Mac under the Mango tree

My dear social friends, brothers and sisters :)... I trust everyone is doing well.   New year 2023 has started and it always brings little bit of energy to everyone. Let us keep this energy in all positive ways. Today (15-JAN), we celebrate PONGAL festival. It is an important festival in South India.  It is referred to harvest festival and is dedicated to the Sun GOD. I wrote a blog about this last year: https://blog.prabakarpaulsami.com/2022/01/happy-pongal-wishes-to-all.html In our farm, we have pumpkins, papaya, lemon and coconut now...   We give so much importance to this harvesting festival. However, the same importance has to be given to agriculture and farming.  Tamilnadu state government gives 4 to 5 days holidays to everyone. May be worth visiting any farms, spend time with farmers in these days. :)..  Let us be with nature and truly celebrate the natural festival. OK, My dear social friends, brothers and sisters.... See you all in the next one...

My dear social friends, brothers and sisters :)... I trust everyone is doing well.  In this blog, I am going to share the progress of pumpkin harvesting, which I explained in previous blog: https://blog.prabakarpaulsami.com/2022/10/trying-out-pumpkin.html  Health benefits of pumpkin: Rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, pumpkin is incredibly healthy. What's more, its low calorie content makes it a weight-loss-friendly food. Its nutrients and antioxidants may boost your immune system, protect your eyesight, lower your risk of certain cancers and promote heart and skin health . As I said in previous blog, it is a short-term crop. I have already harvested more than 8 tons. :).  But the experience was awesome. Please check pumpkin flower below... When I walk around the farm, or going around pumpkin, this flower was gigantic, very attractive and royal. Though it was not king or queen of flower, but it had the majestic look. :) Now coming to the plant itself, please check o

My dear social friends, brothers and sisters :)... I trust everyone is doing well.  In this blog, I am going to share little about the importance of North East Monsoon (NEM) and their direct impact to agriculture and farming. In India, we get two monsoons. 1. South West Monsoon 2. North East Monsoon We are expecting good North-East monsoon by this month, and I have already started my short-term experiment, which I explained in my previous blog. But what exactly is the northeast monsoon (NEM), why does it occur, and what is its significance? Listed below are answers to such frequently asked questions. What is the North East Monsoon? (NEM) Similar to the southwest monsoon (SWM) that drenches India from June to September, the northeast monsoon is another major and permanent feature of the Indian subcontinent’s climate system. Its name is derived from the direction of the monsoon winds, which blow from the northeast to the southwest. During their movement, these winds pick up moist

My dear social friends, brothers and sisters :)... I trust everyone is doing well.  It's been a while, I tried something new in farm. Thought of using another 50 cents, which is not at all being used. We are expecting North-East monsoon by next month, hence I thought of stating this experiment now... This is going to be a short-term one.  i.e. 90 to 150 days. Unlike Manago trees, we get yielding in few weeks. Here is an one-week old plant. One week old plant It took little bit investment to setup this. Please see below picture to get an idea.  This one is completely drip-irrigation.   OK, why pumpkins?.   My reason is simple. Try out something new for a short-term. Monsoon is coming...Harvesting time will be easy and relaxed, since you could decide to whom to sell.. Pumpkin fruit will stay for longer period. Also planning to invite families to farm, so that they could visit and grab from plant as per their wish. :).  This experience will be unique for kids and families. Each plant

My dear social friends, brothers and sisters :)... I trust everyone is doing well. In this blog, I am sharing little about Papaya Trees in my farm.  Please check out below tree. This is a 6 months old tree.     This is my second set of papaya trees. I have planted over 100 trees in the 2nd batch.  More than 50% of trees are in good shape and healthy at this point. As you can see in the picture, if the tree is healthy it gives good yielding.  We have to put extra care during initial 30 days. We need to water them daily and apply manure during first few weeks. I have setup drip-irrigation in my farm. Here is the glimpse of few more trees. If the tree is in dark green color, you can easily assume it is healthy. However there are few trees in light green color, and it is OK.  If the tree is in yellow color, mostly it will not yield anything. Now, coming to yielding, easily you could get around 50 kgs in a week. Farm price is: 10 INR per kg. I do give lots of free stuffs to relatives and n

My dear social friends, brothers and sisters :)... I trust everyone is doing well. Its been a month and more, since I wrote my last one. Back here, and trying to be disciplined without any excuses. I am writing this blog from Bentonville, Arkansas, USA. On an official trip and it is weekend, Saturday morning. I am missing my farm, viewing the breeze and trees from camera :), and it is time to share about that. OK, in this blog,I am going to share little about my current farm season: Drumstick Vegetables Season. So far, it is good.  This is an iron rich vegetable, and it has lots of health benefits too. Families do make curries (Sambar, various spicy ones too) with this vegetable or make side dishes (Aviyal, Poriyal etc) too. We have been producing around 500 kgs every week.  This season lasts for two/three months.  It is a hard work and we have to really sweat. :).... Now, let us look at the other side. i.e. why farmers are committing suicides or giving up farm.. Moreover, why parents

Hi Everyone -- I trust you and family are doing well. Things are getting better and better with covid situations. Take care of yourself and family. In this blog, I am going to share little about summer KING fruit   " Mango ".  :) In India, Mango is the king of fruits , so you can get it as soon as the spring season ends and the summer season begins, usually in the first few weeks of April.  Mango season starts in summer and continues till the middle of the monsoon. Mango is one of a great summer fruits in India, as it helps the body fight the heat and prevents heat strokes in summer. During summer in south India, we get many fruits. i.e. Cashew Apples, Palm Fruits (Ice Apple), Jack Fruits. Jamuns, Tamarind, Manila Tamarind etc.   Indian summers are incomplete without mango. It is undoubtedly the king of fruits in the Indian subcontinent. Types of Mangoes:  There are around 20+ varieties of Mangoes. What I am aware of are: Alphonsa,  Neelum, Banganapalli, Himsagar etc. Mango