tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4397275245695101332024-03-05T20:05:53.527-08:00Heavenly LivingSharing the nectars of bliss.DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410094941790922309noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439727524569510133.post-59381847237110648572014-03-17T16:32:00.001-07:002014-03-17T16:32:23.264-07:00New Garden as on March 2nd 2k14<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
The New Garden as it looks on March 2nd. Looks awesome. It rained a little bit before the video, and the garden looked as if it just took a nice gulp of cool oxygenated water after a thirsty time.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QwuuhMTfyCU" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This garden went through a lot of changes. Initially, it was set up with beds similar to what we have in the above video..<span id="goog_1088063956"></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tav57yAtSa_b8-OVyt_ZOUITliSvaeygMZv_W9lL263GTYQA3emoJSEp-XA5DCX7QIQ52-yUj-2dXgcnmNsn-R0HgQKPQLffAQOSGYSFWOTSqWpPaOYr4H898yKYA38OyUJGPFMjNQc/s1600/20130616_170322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tav57yAtSa_b8-OVyt_ZOUITliSvaeygMZv_W9lL263GTYQA3emoJSEp-XA5DCX7QIQ52-yUj-2dXgcnmNsn-R0HgQKPQLffAQOSGYSFWOTSqWpPaOYr4H898yKYA38OyUJGPFMjNQc/s1600/20130616_170322.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
New Garden set up back in june 2k13.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then, the idea was to make veggie beds and it worked great.. with some cocopeat, some compost, some vermi compost, it produced quite well. But then, right around the monsoon, we got into other work, namely Kritagnata Mahotsavam, the 75th birthday celebrations of our Master Ekkirala Bharadwaja, and this garden was left for itself. We used to 'forage' from this place rather than garden it. It was producing quite a bit, but as nature wills it, appropriately, it jumped into rampancy and there was a strong growth of what is called 'weeds'. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here is are a few photos of how it looked before the so called 'weeds' started to take over : </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucCdTiRDiP0_dIvoXB-ZfY7Ly-yY82VxSaDzClxhzVdwU22BmT4QHYkbwToyRH6_8ZVhe6FQrOtQx67kiIa8D6_q8VXZUqaGlXwJjW62bT-a7N0zRVrITlt09wIDT8skzIANV7v-YOLQ/s1600/20130702_165343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucCdTiRDiP0_dIvoXB-ZfY7Ly-yY82VxSaDzClxhzVdwU22BmT4QHYkbwToyRH6_8ZVhe6FQrOtQx67kiIa8D6_q8VXZUqaGlXwJjW62bT-a7N0zRVrITlt09wIDT8skzIANV7v-YOLQ/s1600/20130702_165343.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUV51WlHLoNNV5Yw6is-XPKRKuwgk9xmhqGtRzxagMX28DiLQB_QixQVY3HQloJf7An25rRX360_bHV1nea-NCRpTScz4U1qmQTtKib80bouTLR-LkUjVuu7oJ3CZXDqftZZ9ZXqFCo8/s1600/20130702_165402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUV51WlHLoNNV5Yw6is-XPKRKuwgk9xmhqGtRzxagMX28DiLQB_QixQVY3HQloJf7An25rRX360_bHV1nea-NCRpTScz4U1qmQTtKib80bouTLR-LkUjVuu7oJ3CZXDqftZZ9ZXqFCo8/s1600/20130702_165402.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9cH0ARVYWEpxgbC0iVq_Yoo4RmAy7vKkwFAHT0xfIjL1ktd6Uy0Lkzza-VWB6Shce9EOKVHqN-FJI802V9G4bvZbqVnDB6SMY3W73HvpcTmvv6HhGFrFRNL9RqPngz-iPm9q5AsPiWw/s1600/20130702_165554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9cH0ARVYWEpxgbC0iVq_Yoo4RmAy7vKkwFAHT0xfIjL1ktd6Uy0Lkzza-VWB6Shce9EOKVHqN-FJI802V9G4bvZbqVnDB6SMY3W73HvpcTmvv6HhGFrFRNL9RqPngz-iPm9q5AsPiWw/s1600/20130702_165554.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Most people consider weeds a nuisance, a menace, an enemy to fight. But understand what is happening in nature, and what weeds do, and to learn to work with nature than against it, as is the permaculture maxim, they appear to be indicators, friends, allies and most definitely as a resource.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here is how the garden looked as the weeds were taking over. These photos themselves are a beautiful education if we look into them and observe the weed response. The grasses, other 'weeds' and where they are occuring etc. Nature is amazing. More about that in future. The following photos are from september 2k13. You can see that production of veggies was happening quite well, even with all those weeds all around, or should we more appropriately say, in the lovely company of the so called 'weeds'. The last photo is a quick shot of a very quick 'forage' session. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNz6aI_0knNuFB5AOweuGHIzNUU4q1DN4wozNwDOOkX11aqSm9M3ameFHT7fKnp74gELEotn4Q8KvChE-kl6YLlrEY2xVCwEV8vlaxr2r3ZfLd96r_d53KY5AIeCULWVOJ4udWGUWtKQ/s1600/20130912_080907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNz6aI_0knNuFB5AOweuGHIzNUU4q1DN4wozNwDOOkX11aqSm9M3ameFHT7fKnp74gELEotn4Q8KvChE-kl6YLlrEY2xVCwEV8vlaxr2r3ZfLd96r_d53KY5AIeCULWVOJ4udWGUWtKQ/s1600/20130912_080907.