Farm Update Sept, 2020

 Slight drizzle at the farm.  Subbu is very busy on his own work paying less attention to the farm. He had a mouthful from me.  I was upset due to very very high electricity bill that was received. Not his fault though. But consistent ignorance of windmill has resulted in running pump on electricity resulting in high bill.   Kandan is not keeping well, but is managing to attend daily.

Farm is growing fine. But no new activity though. I want to start more cultivation. So far there is no monetary output, but satisfied that a complete ecosystem is working there. Some of the pictures

The above is a satisfactory sight of the palm tree for which we were waiting for long time. Growing well. Now it will grow fast as it is the native tree.

Orange fruits taking shape

Gives a garden look. Must be good to spend some time here.

green coconut and red coconut.  Shaping well

This is the immediate place after the main gate and to the left towards toilet. Full of shade now.

Worker assistants are fixing the windmill pipe that got unscrewed.  Actually this is the pain point for me that Subbu has not taken care of this because there is electricity and deep borewell pump resulting in huge bill. Now i need to cut down everything. Which is why I am pushing them. 

Fresh sprout seen from the plant that was scrotched by Kandan when he lit the grass instead of cutting them.  Good hope.

A portion of the farm which used to be infertile. Some signs of life.

Neem tree trunk. The size shows it is growing well. 

I am particular that current wires are secured properly. IT used to loop down touching the ground. First time i see they are properly kept in place by a series of poles.

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.