Notes on Sahaja Krishi

I completed reading the 'Sahaja Krishi' written by Poornachandra Thejaswi, which was a long pending project. I picked this book seeing the number of pages and thinking that I could quickly read through end to end. The book laid around for months and the COVID-19 lock down helped me read through the book. I tried reading the 'One Straw Revolution' but failed to even complete the first 10 pages.

Sahaja Krishi is just an introduction to the One Straw Revolution yet it took a good amount of time to digest what the book takes me around. The book talks about natural farming which was introduced by Masanobu Fukuoka. I discovered that my thoughts are inline with the book. I almost felt the book has put the words to the thoughts running through my head for a long time.

 

Farming is a lifestyle, not just a job or a profit making profession

The first couple of chapters stress on how farming is more of a lifestyle and not just a job of a producer. The following chapters continue to remind about how every step has to be towards that lifestyle. It is difficult to jump into this lifestyle leaving behind what I have been following. I do not think it is easy at all!

 

4 points to note about the natural farming

• No plowing of the farmland.
  The earthworms, decomposing organic matters, bugs and pests do the plowing and the tilling naturally. The only thing we have to make sure is to help the process. 

• No chemical fertilizers  or unnecessary use of the organic fertilizers.
  Chemical fertilizers yield a good crop but the soil quality deteriorates drastically. The following year needs more of the fertilizers which is more cost. The plants and the soil gets used to the chemical fertilizers and they would lose their natural ability.
• Stop or avoid removal of weeds by plowing or cutting or by using weedicides
  Weeds should support the growth of the plants. Controlling their growth by chopping them and not allowing them to grow above the crop plants is the trick. The chopped weeds should be left on the ground which serves as a natural fertilizers.
  
  The book explains how the clover and the barley seeds were thrown between the paddy before the harvest. After the paddy is separated from the grass, the grass is thrown around the field while the barley and the clover have started growing. The grass acts as a shield protecting the soil and the compost will be the fertilizers. By the time the barley is about to be harvested, the paddy seeds are again thrown between the crops. The paddy seeds are made into small balls by sticking soil/mud (seed balls) around them so the pests do not eat away the seeds.
  
  By doing this, the entire top soil had become like a soft sponge which promotes the growth of the crops well.

• No chemical pesticides
  Pests have to be controlled naturally. Chemical pesticides do not just kill the pests but also everything else, including us. The nature takes control of the pests, we must not intervene. The spiders pray on the small bugs which prevent the plants being eaten. The frogs eat away the crickets and the flies which affect the plant growth. The nature heals itself.
  

The modernization in farming and the use of various equipment in the name of getting high yield is only a trap. Farming, if followed in the right way, needs very less modern ways and equipment. The book stress on this point at multiple places. The yield in natural farming is same or even higher in most cases as compared to other ways of farming.

The hybrid, grafted and the mutated plants might not grow well in the natural farming. The modified plant behavior do not help the plants to grow in the natural way. They need the additional support of modern farming, additional fertilizers, pesticides and weedicides.

The myth that the natural farming do not yield enough to cater to the demand is wrong. Fukuoka has proven that it is possible to feed the world with his way and also a more sustainable way of growing crops.

There is no method which is more right than the other. Every method needs a scientific approach, work and understand the nature. The nature helps, farming is about using the help appropriately to get a good crop. 

Farming is a lifestyle, farming is understanding the nature and living along with it.

Visiting Sampigepura - 12 Jan 2020

It had been a while since I visited the farm at Sampigepura. The last I visited there, was to show Manasa where our farm is located. My father had shared few photographs of the farm being drip irrigated and I was very enthusiastic to visit the farm from then. We had been pushing our visit and this time, we had some free time on Sunday. Father, mother, Chandana, Prasanna, Bhavana, Manasa and I planned for the visit on Sunday. Atte, Mava, Rashmi and Inchara also joined us. We started around 9, had breakfast at Dosa Point and Atte-Mava joined us in their car.

The village and the farm scene hasn't changed much and is almost the same as in my memory. I always want to go back to the village, I do not have a reason for this! I somehow find myself between the people there than the ones here! I do not belong here....