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkATQqmcSEoVkPUOJd5LkRZtXIUU9XebMEtjNIasLY6fkVb1Pfjz6OmA-gJ3TcTSbmci0c0n5kQaPRRj-Yq8MUWOdY8Y1-aIYSbKducDbNmWxYfrDsqUcJuJ2t96J823_0SME_IEOTcg/s1600/20130912_080910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkATQqmcSEoVkPUOJd5LkRZtXIUU9XebMEtjNIasLY6fkVb1Pfjz6OmA-gJ3TcTSbmci0c0n5kQaPRRj-Yq8MUWOdY8Y1-aIYSbKducDbNmWxYfrDsqUcJuJ2t96J823_0SME_IEOTcg/s1600/20130912_080910.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV31ocnI_a21srKSFGjMPSVgsceMlfQZmAu2yYXcvbL9XJiJRd-3BcgWKQvauRKbEkcOfUP0ztcEYr5rOSgwXV2mobBPVaXyyF9bQ_gQZy-E_42UD_a-DRH7YM3bWlJ5u4EVB-dX7ApC4/s1600/20130912_081201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV31ocnI_a21srKSFGjMPSVgsceMlfQZmAu2yYXcvbL9XJiJRd-3BcgWKQvauRKbEkcOfUP0ztcEYr5rOSgwXV2mobBPVaXyyF9bQ_gQZy-E_42UD_a-DRH7YM3bWlJ5u4EVB-dX7ApC4/s1600/20130912_081201.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJ_xh6gHnCdXwH03WTOKyOb88J_WDuP8ZuWSJFAeF_WvaUdp5CuHOrLOrFAzcyQYslVXp0AJ79deaFIVeHT-OyPYz76Z1K1fukcFfAu7S3fmJmjZrTeFIL-_xQDjgyz76LLhryp8CeOI/s1600/20130912_081305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJ_xh6gHnCdXwH03WTOKyOb88J_WDuP8ZuWSJFAeF_WvaUdp5CuHOrLOrFAzcyQYslVXp0AJ79deaFIVeHT-OyPYz76Z1K1fukcFfAu7S3fmJmjZrTeFIL-_xQDjgyz76LLhryp8CeOI/s1600/20130912_081305.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zIUR2PeEVV7h-lmjGp9PwILLXdedTc-XiodkJas66kZ-7yj0dRStIyTb3015kcELlfPj5y7HJtdhQfk3bqH8v7cM69ziBaOaqWaCYGiy776mj5eMchuG0_ZsD20nKAAB2nq8ukc7FGk/s1600/20130912_081642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zIUR2PeEVV7h-lmjGp9PwILLXdedTc-XiodkJas66kZ-7yj0dRStIyTb3015kcELlfPj5y7HJtdhQfk3bqH8v7cM69ziBaOaqWaCYGiy776mj5eMchuG0_ZsD20nKAAB2nq8ukc7FGk/s1600/20130912_081642.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbuqQ-SiJYKY1rHUxWO-2wjfruRTgCM7jfaQ2cBK-ypY11zVyTrE-OuPqlH402lF2oJzyur-JOuFdp21CAzd3N8tZLwSHpq1l4XH78S5BliWt-TfgcssBpFjA5UnvJLQ5BFDEjnKKI3I/s1600/20130912_084917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbuqQ-SiJYKY1rHUxWO-2wjfruRTgCM7jfaQ2cBK-ypY11zVyTrE-OuPqlH402lF2oJzyur-JOuFdp21CAzd3N8tZLwSHpq1l4XH78S5BliWt-TfgcssBpFjA5UnvJLQ5BFDEjnKKI3I/s1600/20130912_084917.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In october, I uploaded this vid to you tube, and it shows what was happening and how it all looked. And there was a snake in the garden too, thanks to the rampancy of Nature that life finds refuge in the garden! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/dInNuDdy7Eg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After a while, an excellent PDC happened, where your truly taught a mammoth 26 day PDC to the entire Nagole bunch. Feeling pumped up, they all decided to make it a Nagole community garden. And thus the work happened fast, every body got hands on experience, the women, the young men, the kids, every one got together. During the PDC we made berkely compost, two piles both of which became black gold in just 20 days (one pile took a week longer)! This is the compost getting created by the PDC students. Look at the color of it. Awesome!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKj_tK6pSD_-zyOMc2U5bxV4Bm2_Kj8n19jWpsYciWlBMC0i7C8JlnsruuLDulAP5A4vLfE1ef_MtQ_cokiDyf2EoPr1zzgtnX0orwVUq4koE96fe2b-U0US8t0Bu09pL5dQg9awIBK3k/s1600/20131216_172224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKj_tK6pSD_-zyOMc2U5bxV4Bm2_Kj8n19jWpsYciWlBMC0i7C8JlnsruuLDulAP5A4vLfE1ef_MtQ_cokiDyf2EoPr1zzgtnX0orwVUq4koE96fe2b-U0US8t0Bu09pL5dQg9awIBK3k/s1600/20131216_172224.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And the beds were sheet mulched (some of them) and the garden started to look</div>
like a garden again by the middle of december 2k13.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNeX4m47kVnMpcPBTEp8_4Wy3Iygr-4pD6Rt8-Pg7145-ucb_O-o7EOAtjzUkM0f6R1kq1-bfXOtHdddHB6XE0wFY3jJZ0LUHOshZcdK3kk1X35pI11BindMdlKZvQgoTeAH1IMy9Ri0/s1600/20131218_170639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNeX4m47kVnMpcPBTEp8_4Wy3Iygr-4pD6Rt8-Pg7145-ucb_O-o7EOAtjzUkM0f6R1kq1-bfXOtHdddHB6XE0wFY3jJZ0LUHOshZcdK3kk1X35pI11BindMdlKZvQgoTeAH1IMy9Ri0/s1600/20131218_170639.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But by the time december 2k13 rolled around, a lot of things were rolling on the permaculture front. I gave an introduction to permaculture talk, and another event, the first ever 'Gather to Garden' happened (which was a brain wave of our beloved uppu upendra), and it was a crazy good time! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsysviwldqWeDgP9N6snvxWUO_jBqE4chxlGA9AqAb_xmIj5w2t2fvCtEtoGW4fpo8AlxKAQZa6-c0XTyNbHT4wUqTUOUaZUSvFWZCPaySULRvfU-EeKH_48Bh4Ch21oNC_jpHzs_ciDw/s1600/20131215_101711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsysviwldqWeDgP9N6snvxWUO_jBqE4chxlGA9AqAb_xmIj5w2t2fvCtEtoGW4fpo8AlxKAQZa6-c0XTyNbHT4wUqTUOUaZUSvFWZCPaySULRvfU-EeKH_48Bh4Ch21oNC_jpHzs_ciDw/s1600/20131215_101711.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhEs-TJ9czlsS2g3qw3LHj6jVokMX7-_Z1uc0qZ4jzYbaM4SbPk3oUIOuGHWxD9r8cgpdMOdZWD4P3iUH7s9xNHSBW3S2fIJmkgkNmaAVWFHmjtico9_FFi9pHx9v8F9cpxg_AZ_6t2o/s1600/20131215_113048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhEs-TJ9czlsS2g3qw3LHj6jVokMX7-_Z1uc0qZ4jzYbaM4SbPk3oUIOuGHWxD9r8cgpdMOdZWD4P3iUH7s9xNHSBW3S2fIJmkgkNmaAVWFHmjtico9_FFi9pHx9v8F9cpxg_AZ_6t2o/s1600/20131215_113048.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
