a) Rains have stopped for the time being. Still the mud is heavily soaked in water and hence tractor cannot plough the ground. We have planned to plough two square plots of around 25 cents each to be used for multipurpose, mainly experimenting. Subbu’s brother is owing a tractor. So it is convenient to call him whenever we want. We need to invite tractor tomorrow. There is heavy sunshine today.
Moral : Have a handy contact in hand always for every work.
b) There is no wind. Not even the anemometer is rotating. If this continues, we may have to use the reserve water. Currently water is available in full at the ground level rain water pit. Strangely, this water is not soaking inside the mud layers. The bottom is already rock, so water has to escape sideways, but it is not. Therefore good news is we can use it to store for long time. And grow some fish as well. Bad news is that ground will not get moistened for crops.
Half a tank of water is also available in the cement tank (30×20 feet) that can be filled only by surplus water from wind pump.
Moral : Be careful about water usage even during rainy season.
c) There was a slippage of ball bearing (SKF) on the wind pump. Wind rotor stopped working. Subbu, had to set it right by climbing the tower top during Diwali when it was also raining. It required two more people to hold the Rod assembly, slowly rotate the crank and fix it. The root cause was that these bearings are using Allen Key to tighten the screws in place. The engineer who installed the pump did not have all the Allen Keys (Kind of spanner for Allen screws). So he left it half fixed which has slipped during its up and down motion. I asked Subbu to purchase a set of screw drivers for permanent farm use.
Moral: Have a complete tool kit at every farm.
d) In next few days we will sow the following seeds.
a) Mappillai Samba Seeds
b) Vegetable seeds all in small quantities in a round robin fashion on a raised bed. Grown mainly to produce seeds.
c) Sweet Potato and Jasmine flower saplings in alternate rows.
e) Subbu suggested we will sow some sweet potato. It seems neighbours are doing it. Let us copy the same. Then within these plots, jasmine saplings which are purchased will be planted as inter crop in raised beds. I am of the opinion we need to mix as much as possible, so that we avoid mono cropping even at small level and invite various diseases.
Moral: Copy and Improve the neighbourhood.
f) After a long wait and lot of discussion, I told Subbu to drop the plan of going to Parasalla to purchase coconut saplings or purchase from nearby Valliyoor who is not committed. We will stick to Ramji Nursary in Nagarcoil. We have experience with them. The gardners over there are friendly. We need to pickup 30 coconut and all different tree varities.
Moral : Don’t attempt to buy small quantity from big or small unknown nursery. Choose good nursery which is flexible and provides quality.
g) We planned to plant trees on the perimeter of our plot also outside wherever possible. Let us use this rainy season and increase greenery. I have always wanted to start a social movement to make the area green. But that will involve thousands of saplings, and hundreds of hands. Doing a social movement along with villlagers to plant thousands of trees – is a little far away. Presently let me start small, grow some green and invite more people.
Moral: Do something yourself before expecting social responsibility from others.
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IT to Farming at Nachankulam 