We reached the farm and Basappa was waiting for us. He was eager to see us and he began talking about improving the farm. He insisted on getting the barbed wire fencing around the farm. The bore-well was recharged from this year's rain and also due to the lakes being filled. Most of the farm is not drip irrigated. Along with the coconut trees, Basappa had planted Avarekai, sihi-genasu and couple of banana plant. We all had tender coconut. Basappa and I planted Sapota and Bettada-Nallikai saplings which we had taken from Mysore to mark Bhavana's first visit to the farm. Basappa insisted on getting more fruit bearing saplings.

I felt I must get more trees around the peripheral of the farm and many fruit bearing trees. I must visit the Biotechnology Center in Bannerghatta road to buy some plants for the farm. I also decided that I must send some money to improve the farm.

• Tall trees around the peripheral of the farms.
• Native fruit bearing trees.
• A small shed in the corner to store the farm equipment. 
• The calmness in the farm was unmatched. I don't think I can experience that elsewhere.

This looks like a good start. I must also visit the farm regularly. There are some changes I will have to do in my lifestyle and be little more disciplined to work as a farmer 10 years later. I have to live with basic things and prepare myself for a farmer's life. I must have a very strong financial plan to support my dream as well.

Do I have enough commitment ?

Jumping into a full time farming by renting or buying a piece of land after 10 years from now seems like a solid plan. To accomplish that, I need to start preparing, be it the change in lifestyle, financial planning or learning how to farm. All of it are new to me, never tasted them! The desire to start farming is greater but the necessary preparations do not seem to have started yet. It looks like I need a great deal of commitment and a change in mindset.

I have to see if I can spend sometime often learning or doing something towards the idea. I can start with growing some vegetables on the terrace. I can experiment and see what goes well and what doesn't. I have already failed in looking after those 2 tomato plants on the terrace. The plants grew well, I missed to water them for about a week, the plants dried and the fruits were infected. The green chili and the bird eye chili plants are holding good so far. I have just found a way to water them by using a water bottle with a small hole, which acts as a dripping system. Need to see if it works out as a watering mechanism.

Today, I went around looking for used paint buckets, seeds, potting mixture and fertilizers. Manasa and I visited the plant nursery near our house, Varsha enterprises and an old paper mart looking for things. I was pointed to Herbs to Home for the seeds. Need to check it out next week.

Traditional Farming Experience with Chinappa

16th Nov 2019

I reached the farm on my bicycle. Phani had reached early and was conversing with Chinnappa. We took some fruits along with us to give it to his wife who had come back from the hospital. We continued to dig around the Rose saplings while Chinnappa added fertilizers (something named 15-15-15, which would enhance the growth).

We wanted to ask Chinnappa if we can plant some different species of Tomatoes (cherry tomatoes) to just experiment and learn but we held ourselves back thinking that it is too early to ask him anything.

•  A Tomato plant would give about 5-6kg of fruits in its life time. Watering is based on the indication of the leaf. 
• The Rose sapling had to be pruned of the branch which do not give flowers.
• He gave me a big bunch of Nugge Soppu (Drum-Stick Leaves) and Togari Kai (Unriped Toor Dal) to take it back home.

The rose saplings had started giving flowers.
It is a delight to see that.

9th Nov 2019

My second visit to the farm and I was keenly waiting to find out what would be my assigned work for the day. My enthusiasm went a bit when I was asked to continue the digging from where I left last week but I was up for it. Digging was relatively easy since it had rained over the last couple of days and the soil was loose enough for the pickaxe to dig through. There is something to learn from repetitively doing something, I get to notice the smaller aspects which are important.

I was happy when Chinnappa told me that the raagi is ready to be harvested towards the end of the month and I was looking for a new experience of harvesting it. I cannot wait for that day. Chinnappa invited us for the harvesting and we readily said yes. Unlike his uncle who sold a part of his land and other farmers, who look for an alternate source of income from the farm land, Chinnappa wants to continue farming. He wants to cultivate some crops on the other vacant piece of land as soon as he could arrange for a water source. His hope, enthusiasm and energy are so encouraging for anyone.