That is me giving an intro to permaculture class. Good day. And these are the photos of the first ever 'Gather to Garden' event : </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wKSbQGlzL5oe2gU8wdjAvtump9yOzNFS1HhzDQIma4WqRJTThleNsZ8RpuRSOpCZnmzeBpVCZodg-7y1rbqk21xUunO-8mHLXhVpd0MlOS19RNkZjOQOUg_5j5stfQ24YyUonMw7PmU/s1600/g2g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wKSbQGlzL5oe2gU8wdjAvtump9yOzNFS1HhzDQIma4WqRJTThleNsZ8RpuRSOpCZnmzeBpVCZodg-7y1rbqk21xUunO-8mHLXhVpd0MlOS19RNkZjOQOUg_5j5stfQ24YyUonMw7PmU/s1600/g2g.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The morning session on Upendra's rooftop</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyYUd1s7mi4KVhHAJH6l5TVk8k5V2NI-RTAgEj__Jqd9mpg2Pnd1kvz8ocFcXgZQrtPCPyZ2YmZLf4DF5tgdIozTl2NlyZybHg0XIr64nbwUwyZFbsdXVf_sM_aVg0MwJ5BkCC4B5awI/s1600/afternoon+slideshow+and+qna+session.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyYUd1s7mi4KVhHAJH6l5TVk8k5V2NI-RTAgEj__Jqd9mpg2Pnd1kvz8ocFcXgZQrtPCPyZ2YmZLf4DF5tgdIozTl2NlyZybHg0XIr64nbwUwyZFbsdXVf_sM_aVg0MwJ5BkCC4B5awI/s1600/afternoon+slideshow+and+qna+session.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Afternoon Slideshow and QnA session</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoaMRbJR37gLKHK1Qta_nrYw-TVXk6IbT5GfAP1wlo6T3083SXb2rxO5-mmGY7PnBqu3P8QK59qQpuHaSH8nxn1D5RHFgCfxP5ME33ELFpiq5Z-ODVAzD5UKtRUOVcXea9NcbqkgrFdnk/s1600/g2gsaiterrace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoaMRbJR37gLKHK1Qta_nrYw-TVXk6IbT5GfAP1wlo6T3083SXb2rxO5-mmGY7PnBqu3P8QK59qQpuHaSH8nxn1D5RHFgCfxP5ME33ELFpiq5Z-ODVAzD5UKtRUOVcXea9NcbqkgrFdnk/s1600/g2gsaiterrace.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And visit to sai's rooftop garden in the early evening.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The event was a grand success and it was even in the papers : http://epaper.sakshi.com/apnews/Hyderabad-City/09122013/Details.aspx?id=2084980&boxid=25901630</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
However, it was just the beginning. I was feeling a bit cranky and went off to ongole in late december. For rest I said. But I just could not shut up. I conducted a 'Gather2Garden' event in ongole where I spoke for sometime and then make a compost pile with the participants. Here are some photos of the ongole g2g : </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDinv1qfAdLqTi1crgS0bjtk7-O-rDvNKhh8uwrLs37g6crxcgODN07wdD1G1r-Fs9hIPD8PBFY0LuTUQzOISunA5eP1vcrQpMSRXXZh7Ph1z9o46gk0kogU5nDdnIZmoWagA1MQp94-0/s1600/20131225_153439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDinv1qfAdLqTi1crgS0bjtk7-O-rDvNKhh8uwrLs37g6crxcgODN07wdD1G1r-Fs9hIPD8PBFY0LuTUQzOISunA5eP1vcrQpMSRXXZh7Ph1z9o46gk0kogU5nDdnIZmoWagA1MQp94-0/s1600/20131225_153439.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EO6Llam9tWm1HzW-4IC6bsQaUsu1F8b1RbB5O1Ri5cZUBbbXEXIecKufPOwS_INpLoK5M1ZpPA3PXAcVpECMXLdWRINnMfl-HersOFZNybLTOiUqRozWwFrYyrhe8qiX7Ggbr73WR8o/s1600/20131225_175205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EO6Llam9tWm1HzW-4IC6bsQaUsu1F8b1RbB5O1Ri5cZUBbbXEXIecKufPOwS_INpLoK5M1ZpPA3PXAcVpECMXLdWRINnMfl-HersOFZNybLTOiUqRozWwFrYyrhe8qiX7Ggbr73WR8o/s1600/20131225_175205.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In the meanwhile, the Nagole bunch kept up with the compost and the new garden. And by early January, the garden started to look awesome. In early Jan it looked THIS good! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/yoQuzfqvxU8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And then in Late January, this is how it looked : </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/-qJjliuCczw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And then in february 2k14 : </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/YI_wz-9zU_M/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/YI_wz-9zU_M?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/YI_wz-9zU_M?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
That is the history of the New Garden and what happened since last june. There are several experiments going on in the garden, always, and great produce. Lots of it. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Cheers!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
DJ</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span id="goog_1088063955"></span></div>
DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410094941790922309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439727524569510133.post-14399785513139838192014-01-01T08:03:00.000-08:002014-01-01T08:04:31.009-08:00PDC in Hyderabad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Jai Sai Master!!<br />
<br />
Hi...<br />
<br />
WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS YEAR AHEAD.<br />
<br />
