Thiefs in the Farm

Thiefs at the farm. Kandan for a change is angry

It happens once a while. This should be third or fourth time.  Thiefs visiting our farm.  This time 3 boys in bikes had visited our farm. Not through the gate, but by jumping the compound. They had packed all utensils and one iron wringe when Kandan who was deep inside noticed some commotion near the gate.

He rushed and found a guy packed and ready to go. The 2nd guy was outside the gate and the third one was on the over looking road watching from a distance.  Arguments started. The guy did not expect someone will be there in the farm at that time (day time). Kandan was working deep inside a banana patch.

Looking at a broken pot, Kandan seems to have got angry. He took a stick or pipe and beat the boy. They immediatly got scared, dropped and ran away.

Valuables !.  Hilarious. I would have gifted these.
Now staff cannot make coffee

So called FIR (First information Report) to police
Subbu's handwriting is nice. Big story.

Two days hence Subbu told me. He said an FIR has been given to police. Kandan is fearing the wounded thiefs may come back to take revenge. - Therefore Subbu has arranged a helper at 250/- a day to keep him company. How long this will go don't know. In the night Subbu stayed at the farm for few days (though not necessary).

Some months back there had been even a murder at adj. farm.  Subbu said generally these boys steal for drinking.  They sell the old scrap and make quick money.  Nothing was lost in the farm except cooking vessels.  Subbu sent the photos. It was hilarious to imagine someone will even steal this.

Anyway,  life goes on... Meanwhile the inspector had asked similar farm owners who had lost their valuables to report at the station. hopefully the boys will be traced. As per Kandan they donot belong to this place.

I have asked Subbu to enquire in Valliyoor a quote for installing CCTV camera. A camera, fake notice boards (Dog beware) and few lights should do the job i hope. 

Progress Report on Windmill mechanical power Amplifier

There is little progress in the fabrication of my mechanical amplifier for windmill.

I made several sorties to the workshop. Either it was lunch time or people had left for field work. Or they donot pickup phone.  Finally I managed to reach them today.
Santosh does the lathe works
Dilip does the welding works.

Today i resolved to spend 1 hour. Santosh was pleased at my perseverance. So he also decided to provide whatever I wanted. Earlier he was waiting for some consignment to come thinking he will give those rods. But I told whatever in the shop will do. So he re-bore the sliding pieces to suit the existing rods in lathe machine.

In the welding shop, they do spot welding (tagging) before finally welding. Today I was pleased to see the final shape emerging. Long way to go. But so far so good.

Today's work for productive. I will allow two days now for Dilip to create a frame between the sliders.

Rest in pictures.

The temperory welding is being removed. The bottom frame will be drilled
with holes.

This is how they mark the holes.  14" inches apart. This is to suit the base of
my wind mill bore well setup.

Drilling the hole on heavy metal.

Welding the bottom frame properly.  Since I finalised the design, they are welding every joint.

The weld looks kachcha.  Will be polished later.

Today's work. The parts getting machined and ready.

Lathe Machine

Back to welding shop. Note where the part goes.  Rod is for alingnment. Some more work is there.

Just adding this picture to show what is getting ready.

Was surprised to see they are using level indicator to align the rod vertically before
welding it to frame.

Windpower amplifier - Design Taking Shape

Pleased to see the skeleton structure

I was surprised today when I casually visited the workshop where I gave order to execute my design. I sent the diagram (posted in earlier post) through Whatsup and gave color printouts to these 2 workshop.

One workshop is supposed to make the frame  and the other is supposed to do lathe works. They are adjascent to each other.

The frame is already ready. The owner of the workshop was excited on seeing my interest, This different work than what he does every day. That could also be another reason.  He doesnot speak much, doesnot answer phone. Hangs around in the nearby tea stall.

While parting he requested if he can get any big order.

BIG ORDER.

yes it prompts me to actually and seriously design my verticle windpump for perhaps commercial use. I am also thinking of a business for long time away from what I am doing now (IT Job). Perhaps the seed is sown.

He has made it very strudier. I donot know how to courier this after finish
The rods and other things have to be fixed.

I just stood near to show how big it is.

I gave this kind of diagram. Note the amber frame. That is what is now almost ready.