His wife was in the hospital to get treatment for kidney stones. He doesn't seemed to be worried too much and I guess he has been through such difficult times. I do not carry that positive attitude during such instances. There are life lessons I need to learn from him.

Phani spoke his interest to rent a small piece of land and try farming on our own. He articulated what I had in my mind. We agreed that the idea is doable and we were also convinced that both of us would make good partners. I shared some of my ideas, learning and thoughts which I had around farming. We finally agreed that we might need some more experience to even experiment. We also knew that our initial investments would not bear any profits and what we would grow might be just enough for us and in case of anything excess, we would give it away to friends and neighbors. The idea has been echoing in my head and seems like a more feasible option right now.

• Chinnappa had sowed Palak and another green vegetable seeds in the piece of land near the entrance.

Phani took a photo of mine while digging around the rose saplings

2nd Nov 2019

Visiting Vanashree had become very infrequent since Srikanth and Preeti were not going to the farm on consecutive weekends. My urge to visit the farm hadn't reduced and I had to find a way for the getaway. There are some unanswered questions and confusions, for which, visiting the farm was the only answer. However those questions and confusions are not clear yet. Working at the farm is the only action which gives me some confidence to clearly ask those questions and sort out my confusions.

Phani, my colleague at Stellapps, had found a farm in Vittasandra Village near Electronic city. Out of his own interest he was visiting the farm over the weekends and spending some time working there. I joined him to the farm and the owner Chinnappa welcomed me. The owner was open for visitors like me. I reached there by 8.30 AM and Phani had already reached. After a short introduction, we were given the pickaxes and were asked to dig the soil around the Rose saplings. The recent rains had eroded the top soil and the soil was not good enough to hold the water. The Rose saplings were the grafted button roses which are sold on the roadside. They were planted about 2 weeks ago. We ploughed around for 2 hours, 3 rows per person. We had all indications of sour muscles by the time we winded up our work. We spoke between ourselves while we worked there and exchanged many experiences. This was the kind of farming experience I was waiting for.

Chinnappa seems to be a traditional farmer. He farms with the knowledge he got through his fore-fathers and his experience. The farm land was very large considering that it is close to Electronic city. His experience around farming seems to be very elaborate and there is a lot to learn from him.

• He had tomatoes, beans, ragi, toor dal and rose plants in his farm. 
• He was tilling a piece of land which was filled with weeds due to the recent rains. The machine was stuck due to a metal wire winded up around the blades. He was on it to resolve the problem.
• His wife and 2 kids stay in a small home built within the farm.

I am very keen on going back to farm again in the coming weekends.

Visiting Kaushik

24 July 2019

It was about 100 kms to Amruturu, where I would meet Kaushik. Manasa and I left home around 6.40am, I dropped her to Madhukara's home and left for the rest of the ride. It was a lone long ride, thoughts and questions passing by just like the passing by vehicles. I was finding a reason to cancel this visit, like I do every time and I was glad I didn't cancel it. There was a kind of happiness that I'm doing something which is very dear to me, visiting a farm, trying to learn something about farming. This day had given me enough time to think through different things and listen to myself, I guess this is important and I must do it quiet often. 

It was one of a kind of experience to visit Kaushik. It gave me a chance to speak out the muted questions in my head. It is very unusual to meet someone like him, who is very decisive at his actions, may be because I lack at it. I do not think it is easy at all to just leave everything behind and hold on to something which we love dearly to do and we believe it would work. For me anything short of 100% planning and preparation would be nothing less than a risk. I respect his decision and his confidence in learning how to farm and succeed. Through out our discussion, he sounded very confident and with no regrets what so ever.

We met at his home and we started talking. All of it were probably answers to my never ending questions. All that I wanted to know was probably how do I do it? How do I start farming with whatever time and resources I have right now.
I'm sure, I cannot quit everything right now and get to the field, but will I be able to do it at some point of time? May be I was not even looking at the profit and returns from farming, I just want to get my hands dirty and grow something.