2013 was a perma-year for us and 2014 is also starting with a PDC in Hyderabad! There is a Permaculture design certificate course held from 18th Jan 2014 to 2nd Feb 2014 in Nagole Hyderabad. The course fees are 15000 INR which includes food and accommodation. So guys hurry up to register!! For more details and to register please call +91 9603896361 or +91 9951452345</div>
Laya Raagitha Alaharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04855205205786524138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439727524569510133.post-60335784720072257772013-12-09T19:01:00.000-08:002013-12-10T05:03:10.867-08:00Great news!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Jai Sai Master!<br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
Hey there...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It has been so long since we have posted something. But now I have great news to share. There were a lot of changes in the gardens about which we were talking till now. They have been made into organic food forests. There is a magazine released named 'Gardens of Abundance'. And there is also a website <a href="http://www.gardensofabundance.org/">click here to go</a> and facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GardensOfAbundance?fref=ts">click here to go</a>. We a group of 20 people here have attended PDC (Permaculture design certificate course) under Dwarakanath Jnaneswar (known here as DJ). Basically Permaculture works on three simple ethics : 1. Earth Care 2. People Care 3. Fair share</div>
</div>
<div>
It is a designing a system which is self-sustaining, resilient and self-sufficient. "Creatively use and respond to change" is a Permaculture principle which inspired me to think of the upcoming world crisis and find a solution for me and my family. I seriously didn't want PESTICIDES as my food and so started to work on it. We have been doing terrace (rooftop) gardening for years, and then people were asking for workshops on rooftop garden setup and maintenance. Then under the banner of 'Gardens of Abundance' there was a program started called 'gather2garden' which is a freindly participatory educational and fun experience about how to establish rooftop gardens in urban areas. The first workshop was held in Nagole, Hyderabad on 8th December 2013. It has been a big hit and we are looking forward for more events all over the country. Around 55 people attended the event and everyone were very happy and delighted. Some of the photos and comments of some of the participants were as follows :</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"It was an awesome experience for all of us. You guys are doing a great job not just to yourself but great contribution to the country. Would like to participate in your activities every week hereafter. would like to thank you all by name and name once again for your host.<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">"</span></span></div>
<div>
-J. Paratpar Rao</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Wonderful experience that cannot be described in words. The patience with which you and your team answered all questions is amazing. Truly, plants teach to be patient."</div>
<div>
-Vanisree Karumuri</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uSoJZLQr7xM/UqaCPaJ20lI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/V9nOcjqSnLI/s1600/1476506_10201002120405737_2144335942_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uSoJZLQr7xM/UqaCPaJ20lI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/V9nOcjqSnLI/s640/1476506_10201002120405737_2144335942_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">
Morning session on the rooftop expling about the potting mix<br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uSujNWenHQc/UqaCORbIv0I/AAAAAAAAAQs/qpypEZQLln4/s1600/1463753_10201003763206806_922253311_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uSujNWenHQc/UqaCORbIv0I/AAAAAAAAAQs/qpypEZQLln4/s640/1463753_10201003763206806_922253311_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">
Post lunch question-answer session<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SljD5zgEcx4/UqaCOf00o7I/AAAAAAAAAQo/9ec6ytJjn2A/s1600/1425699_10201003769126954_1317234509_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SljD5zgEcx4/UqaCOf00o7I/AAAAAAAAAQo/9ec6ytJjn2A/s640/1425699_10201003769126954_1317234509_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Established rooftop garden tour<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kXKpUM4eKOw/UqaCOWXc_jI/AAAAAAAAAQw/irclhv6sXJQ/s1600/1471896_10201003766726894_2124751865_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kXKpUM4eKOw/UqaCOWXc_jI/AAAAAAAAAQw/irclhv6sXJQ/s640/1471896_10201003766726894_2124751865_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Food forests tour</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">"We don't have time" says Dwarakanath(known as DJ locally). Not enough if only one person changes, but that each of us has to take ownership and change our neighborhood, our city. It gave me goosebumps when he said : "Give me the city design and I will bring down temp by 6-7 degree and cut the pollution by 30%. Not just for us, and the generations to come". At urban rooftop edible garden workshop by </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/GardensOfAbundance?fref=ts" style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;">Gardens of Abundance</a><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;">"</span></div>