Windpump correction for more water and Smooth Flow

The windmill.

Windmills are romantic.

My windmill is now running very smooth. Subbu says this is first time after several years that no sound is coming while it is operating. Various initiatives taken recently has ensured that. But one more thing is pending. That is my long standing dream.

I want to increase the volume of water output.

Bottom of windmill with
boring mouth.
Here is where I will
be fixing the below equipment.

The issue is, currently the windpump is designed to pump 10cm (4 Inches) of water in one stroke. My submercible pump  (footvalue) on the other hand is capable of moving around 45 CMs (17inches) of water.

So I need to "Amplify" the mechnical motion of windpump.  Here is the design I made out of my mind. I used sketchup software (trial freeware).

Yesterday I went to couple of workshops in pune and discussed with the mechanics. One shop has lathe machine and another is welding. I had to go twice to meet them with printouts.  They agreed to make this. I am doing it locally in Pune and will be transporting this to my farm (around 900 kms) across.  I want to do this under my supervision till final design takes shape. I may want to simulate here. I am in touch with Subbu to send measurements of the base etc.....

The idea is to amplify the rocking motion of the windmill pump rod.

Notice the crevice on the top of the pump to allow freedom of movement. Then
look at the diagram below.

This design is to allow some freedom for the vertical movement which may sway
bit due to semi circular motion. Here I want to keep the rod going to boring well steady and absorb the
movement through the cantilever.

This cantilever type (yellow) will amplify the stroke.

Top to bottom view. I want the components to be removable so that Subbu can take it for modifications if any.

Counter weight to support the weight of boring rods (of around 80 feet). this will make the pumping light
weight and will not "stress" the windmill which otherwise have to lift the weight.

Farm Visit and Update in Visuals June, 2018

I had been to my native in the 4th week of June, 2018 to attend an unprecedented temple festival. That was a festival that will happen once in 100 years or so and therefore donot want to miss the opportunity.

While there, I visited the farm thrice.  Some of the pictures are below.  The best part is my extended family visited the farm. This is the first time I am exposing the farm to my own family consisting of my sisters and brothers.

Shown here is few pictures away from the usual.  

The rock mountain on the way to the farm. It is already etched and getting further eaten away
by granite mafia or m-sand innovators.

Sastha Temple near the farm.  He is well settled.  Only I did not find time to worship near.

The 3 year old coconut tree has already started fruting.

Red Coconut 3 year old

Jamun fruit tree. The Jamun is so tasty. It is organic, you just pluck and eat.
Unfortunately we have no takers (buyers) for this in the vicinity. It is getting wasted.

Subbu in pensive mood.  There is no water in the farm. There is a transformer breakdown in nearby locality deprivingg
electricity for atleast 10 farms. For past 4 days the plants have not been watered.  Same time windmill had been disconnected and kept because of lethargy, he had been postponing connecting it. Same time the oil engine also failed. Some electrical issue. He was embarrassed when we visited several  times.  That is the reality and must be faced.

The farm pond. There is water. But pump ? Planning for a small pump.  The existing kerosene pump will drain more water. Need just 1 inch water.

The one and only surviving vegetable is brinjal. All other vegetable patches are dry. Not mended properly.
I guess when Subbu was away to Tirupati, Kandan did not attend as he was busy for his own family function.
In farm, if you donot tend a patch for more than 3 days, you will loose it.

Banana Trees.  Asking for water.  There is sunshine too. 

Extended family. Sisters, cousins.

They had great entertainment. This is may be first time they are seeing a farm in close quarters.
They were free to pluck and eat anything. Most of them spent time taking selfie images.

Banana. Country variety.  Currently I am making loss. The whole bunch sells
at Rs. 50/- only in our locality (more on that separate post).

Enthusiastic crowd. Look at their faces pointing in different directions, as if they entered amazon forest.

Schedule of Updates pending for long

It has been quote some time now that I have updated the blog. Not that I donot have material. the fact is there is too much of them.

Let me start. In summary, I visited my farm last month.  I will start with some visuals. The following stories will start appearing in that order.
a) Farm Visit and Visuals.
b) Issue of Windpump rectified.
c) Banana, vegetable dream !
d) Other issues that come to mind.
e) Restructuring the Blog for better surfing experience

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.