My existing scythe handle was locally made, it was working nice, but after the snath saver had gone bad, handle started breaking when the blade hits a hard object. Ordered a new wooden handle with mini-cradle from Vikalp, costed 1800/- totally and they shipped it promptly and it arrived without any issues.
I have been hearing that Attapadi tribal people cultivates upland rice in hills just based on rain water. Few years back a friend had given few seeds, saying it is 'arie nell' from Attapadi and it tillers heavily, but those seeds didn't germinate.
During an agriculture online meet one x-navy person who is a farmer now, brought out that they cultivate upland rice, this retriggered my curiosity. Called him and he promised to give some rice seeds. Since depending on a single contact to get these seeds is bit risky since when you are going there, they may not be there or some such situations can arise. Contacted one more friend called Kunju chettan who was in Attapadi and he gave another agriculture officer Ambu's phone number and this office was very prompt and he gave Doraisswamy's contact. He used to pick up phone every time and he promised to give 1 kg of seed.
Another friend whose contact number I had collected from internet, also promised to give some seeds. So myself and another friend Paulettan started the Attapadi journey. I travelled to Mannarkkad by bus from there we started on Paulettan's bike, it was nice to see around while travelling in bike. We collected some cashew nuts seeds also on the way.
Two contacts gave the seeds while one person was not reachable on the phone. Doraiswamy didn't take money for the seeds, even though we compelled him. To my surprise both seeds were different...One given by Doraiswamy was slightly blackish in color and it was 4 months duration, and they started cultivating this between June and July after there is good rain. Unlike in the olden days, where they start the rice with first rain, they wait for rain to establish then sow the seeds. With good rain, soil will be more fertile and also for 2 months, it will receive good water and will grow without any problem.
The other seed was of 6 months duration, and still it is started in June after getting good rain.
Some photos...
Ginger is harvested in February and next crop will be put in June/July after rain starts. Till this time seed has to be saved, last time kept harvested ginger in rubber basket with soil, but all were spoiled by the time it had to be planted.
This time, wanted to keep in a pit made in the soil, and covered with soil and also in between it can be kept moist by watering slightly.
Harvested turmeric which was planted in the last rainy season. In some areas where there was good gap between plants ,weeded and piled soil around the base of plants, those areas yield was good. At the time of harvesting, put some seeds back at those places since that reduces work drastically. This is Fukuoka San's idea of root vegetable cultivation. Also mulched these area's well.
This is a bit delayed post...It has been more than 6 months since we have a new dog at home...
Opposite to our farm, a new person came as caretaker with a female dog, a cute dog, he called her 'Pennu'.She was initially a bit hostile to me, but as usual gave her couple of biscuits and she became very close friend. The new caretaker was a bit away from Palakkad and he was doing such jobs in Palakkad since he was badly in need of money. In his previous job, he got this dog and since no one wanted her since it was a female dog, he took her with him.
She was tied at the farm and only at night she was released for some time and Pennu would warm him of wild boars and snakes well. One day when I went there, he was not there and Pennu was tied to a pillar and neighbor lady told that he had asked her to take care of the dog and he would come back after some time and would take her. Neighbor lady used to give her food at the afternoon and in the evening. Whenever I went there, I also fed her. She used to spend whole day there all alone....
He kept on pushing his date of coming back and finally he told, to give the dog to some one. Neighbor lady also was tired of feeding her and was planning to release her. I told this story at home and showed her photo and family was OK to take her. When we visited next time, my daughter's friend Aagy also was there, she named her as Pinky. We quickly made a cage for her and brought her home, she was calm in the car and got adjusted well.
She is very cute and is very much afraid when we take a stick or shout at her. It looks like previous owner used to hit her. She doesn't enter inside house, obeys commands like sit and bring ball back, if biscuits are there in hand. Also if asked she will get into the cage on command. She is not befriended with other dog and once there was a severe fight between them.
I gave her a surname also, now she is Pinky Joseph, and Joseph is her previous owner who left her.
R
In an effort to multiply seeds, doing one more crop of happy hill rice in the backyard. Another area is kept ready with mulch and also applied goat pellet,wood ash and a bit of cowdung slurry. Soil is not disturbed and had mulched heavily but since it might interfere with rice seedling some mulch is removed.