</span></div>
<div>
- Bhavana Nissima</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"> </span></div>
<div>
"One of the most meaningful interactions I've had in ages...each of you radiated so much positivity and enthusiasm...so, thank you" </div>
<div>
-Rama Regula </div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Laya Raagitha Alaharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04855205205786524138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439727524569510133.post-36046248622946616732012-10-01T09:58:00.003-07:002012-10-01T10:03:30.015-07:00The Tree of Life!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Jai Sai Master!<br />
<br />
I promised earlier to post photos. We took photos. But we found that there was nothing much to show. A lot of little plants growing, and thats all. Now, they are all grown up. And here are a few photos.<br />
<br />
The first one I wanted to show is that of a tree.<br />
Here is a tree that looks like its just came out of a calypso reggae band.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvALE6NAcp8y8td5DSxq3nQwPaeuX08ZWqL-7xCXc_enNMTdG-Hm0yH-3tuYtp2g2TYTwOCoMMSOA7cGPG5u6lndzjc8SFGTFXaucRWaiT6P6WC-wEA_houo1sxNxl1_fZ4XGB8XX0tT0/s1600/tree-of-life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvALE6NAcp8y8td5DSxq3nQwPaeuX08ZWqL-7xCXc_enNMTdG-Hm0yH-3tuYtp2g2TYTwOCoMMSOA7cGPG5u6lndzjc8SFGTFXaucRWaiT6P6WC-wEA_houo1sxNxl1_fZ4XGB8XX0tT0/s400/tree-of-life.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>
<br />
Everytime I look at it, it brings a smile to me. It is one of those 'gulmohar' type trees. We know that its leaves are great mulch, and its branches are good for trellises. But best of all, that tree coppices well. Now, what is 'coppice'? Yes, google search will give you more info, but in short, you cut that tree, it puts out new branches and new growth. In many places in the world, certain trees are 'coppiced'. That is, when they are grown to a certain size, they are cut off, and new growth shoots up from where you cut off.<br />
<br />
In permaculture, this is one of the ways you 'mulch' your fruit trees. Trees that provide good material for such coppicing are used as 'support trees'. They provide necessary shade and wind protection for the young fruit tree saplings, they shed a lot of leaves improving the fertility of the top soil, and they are usually those species which provide good underground fertilizing, and are usually leguminous, that is nitrogen fixing, varieties.<br />
<br />
I am not sure if this one is a legume, or a mimosa. But I am quite sure it is good for the soil. This one, we planted outside our garden door. It provided ample shade and it is fast growing. But it has grown up and was touching the power lines and I was sure that the municipality people will cut it down.<br />
<br />
At the same time, I wanted to try my hand at coppicing and gain some practical knowledge. A bit of reading around showed me that it is good to do coppicing (for many trees) just at the start of the wet and cool seasons. So after the first few rains, I chopped it off right at the stem. And lo! In a week, new growth appeared, and now it looks just awesome.<br />
<br />
Although chopping off seems a bit too cruel, and it is, it is going to extend the tree's life. In nature itself, heavy rains, winds, animals, etc., do keep breaking trees off. Nature helped trees evolve to survive such situations. We are just using such phenomenon to set things up for a greener system. Looking at the tree bouncing back from even chopping, just shows how strong really the Tree of Life is.<br />
<br />
The cut off branches were left to dry and the leaves were used partly in compost and partly as direct mulch. We did the same thing with the neem tree (which is very good for coppicing) which was 2 yrs old and right smack in the way in our garden. It is regrowing. We used the neem leaves for mulch, as it protects trees and plants from certain diseases and pests.<br />
<br />
More of that, and more photos of our gardens, and more write ups are coming soon!<br />
<br />
For now, enjoy the above photo. And a few of these.<br />
<br />
