Farm Update 24-Sep-18 (partly visual)

Subbu is in a mood to go to Tirupati. His annual pilgrimage. He was saying he did not get proper tickets.  I did not want to therefore load with any other major work.

Finally 3 Phase current is sanctioned. After several sorties, Subbu had obtained the new meter. Now the Eb has to come and give connection from the pole. Upto the pole they seem to have drawn the required extra wiring.  I asked Subbu to call a local contractor to do rest of intra-farm wiring. No compromise should be there in quality as more current is going to come.  Meanwhile Subbu hit upon an idea of making indigenous electric post using 2" pipes to save on cost.  Electric poles are costing very heavy if purchased. (above 7K per pole).

Windmill was fixed and is working fine. However after 3 months suddenly it has unlocked itself. The reason was found to be a silly mistake by Kandan. Earlier Kandan had unwound the rods without holding the lower rod with left hand. This is like trying to open a lid without holding bottle.  the Result is it has loosened a screw somewhere deep inside the well.  Such behavior of people is what makes us develop more idiot proof things in due course.

I spoke to Subbu about what we can do further in agriculture. Presently he claimed he has cleaned the banana patch.  Kandan and his accomplice (One man who has been appointed as body guard to Kandan for a fee. Kandan feels threatened after he hit a thief few weeks back) were given some job. Left alone they would confine themselves to watering the trees and keep quite. I was upset on this and hence Subbu had some work delegated.

I am writing about sustainable farming as a series of articles in Face book in vernacular Tamil.  It has been a long pending due to write something in Tamil for my friends. I started writing about sustainability especially focusing on farm power.  (Wind, CSP etc).  looks like people like it.

There is other reason for writing now.  ABS company called me and told they have a windmill ready and it is occupying space in their factory. They are into bolting business and keep high value items. They want to sell this off quickly to make room for themselves. I promised I will contact some of my agriculture farmer friends. This article of mine has indeed generated interested. Hope it will mature into orders.  If more orders come, I myself want to get involved into design improvements along with ABS.

Meanwhile I am silently working on my low cost verticle windmill project. I just gave order for fresh wings to a workshop. My other project - mechanical amplifier is also taking good shape.

Below are some of the farm pictures as it stands. These are inspiring.

View from behind the windpump rotor blade.

Recently the fuse had burned. This is dangerous. It happens because whatever said, they donot propelry
use rated fuse wires. They tend to use copper wires. I must be strict on this.

Just a random View

Mature coconut

Amla

Sapota patch. Note the climate has started Drying.

Sapota

Jasmine. Nice to see it is bushy. But it lacks manure.

The one and only surviving vegetable. White Brinjal

Need to make pickles out of this. Subbu is not listening.

Jasmine patch

One rod from the well. I wanted subbu to take photo of its tip with pencil.
This is how we exchange information. This picture will allow me
to guage how much is the thickness of the rod.
This is required for me here to fabricate one.  Since he is not having vernier calipher, this idea.
This picture says the rod is 12mm in diameter.

Farm Update 10-Sep-2018

Electricity   :  The much anticipated 3phase power has come to the farm at last.  Several months of waiting and numerous trips to the EB office by Subbu with some disappointments have come to an end.  The EB officials would also make trips around the villages meeting incumbent applicants to collect their tips.

The process is to fix new meter again (paid again), new board, fuses and so on... Each of that will be done in coming days.  I guess now the additional wire in the post for 3 phase had been drawn out by the  govt contractor form the transformer.

I told Subbu to employ a good contractor in the farm to finish the last mile.  We need to pull fresh wire from the gate to the generator room and further to the tank. All will cost a lot of money and some efforts.  The wires are very costly.  We have decided to take it over head by installing few posts.  This is better than burying inside the soil (underground).  We will forget eventually and may lead to other problems.  Being over head will allow periodic inspection, though it will be vulnarable to vagaries of the climate.

Hopefully when everything is done, we can connect back our texmo 3 HP pump and run it seamlessly. That means we can fill the white large cement tank to the full.  This had never been filled properly since the time it was constructed.  If power is drawn upto this tank, then we can also install baby motor to displace water for sprinkler and hopefully a rain fun in future.  The windpump excess water also can converge into this tank.  Ultimately we can then start reducing power usage and worry about agriculture.

Agriculture : I told subbu, let us atleast start growing something for our families instead of aimlessly attempting to grow crops commercially and get disappointed. I want him to send stuff by courier so that I can test all means of sending food over long distances. I told let us first start sending to our known families and friends. Atleast this is the trend I see with organic farmers using social media.  He agreed.

Update on Windpump Amplifier

Today I went to the workshop. I have been rattling now and then, but for one or the other reasons the workshop owners were not available. They generally go out for field work. Or I go in lunch time. Or one of the key guy is missing etc... nothing was moving.

But today was different. All were in place. I spent quite a few hours there. I had purchased a handgloves, round file, a threaded rod of 10 feet, some bolts,  sand paper etc to polish some of the components myself.  I also sent these snaps to Subbu and my wife to impress them that I am serious at what I am doing.

Now around 70% of the work is over.

Rest in visuals.

The completed setup. 70% over

An innovation to allow the cross shaped bar to be removed from top. This is required
for Subbu to further work on this in case. As it is main moving component.
However worry about theft in future.

The moving bolt will further be welded with additional pieces to connect to windpump.

Front view. This will slide up and down.

The rod which is pieced the face plate has allowance to move back and forth to compensate.

Banana is a Loss

The only commercial crop that is ripe and ready to sell is banana in my farm. We started with around 200 trees. I am not sure how many are standing now. How many have been cut.  Because Subbu is in no mood to share that information with me.  He said he has removed substantial portion of banana after giving it off. He has jumped to next action plan already, meanwhile my mind is still loitering around banana and what next.

There is a reason why Subbu is silent.

Banana is not selling well in the market. Attached is a bill from the broker which says Rs. 70/-  (approx 1 dollar) for the bunch of 250 bananas and another rate for smaller bunch at Rs. 30/- (half a dollar). Atleast this is ok.  In subsequent bunches, they got so less price that we had to pay from our pocket for the transport.

Subbu is disappointed, so also me.  After all he had taken careof banana plants for 10 months day and night tending care, watering and growing it to see in full adult hood. When we visited with family we enjoyed that patch very well. Each of the taller than 12 feet are now sold for just Rs. 25/-.  Such is the nature of agriculture.

I must find a way out of this.  Perhaps chips, banana powder.... I spoke to subbu about these just to keep him happy and give hope.  To do that practically is difficult.

Anyway my inner thought says, why can't i take up the job of broker myself. I heared several farmers are giving away banana bunches for loss at this season. If only I collect all of them and sell it at a profit. May be to a far away place after paying toll and transport ?  

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.