I met Kiran who was Kaushik's partner and a mentor. The starting point for both of them was balcony/terrace gardening. They also suggested and insisted that I must try it first before getting on to the large farms. We went to the farm which Kiran owns, it seemed like an acre by looking at the dimension. Both of them believed that it could be more than enough for making a profit out of it. It was surprising and also seemed possible. We did some digging to build a small storage room at the farm and that was the only work I could do.

We returned back to Kaushik's home for lunch and his mother had cooked a very delicious lunch. We just sat around the house and talk about different aspects. We watered the small vegetable patches around his house. As soon as I got to know that we might not go back to the farm again, I decided to go back to Bangalore. I waited until his sister came home and left soon after that.

I had a brief stop at a small tea shop. The experience of the solitude was unique. It was cloudy through the ride back to Bangalore.

Vanashree

12 Oct 2019

Third visit to the farm. Was a short visit, Preeti madam did not join us. We came back before lunch. There was a Pooja planned at Srikanth's place and we mostly spent our time picking things for it.

• Peeled the cocnut husks and gathered them.
• Gathered Seemebadane, Gava, Passion fruit, sugarcane, banana leaf, beetle leaf and Thondekai. 
• Learned how to find out if gava is about to ripe by slightly pearcing into the fruit.

Srikanth sir also shared his Himalayan trekking experiences. He gave me Seemebadane, Nugge Soppu and Barbados Cherry to carry home.

14 Sep 2019

My second visit to the farm. Every conversation has been a learning for me. Talking to Srikanth sir and Preeti madam has been so helpful. I got my chance to enjoy working in the farm. We had a discussion of revamping the vanashree website. General talks about how an intermidiate broker would charge a premium on the produce and how a farmer cannot do anything about it.

• Picked the coconuts and made a pile. Learned how a small trolly helped in reducing the work effort in gathering the coconuts. A huge coconut container which helps in drying it and also to gather it at one place. We also discussed how a value-added item (coconut oil / herbal coconut oil would help in earning more compared to just selling coconut and dry coconut.
• Plucked seemebadanekai, topioca and planted seemebadanekai (learned to plant it the right way). 
• Learned to identify how a seethapala would look like when it about to ripe.
• Shanmuga was spraying a concentrated common salt solution on the weeds. This would act as a natural weedicide without harming the fertility of the soil. 
• Anveshi and his wife had come to the farm. We had met on my first visit to the farm. He had come there with a big plan of starting something new. The idea seemed to be very broad. However such a detailed planned seemed to be important for starting anything new. 
• We had a short discussion about Prafulla Chandra, brother-in-law of Kuvempu and his contribution towards the field of agriculture. 
• Heard about the qtrove.

Srikanth sir clicked a photograph of mine while I was planting seemebadanekai sapling.

3 August 2019

My very first visit to the Farm. It was such an enriching experience and all the conversation made a lot of sense. The other visitors - Pradeep, Amareshi and ShriVidya were from different walks of life but their interest around the topics and their questions seemed were appropriate. Srikanth sir picked me from the Toyoto showroom, Kanakpura Road around 9.45am. Both Srikanth sir and Priti madam were open for conversation and any question. Soon I got into the car and we started driving towards the farm there were several conversation. I was just trying to get my confusions cleared by talking out the thoughts which keeps running in the mind.

The farm seemed nothing like a conventional farm which I have experienced before. A new world for me altogether.

Shanmuka and Jaya who stay at the farm all the time, take care of the daily work, while Srikanth and Priti visit the farm over the weekends. The animals at the farm, the endless trees and the plants in the farm were a different experience altogether. Understanding the whole mindset of such organic farming was something I was looking for and I got a glimpse of it.

My plan of going back to the farm frequently to learn was acknowledged and they agreed to allow me to go back over the weekends and work on the field.

Some additional info I could gather -
https://annadana-india.org/

2 August 2019

- Called Srikant sir and confirmed the visit to the farm. Was delighted and excited about the visit.

17, 18 July 2019

Messaged Srikanth sir about my interest. Had a phone call with Srikanth sir to visit the farm and he agreed.

5 July 2019

sent an email to Priti madam about my interest to visit the farm. 11th, got a reply with Srikanth sir's phone number.