This is called 'side thota' or 'side garden' :<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFAIrDQS6Mg2o0rjO98CjIOlslSv3AmEAvxiXuFjqIFWlvW6pXYq4THIciOzTuTv797k9i3xGysk1XaRejkILIm7lA9uqlkslcNRGFlalvy0AbCg4C6LPf7VzAwDdhzJosenxleY8Q1o/s1600/a-view-of-the-'sidegarden'.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFAIrDQS6Mg2o0rjO98CjIOlslSv3AmEAvxiXuFjqIFWlvW6pXYq4THIciOzTuTv797k9i3xGysk1XaRejkILIm7lA9uqlkslcNRGFlalvy0AbCg4C6LPf7VzAwDdhzJosenxleY8Q1o/s640/a-view-of-the-'sidegarden'.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This is our fence of this 'side garden' with beera (ridge gourd) and kakara (bittergourd) climbers all over it. There is snake gourd (potlakaya) on the far side too :<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfy6BeG7ztLWrUw07JHMMQgk957rN6z4pMFCF52BMBaZ3r4nXMwmdOT5nbs1LUVBcPielKL8VME1nrIWl1Ahxmp_R2GazFA9Zt_ahgtLBM9MwvJq6B5D4LacITDIWDPQvx8mI4pUi0wIw/s1600/fence-kakara-beera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfy6BeG7ztLWrUw07JHMMQgk957rN6z4pMFCF52BMBaZ3r4nXMwmdOT5nbs1LUVBcPielKL8VME1nrIWl1Ahxmp_R2GazFA9Zt_ahgtLBM9MwvJq6B5D4LacITDIWDPQvx8mI4pUi0wIw/s640/fence-kakara-beera.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Here is an example of companion planting.. You think it is crowded? Donno. Its yielding like heaven's bounty though. It is okra, corn and dolichoes (a kind of beans). (you can see a banana growing amidst those too) The beans give nitrogen and the other take it up! See if you can spot the dolichos. You can see okra around the growing well corn.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctWdgj-PPBjrzISd4VsBoyQPB0hVvJXrwKQyK_h8siGgdBSq-oQGiShPUQsnqL9jrc17nlJhXarGtXrlTkxYP4C1KgzrMWWoGxXE222IbcZxxz3Nhu8zZ6SC7g2scl5RbdVMifaTJQRo/s1600/okra-corn-dolichos2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctWdgj-PPBjrzISd4VsBoyQPB0hVvJXrwKQyK_h8siGgdBSq-oQGiShPUQsnqL9jrc17nlJhXarGtXrlTkxYP4C1KgzrMWWoGxXE222IbcZxxz3Nhu8zZ6SC7g2scl5RbdVMifaTJQRo/s400/okra-corn-dolichos2.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_S8e7DgV5n0_pKYElaRyawtF473zMXXTMCC9r680Xruz5ukfsBKG3Hnq7VqSACpAMlk7PECT0L79FoE96VNp_extnpWUr_WRqF15YcZdvwgaNLLfJq8jEXfSbYRtQqNKsqFgRCDAPrM/s1600/okra-corn-dolichos1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_S8e7DgV5n0_pKYElaRyawtF473zMXXTMCC9r680Xruz5ukfsBKG3Hnq7VqSACpAMlk7PECT0L79FoE96VNp_extnpWUr_WRqF15YcZdvwgaNLLfJq8jEXfSbYRtQqNKsqFgRCDAPrM/s400/okra-corn-dolichos1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Enjoy!<br />
<br />
By the way, today is the birthday of our Gurupatni Ekkirala Alivelu Mangamma, The Wife of our Guru, Sri Ekkirala Bharadwaja. Best wishes for everyone, and prayers for the well-being of all! As the ancients said, "Sarve Janaassukhino Bhavantu" "Lokaassamastaaha sukhino bhavantu!!"<br />
<br />
Cheers!</div>
DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410094941790922309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439727524569510133.post-54205969969637543032012-07-16T15:07:00.002-07:002012-07-16T15:07:23.036-07:00Schweeeet photos coming up!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Jai Sai Master!<br />
<br />
Hello people!<br />
<br />
Lack of posts since may 28th is aweful, especially when we have so much to share and to learn.<br />
<br />
A lot is happening here, regarding our gardens. Firstly, we cleaned the whole place up (lots and lots of invasive weeds), thrown in a cover crop of mixture of seeds (cowpea, chickpea, groundnut, mustard, marigold), then started planting veggies again for the season, started a new compost heap AND...<br />
<br />
Lots of seedlings!<br />
<br />
Yes! Finally, I got off my lazy backside, sat down one day, and planted lots of seeds in small trays. Our compost did the magic, weather turned up cool and great, and lots and lots of them came up! Photos of them will be up tomorrow.. and its well worth the wait. Isnt it great to see lots of little seedlings, fresh, green, healthy and raring to grow?<br />
<br />
Now, for the bad news. We have, right now, a massive attack of caterpillars (as every year it happens) in our gardens. We live on the very edge of the city, and there is lots of 'wild' area near our place. Insects from there find our gardens really appetizing (and so do monkeys occasionally). The come in swarms, literally thousands.. and eat everything they see (almost)!<br />
<br />
Our beautiful eggplants are mere skeletons, mustard covercrop is non existent. So far, thats all, but THATS ALL! They have not touched fruit trees yet, but by tomorrow they should be on them. Somehow, they left bitter gourd plants alone till now, and only very few of them touched our chilli peppers so far... but I think in two more days there will be nothing else for them to eat and I suspect they will eat everything up.<br />
<br />
Luckily, I kept the seedlings in the second floor and so far, insects have not found them. So, I am kinda waiting for the insects to go away (which they will do in 10 or so days) to plant.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow, I shall post a video, photos, etc., of our gardens in their most miserable state so that people dont get fooled by the photos of abundance. Some times you win and sometimes you dont, but the idea is to keep going till you learn to win all the time, right?<br />
<br />
Fancy blog and all, we are but very very amateur gardeners. Till two years ago, I did not know what a tomato plant looked like. So.<br />
