is less, we can attend to rebuilding it. It is not much used.  Now after a week, it is dry.


I need to speak to Subbu for two things to be done this week.


a) Secure the electric wire which is not so well supported by pole. The wire that extends inside the farm from gate to the generator room is having a loop that is very low.


b) Build the proper pit for the toilet, that which got damaged in rains.

Farm Update 26-Jul-2019

Subbu was upbeat yesterday. After few days of trying to reach him, I finally did yesterday. He hurriedly submitted that his JIO phone was not recharged and the other one is still limping with its hardware problem. He needs to change his phone. But that is not the point. He off-late feels very much guilty to attend my calls.

He was having some pleasant news for me.

a)  The two of the wings removed from the tower had been re-fixed.  All the work on the windmill is over. It is yet to be released for rotation just as a matter of adequate precaution till all the work under the tower is over.

An illustration to show how it should be.
This way i communicated to Subbu over whatsup.
Final what he did  will be known only after he send picture.

b) Besides the ladder that is completed and fixed, the foot rest stand that I designed for him is also done. I am not sure about what is the final. But this is what I told him to do (Diagram). With this small platform, one can stand and approach the rotor of the windpump should you want to oil that or paint or even remove it (with the safety harness ON ofcourse).

Initially i wanted a small foot rest to be clippable and hung from steel wire and hook. but there is no space atop tower. Only 2 feet .  Therefore advised Subbu to make one supported from under using two angles.

c)  He has employed two ladies to clean the entire area (I had earlier mentioned that someone will visit the farm).  I want to put some gravel and keep a board giving technical details of the windpump. But that is later.....

d) Today the boring pipes will be removed out and foot valve be cleaned.

e) The windpump amplifier that I sent last year will be connected properly

Hopefully the entire windpump will start working as usual giving more water.  He is determined to focus on this only.  Let me see....... I have no photos as his camera phone is damaged. But he said he will manage to send....

Ladder to Heaven at Farm

It has become important and a routine to climb atop the windpump tower.  Presently Subbu and others are using their palm tree climbing skills.  They are not complaining about the fatigue but I can sense that.  I want the basic infra to be in place.  I always wanted to make this ladder to climb the windpump tower.  I also brought a pair of PPE through online and got it delivered  (Personal protection equipment which is nothing but belts and hooking fastners to be worn while working atop the tower).

For several weeks now I had been asking Subbu to take quotes from various workshops. They charge a cool 20K. I donot want to spend that much. Discussed with him various ways of doing that. But they have a fix or a hang on that. Perhaps at the ground level, they are bound by resources that is practically available.  Subbu spend several days disappointing me.   I thought he was good at negotiating. But he was not. He was so innocent on certain matters that he accepts on face value without questioning. Even a bit of technology will make him surrender.

Finally I gave an idea. Let us buy iron patti (flat strips) and give to a welder and get this cut and welded. My point was strength is not important. Because it is going to lean and be fitted on the existing tower only. Tower will provide the necessary support. Subbu accepted with hesistation.

He went about and finally purchased 1" x 2" square pipe conduit. Same material for the sides and the rungs.  Total 8 pipe of 20 feet length.  Some welding sticks, cutting disks and work started. The material was purchased from Valliyoor and welder from Parappadi. We need to give labour cost to the workshop man. It took 2 weeks to make because the welder this in part time.  It will work out under 10K for making a 50 feet long ladder and fit it on tower.   They also tried to hang a welding machine from tower and tried to weld in air. But seems did not work out.

Here it goes. As I am writing the ladder is finished, fixed and painted. I was surprised and annoyed to hear the ladder was tide with rope !.  I chided the team and asked them to fasten with patti, nuts and bolts.  Such is the followup required.

Kandan with his PPE worn

People atop the tower fixing blades. Without the ladder

Welder is cutting the pipe

Delivery of square pipe. The material was done at site.

The ladders half done. Total 50 feet.

Windpump Repair and restoration

The POLDAW windpump or windmill is now over 5 years.  Of late it is giving a lot of trouble when at a time my team is gone into comfort zone. However I love my windpump.  The more I wanted that to be up and running, the more it sucks.  It is a challenge and I am prepared for fight.

My objective is to put this back in action with lot of water pumping. And perhaps showcase it for future business.  This will be for higher end customers and my own verticle axis windmill that I am designing for low end customers. That's the idea.

The windmill with one tooth missing

Recently few months hence, one by one the bolt/nut had unscrewed itself and started falling down. A large bolt from the main rotor fell down, luckily no one was there. Windpump without load is a monster and rotates faster. Recently last week it broke one of its wings on its own and that wing fell on the water tank splicing it. Luckily again no one was there.

I declared it unsafe and given clear directions to Subbu. The more it breaks, more we resolve ourselves to repair it.  Following are attempts.

a) I called on an agency (Vista telecom networks) through known contacts for help. They have trained riggers (certified tower climbers) who maintain cell phone towers. A person came from Tirunelveli by bus for inspection, Subbu picked him up.  He climed the tower and went back without quoting anything. Two days of followup with his supervisor had no results. They were just now answering phone. perhaps they were not interested in this small job. Or found it odd job to do. They obliged to come only because i took help of a common friend who is their client.

Closer examination shows, the cut is not due to
any bird strike or object impact. It is due to sheer
rotational tear apart force. Not due to rust either.
Just a high velocity object torn.

b) Crane is an option to reach the windpump quickly. To my suprise, there is a crane operator in Nanguneri,10 Kms away. It costs Rs. 5000/- for half day including crane charge, bucket fitting and transport and driver bata. However that is an option I want to use only when we are fully ready with all tools.

The broken wing

c) Our default option was to climb ourselves. Earlier I had already purchased and sent online two numbers of body harness. Subbu likes it. I feel safe if they wear it while climbing.

Subbu and one more boy Ramesh who is experienced in this. However he had a sprain and we had to wait for a month. The boy had become more mature and demanding more money. That however is working. The couple had so far applied crease, fixed the loose bolts.  But the propeller wing that is broken need to be removed for a welding shop. While the broken wing is with us, the nut from the frame is not coming easily. It is at an inaccessible distance with ordinary spanner.   I asked Subbu to purchase a cross bar wrench tool.  Subbu went to Valliyoor and the shop which generally had everything did not have this one. they ordered to Madurai for stock and one week later got it.

d) Windspeed is very high. They are waiting for it to slow down so that we can tie the windpump rotor and do the work. If load is given to windpump, it is unlikely it will break down like this. The wing had broken only due to high velocity wind and the rotating speed.  This reminds me of the danger the propeller aircrafts would have faced during world wars.

e)  One of the favourite pending requirement is making a ladder to climb the tower. The thought of climbing the tower should make Subbu weary. A ladder will make climbing cool.  As per a local garriage, a ladder of 45 feet costs 20,000/- to make.  I rejected. Asked Subbu to find cheaper alternative. After several days and months, now the bill would be around 10K.  It requies 7.5 pipes of 20 feet to make a 50 feet ladder. Same pipe for side and rungs.  I asked Subbu to purchase material in one place and make it in another workshop only paying labor charges. That seems to work.  However Subbu is yet to hit the road. perhaps with ladder in place, next time, the tower maintenance would be a pleasure.

Coconut tree

Newly planted jasmine. Around 3 months old.