Harvesting Turmeric

The turmeric rhizomes were planted in first week of June 2017 before the rains. Since then they had grown tall with beautiful green leaves. Now the leaves had all dried up and fell to the ground. It was time to harvest the turmeric.

After the turmeric is harvested, it needs to be cleaned, separated, washed and boiled. After that its spread out and dried, before being powdered.

First the leaves were cut off and put aside.

Then the digging for the turmeric

Cleaning the turmeric

Separating the turmeric

Washing the turmeric

Need to boil the turmeric

Boiling the turmeric for about 40 minutes

Seven rows of turmeric to harvest

Spreading the turmeric to dry

The stock rhizome with roots

After removing the roots

These stock rhizomes need to be boiled longer

New born beautiful baby Calf

We are blessed with another female addition to the cows on the farm. This beautiful brown bundle of joy was born on 1st July 2015. Got the news on the phone but could not visit immediately. Visited yesterday to see this beautiful one. Still shy and cautious but inquisitive too.

Here are some pictures :

We also harvested a lot of vermicompost (almost 200kg plus). Rich, dark & moist black gold for plants. Though this was over shadowed by the brown beauty above.

Handful of seived vermicompost:

Haldi Trial

Just wanted to see the status of haldi planted last year as a trial. Well was happy to see that the quantity harvested was more than double of what was planted. This year will weigh the haldi being planted to get a better yield to planting ratio.

This is what was harvested

Another new calf

Another male calf was born on May 28, 2015. Both the mother and the calf are doing well.

The picture below was taken on May 29, 2015

Surans Peek Out

Possibly because of unpredictable  rains, the surans have decided to peek out earlier

Bounty in April

The farm has a good output, though the unscheduled rains are playing spoilsport.

Seeds being saved and replanted for the nth time in last few years are ready. These include Dudhi, Karela, Abai, Ghewada and Ghosali. Just harvested Pumpkin seeds have been saved. Maath (Amaranth) seeds have been saved too. Hopefully some onion seeds for both (red & white) can be saved if rain gives a chance.

After a good Ramphal season the Kokum, Jaam are fruiting well along with some cashew fruits. However looks like the mangoes this year will be less in number. Sitaphals have just started flowering. The Ambadi tree has given its first fruits. Starfruits are also fruiting along with the lemoms and sweet lime.

Red chillies of three varieties are doing well. So also long brinjals and pumpkins. Jackfruits have yet to ripen. Mint was spoilt because of rain, hope it recovers as it usually does. Mousambhi tree has its first flowers.

Lets see waht May has in store.

March Bounty on the Farm

Got Fruits - Karmal (star fruit) Phanas (jackfruit), Ramphal (bullock's heart) and Chickoo, Chillies three varieties, Tamarind, Pumpkin, Banana Stem, Vangi and Black Pepper. Also a few sticks of Dalchini (cinnamon)

First flowering of the Mausambi tree,

Next in line : Awala, Rai awala, Kokum, Guawa,