<br />
Today, Sasidhar (our beloved watch-and-learn-before-you-do brother in law and motivational speaker) ordered seeds from annadana seed bank. Heard that they are closing down. Too bad. BUT, we are going to have those seeds and hopefully we will be able to save them! Lets hope for the best.<br />
<br />
We have lots of seedlings to plant, elephant foot yams, a couple more bananas, a bunch of fruit trees (most of which will be planted some place where they can be planted.. right now, our gardens are full to the brink as far as trees go), and all of those updates, coming soon!<br />
<br />
Thank you for reading, happy gardening! </div>DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410094941790922309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439727524569510133.post-1112668810171001472012-05-31T06:26:00.002-07:002012-05-31T06:29:58.420-07:00Ash, Wax, Fuzzy, Winter !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What do all these have in common?<br />
<br />
Confused ????<br />
<br />
<br />
Well they are all synonyms for the the same plant - which we commonly called Ash Gourd in India (Benincasa hispida) !!<br />
<br />
As a part of redesigning one of our gardens ( everything needs a redesign these days !), we erected some supports so that we could utilize vertical space as well. Utilizing vertical space is the key to increasing the productivity. According to general land laws, you also get the vertical space above the land for free, when you purchase a piece of land! So just like you have shelves in your room so that you can use the space available vertically, you use the same principle while cultivation.<br />
<br />
Although quite a few creepers were planted, only a few survived our sporadic watering. You reap what you sow, only if you water :D<br />
<br />
You can see below how we have erected the supports, and created a net so that all the creepers virtually form a 'roof' to the garden. Some aerial shots.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyfffksSxuwP8Xx6CFe_GgGOdORtg462d-qn_mkITpYzlhvA3_DND2f2YRbJ4OprEAEpfVHY-6Qk8yMyyY90GYboRgWtISjcpAM9di5qA68ikMsUNrxFDc8iT0GEsuHFImo6WTFMAPP6m/s1600/DSC_7388_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyfffksSxuwP8Xx6CFe_GgGOdORtg462d-qn_mkITpYzlhvA3_DND2f2YRbJ4OprEAEpfVHY-6Qk8yMyyY90GYboRgWtISjcpAM9di5qA68ikMsUNrxFDc8iT0GEsuHFImo6WTFMAPP6m/s640/DSC_7388_1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9ydtdypM_8Bxy_RhIraf6l6NAgoroDizviu5TiJgQ_qYFjl9i0tDC3zQL1WWbkRUf-mc85nWx48qbJHsWtSIL5afIazMhwSQWau-toHV3yr6ju_h4jXVa3TY8lHVPOIzVjtKSGiw4wKy/s1600/DSC_7393_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9ydtdypM_8Bxy_RhIraf6l6NAgoroDizviu5TiJgQ_qYFjl9i0tDC3zQL1WWbkRUf-mc85nWx48qbJHsWtSIL5afIazMhwSQWau-toHV3yr6ju_h4jXVa3TY8lHVPOIzVjtKSGiw4wKy/s640/DSC_7393_1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
A few pictures from ground level<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggd82hL_ImDjfYmO6NqcCw0c7jkJgLF5m5th7l6_zZL9LrHLzUOOYYmCYiTlvIHFR1MS6MIlGzDcWLbOXsqn_vk4Jw6Oscp-5dIEBDJ5V_Gor71yCNXWhWlAaTiy54VScv784d22m7DQwp/s1600/DSC_7394_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggd82hL_ImDjfYmO6NqcCw0c7jkJgLF5m5th7l6_zZL9LrHLzUOOYYmCYiTlvIHFR1MS6MIlGzDcWLbOXsqn_vk4Jw6Oscp-5dIEBDJ5V_Gor71yCNXWhWlAaTiy54VScv784d22m7DQwp/s640/DSC_7394_1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7HFL9WDbaiFqK6s2lr25gg0g3qTb3-EIc-VJ8IPg3i2QvEwfFGblWcxhDIhbX1UUfF4rE8DQU6tvC9hh1BcSBrfA3QyKdfeYLJB-BQ1W31omBb-6qLPi0viGh4oVyHiV695f0c5OlDRV/s1600/DSC_7395_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7HFL9WDbaiFqK6s2lr25gg0g3qTb3-EIc-VJ8IPg3i2QvEwfFGblWcxhDIhbX1UUfF4rE8DQU6tvC9hh1BcSBrfA3QyKdfeYLJB-BQ1W31omBb-6qLPi0viGh4oVyHiV695f0c5OlDRV/s640/DSC_7395_1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
Some people grow ash gourd on ground. However, we decided to take the aerial root, since otherwise navigating on land to harvest other crops would become difficult.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 11px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7UfIaL1Aw2zUHQMv4rYjraERmB7NpEI5EGmy06xA6aV3-Doi7SW6gIA6TYDmg6AJ_Guuzz-OBztStN0-OwZS0RJToHMuScgsJ8xFX6Lq28XqWOTYnuMUHEx2HmjMit0tlEF1lYx-cL5D/s1600/DSC_7399_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7UfIaL1Aw2zUHQMv4rYjraERmB7NpEI5EGmy06xA6aV3-Doi7SW6gIA6TYDmg6AJ_Guuzz-OBztStN0-OwZS0RJToHMuScgsJ8xFX6Lq28XqWOTYnuMUHEx2HmjMit0tlEF1lYx-cL5D/s640/DSC_7399_1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYq1nvO1_03l6J6JuMOb7h3wkfFDw5_jLkl0U00DxhhoTQpG5_Un7y0PLP5YePnCU0ihCP_JSxij9Kf75NaaazgVWL7YxhqaoRwHy0tBbc33tg3XMJpopLiYGFpO8MVUobThWKz3pMmYfq/s1600/DSC_7401_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYq1nvO1_03l6J6JuMOb7h3wkfFDw5_jLkl0U00DxhhoTQpG5_Un7y0PLP5YePnCU0ihCP_JSxij9Kf75NaaazgVWL7YxhqaoRwHy0tBbc33tg3XMJpopLiYGFpO8MVUobThWKz3pMmYfq/s640/DSC_7401_1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsE6WT_7Hp9toe2xDTwMiMmmmYx3lTIgdckeZAqOOiX8xhqgoD1gxEIr6cttxiFkNe