Farm Diaries (2015 July to 2021 February)

After a vigorous search for few years, our long-time dream of owning farm land in the suburbs of  Hyderabad came true in July 2015. Venky, myself and akka bought farm land 🌾🌴🌿🌱 in Sajjanpalli, Kankamamidi taluk with blessings and unstinted support from Mummy and Daddy. Though soil was rocky, land was flat and within 40 km radius from the city. This is the reason for preferring this particular land to the interior Chevella land. We are forever indebted to Narender and his brother Rajnikanth

( Ekalavya foundation) for helping us in this process. Durga and Mallesh (our old associates from Samalkot) came with good intent to stay in the farm but could not adjust to the food and culture of Telangana. Mavayyagaru got from his village, a passionate vegetable grower and supervisor by name Subbarao garu. Farm adjoining to us belong to two Marati borthers ( Gopalrao and Ravinder) and Dasaratharam Reddy.

We often clicked pictures and maintained a detailed record of the farm and construction activities from July 2015. However, it is good to have a blog by name Farm Diaries besides  jotting down in a diary and instagram handle ( farm_n_ joy). So I started this Blog in the month of March, 2021.

Field trip--5th May

 

 

Kids had a field day during our field trip to farms at Toopran near Medchal. We stopped at mango orchards, cabbage patch and corn fields interplanted with tomatoes. Our pit stop at Gosala (cow shelter to refill our water bottles) was soothing.

The gosala was surrounded by lemon trees, bay leaf and curry leaf trees along with a chikoo garden. Dad (he hails from an agricultural family and owns few acres of land in his native village) Sudha (Horticulture graduate with a PG and in Agri-Business Mgt from MANAGE) and Venky (masters in Seed Tech besides Rural Mgt from IIRMA) felt nostalgic. I am equally passionate though I don’t hold relevant degrees like them. Abhee and Rashmi enjoyed despite the scorching heat. Harshil got a little bored after sometime and he preferred to play games on mobile. The farm workers gifted us cabbage, tomatoes, corn and raw mangoes. When I was eating corn cobs at home, when our neighbour Anish came with fresh cherries from their Shimla trip, it was like an icing on the cake. It turned out to be a memorable Sunny Sunday!!!!!!See More

Early morning farm trip to Medchal....

May9th 2013 FB

Waiting in the wings for the wings of.........

Though I love birds fluttering and chirping in my balcony, when it comes to pigeons it is a loud NO. Of late I realised that these birds are also eating away parts of the rose buds besides littering our balconies and entrance door. Pigeons are highly disturbing, often make nests and rapidly reproduce. Their acidic droppings are unhygienic.
Pigeons are a big menace in our apartment complex and their numbers are swelling. Even after repeated notices some residents continue to feed the pigeons. May be all the residents can agree on a common place in the green patch of the play area to feed the birds, particularly in summer.
A pigeon laid two eggs in the cosy corner near our washing machine in the utility area. I am frantically waiting for the two young birds to develop their wings and tails. If they turn into fledglings and fly away soon, I can get the place cleaned and subsequently get my utility netted. Sorry young ones, I have no other go.

 

It is intensely hot out here! Proof? The water in the small terracotta well in my balcony is evapourating in a couple of days.

However, today’s scene is a lot different-----An overcast sky is triggering hopes of light rain. I am embracing this refreshingly cool air.....

Matka ka pani

Gearing up for summer---

With summer beating down mercilessly and outages in excess --- all of us are guzzling water like thirsty women in a desert. Fret not, cool yourself with matka ka pani, water melons and buttermilk laced with salt and spices.

Ink Pen Woes

Ink Pen woes...

Ever since Harshil graduated to an ink pen, the messiness is not confined to his study table. He ruthlessly spills ink all over the apartment. Venky keeps telling him, Buddy! You need to understand that “Expensive pens cannot improve your handwriting”. With the stationery I spent on kids, I would have got a good piece of gold jewellery (this is no piece of exaggeration). He broke my Dad’s old Hero fountain pen that he treasured from years. Though I personally love fountain pens, I consider gel pens as a boon (less messy -no flooding and blotting) and lighter on the wallet) but after trying Trimax, Trimax Gold, Classmate, Racer Gel, he got back to fountain pen. His class teacher recommends Link Ocean Gel (6Rs pen) but it turned to be a pen these guys heavily look down on. Every morning there is this ritual of filling ink, I yell at him to revise his lessons instead of wasting time but he pays no heed (I am not a pushy mother and he studies at his own pace). I really wonder how he can be so cool—like any other day during the exam time. Of late, he settled for a grippy Reynolds fountain pen. How long he sticks to this brand is a question mark? After all he is in class V, going to class VI. A long way to go........

 

 

 

FB friends comments

Chanchala Devi, Sudha Kishore, Sangeeta Bhat and 2 others like this.

Sobha Tangirala Ahhhh Sarada, You brought those nice memories of ink pens back with this message :-) I remember all the fillings , spillings , cleanings and scoldings :-)

March 15 at 9:41am · Edited · Like

Sarada Venkat Yes I do, but we just had one pen, simple life....

March 15 at 9:40am · Like

Sobha Tangirala Thats very true. Just one pen or pencil at a time. and it is no exaggeration with the amount we spend on stationary now adays...

March 15 at 9:43am · Like

Savitha Vasudev dont worry sarada you r not the only one with the woes ;) guess all the boys r same coz even pushkal is da same :)

March 15 at 2:12pm ·

Beena Kantamuneni Ladies they are just in 5th or 6th class...there are lot more hair tearing issues to come..be brave:))) be strong:)))))

March 15 at 7:43pm 

hanurekha Reddy yaa, you took us to our ink pen days, splashing on white uniforms, and backs of teachers etc, such fun memories...

March 15 at 11:23pm · Unlike ·

Chanchala Devi We wud hav not been any better Sarada :) Its fun, history repeats

March 18 at 12:31pm · Unlike · 1

Real Hero---A True crusader

Satyameva Jayathe is an answer to all those who are cynical to celebrities hosting shows on social issues. Aamir is getting the core issues of the nation to the forefront and his intention is not to malign any profession or party. He is fighting discrimination and injustice meted out to scores of people from all classes of the society through studio chats and field reportage.

By getting Doordarshan to air this show simultaneously and dubbing it in regional languages, more and more people are able see and talk on what is discussed. Above all, Aamir is not washing his hands off after presenting  this one hour show, he is writing columns, trying to offer solutions and is managing to ruffle feathers in the Government.  Aamir is addicted to being perfect. Let us all join hands to fight injustice!