3v6KQXRqGpHzBWIVK9ewhDb2042OFkXdZpe784z3gp8WZQ1jY6hvAG5YWQQC8yAQ-dRwLqkCPf8U/s1600/DSC_7404_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsE6WT_7Hp9toe2xDTwMiMmmmYx3lTIgdckeZAqOOiX8xhqgoD1gxEIr6cttxiFkNe3v6KQXRqGpHzBWIVK9ewhDb2042OFkXdZpe784z3gp8WZQ1jY6hvAG5YWQQC8yAQ-dRwLqkCPf8U/s640/DSC_7404_1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3A-3N33N_EYOOc0_7g0k0w0F5JzB6CGCpj0H-dTzzMTSjTEZnw0t9elWywEJrwvE6rjX4hzcHdxar4cGXPJyo5-S71QEUMb_ldNkbUs5s4ZZgFgu1QXIoJrdOXNu3ZigoZHR5JiebLAF/s1600/DSC_7406_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3A-3N33N_EYOOc0_7g0k0w0F5JzB6CGCpj0H-dTzzMTSjTEZnw0t9elWywEJrwvE6rjX4hzcHdxar4cGXPJyo5-S71QEUMb_ldNkbUs5s4ZZgFgu1QXIoJrdOXNu3ZigoZHR5JiebLAF/s640/DSC_7406_1.JPG" width="420" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1DlHjruWX9Mhz41BbiktJ3iAFNzlBkxQGBhoIPyKnMUtII227yIdfVCp-_s-u5l589aSlprceMbbY5ztmLY-4i4VYokYwsHQ4azbvGDP0ABhOF2FJjcrCLuMC3nF9bk57PedVVqHu2CF/s1600/DSC_7408_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1DlHjruWX9Mhz41BbiktJ3iAFNzlBkxQGBhoIPyKnMUtII227yIdfVCp-_s-u5l589aSlprceMbbY5ztmLY-4i4VYokYwsHQ4azbvGDP0ABhOF2FJjcrCLuMC3nF9bk57PedVVqHu2CF/s640/DSC_7408_1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJC1MwLWI4p-nqqtYn_ixZjyNRs4v4_ZFFi1nEE4gXVQoMGqL5d5qJj7rERw83OsW7Eegk7HXrkme4aJmXuFF9pm-4tgyKxr2oIvGBXs4dCS9L9pciIKlQf6KVFZmcxjysqZJySamZ4xB/s1600/DSC_7410_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJC1MwLWI4p-nqqtYn_ixZjyNRs4v4_ZFFi1nEE4gXVQoMGqL5d5qJj7rERw83OsW7Eegk7HXrkme4aJmXuFF9pm-4tgyKxr2oIvGBXs4dCS9L9pciIKlQf6KVFZmcxjysqZJySamZ4xB/s640/DSC_7410_1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 11px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17491574094385118600noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439727524569510133.post-76476956177341638582012-05-29T10:18:00.001-07:002012-05-29T10:18:08.570-07:00And then there were Pomegranates !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Howdy folks !<br />
<br />
One day we all thought about growing something .. something which is epic - like something the ancients grew and talked about. So we got onto planting a few pomegranates !! Seriously, pomegranate finds mention in 'The Book of Exodus' and the 'Holy Quran'<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-EhCFg243VVFtQoL-MW-w9lnC1CKjj_GYU4UJWGeLN82dSK_Cvaw2VEqwXr-eUvEiHzrjecVdH4klFFtW9iy8cPyxhX_6kTkrVDmjTNCP2g9MA4670xloGM6OdC0N-ajnmOm3JZjLRvF/s1600/DSC_7381-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-EhCFg243VVFtQoL-MW-w9lnC1CKjj_GYU4UJWGeLN82dSK_Cvaw2VEqwXr-eUvEiHzrjecVdH4klFFtW9iy8cPyxhX_6kTkrVDmjTNCP2g9MA4670xloGM6OdC0N-ajnmOm3JZjLRvF/s640/DSC_7381-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An about to be ripe Pomegranate !</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We have a couple of pomegranates. And this season they seem to be in bloom. Around five to six feet in height, this time around they are loaded! We did have a few when they were young, but those were very small (less than tennis ball size), nevertheless sweet.<br />
<br />
Pomegranate symbolizes prosperity and fertility. Not just that, each part of the plant finds medicinal use in Ayurveda. Wow!<br />
<br />
Find below a few pictures of pomegranate plant swinging to the light breeze and its flowers!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8tibH2GWsdjNmbEwV5-rBPOMEuau5PG5DYvk6fdNSPznuxLHG4ArPGVe7FsgX78Nzw0NH7Ebd-VWuqQ96gcfyeL5nzJODXqAOJRj5FYNq7vfn03wf5X7W4Wl8rynXWUnM3rkRxX4leE7/s1600/DSC_7332-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8tibH2GWsdjNmbEwV5-rBPOMEuau5PG5DYvk6fdNSPznuxLHG4ArPGVe7FsgX78Nzw0NH7Ebd-VWuqQ96gcfyeL5nzJODXqAOJRj5FYNq7vfn03wf5X7W4Wl8rynXWUnM3rkRxX4leE7/s640/DSC_7332-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuB5PWLxHT14kibLXMnntt8wQeX8rQh6LxDUDOQykzMiLQzRuW9BCOLNeBR7J4N-NaYjpr6FkJcto3Um-xW1yzffeTz03JREEFsAiCkwqpwNaCzeGiz_mIp9bQ62odwiT3pXXt25yOKcb/s1600/DSC_7339-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuB5PWLxHT14kibLXMnntt8wQeX8rQh6LxDUDOQykzMiLQzRuW9BCOLNeBR7J4N-NaYjpr6FkJcto3Um-xW1yzffeTz03JREEFsAiCkwqpwNaCzeGiz_mIp9bQ62odwiT3pXXt25yOKcb/s640/DSC_7339-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtU6UVdI6VH5mornjhuib8w9YaA3O6pVUbh-kXVE2LRRTmrU50Cqac5QYKV-Op1LQuwTMpDJ3OWHqIMIJAylEe1x53_JmCymmqfwraT9Jfxh-3ZC3EOaQBCx-LCtWmrKNE3l0hn3LUyFJ/s1600/DSC_7341-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtU6UVdI6VH5mornjhuib8w9YaA3O6pVUbh-kXVE2LRRTmrU50Cqac5QYKV-Op1LQuwTMpDJ3OWHqIMIJAylEe1x53_JmCymmqfwraT9Jfxh-3ZC3EOaQBCx-LCtWmrKNE3l0hn3LUyFJ/s640/DSC_7341-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9GvlxNgJ0s5pRopK5xpIE5A1VgaplFwASEPuZVllGklvjjFrkYlOPvVTjrTlVHSPrleOVhkz86jcXf_jMSP-Wwv1hejH9Wb4-zxKawnjQ7MON9XOgfkAluak71F2b_rXiPXppGjO1DCt/s1600/DSC_7373-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9GvlxNgJ0s5pRopK5xpIE5A1VgaplFwASEPuZVllGklvjjFrkYlOPvVTjrTlVHSPrleOVhkz86jcXf_jMSP-Wwv1hejH9Wb4-zxKawnjQ7MON9XOgfkAluak71F2b_rXiPXppGjO1DCt/s640/DSC_7373-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqdQrXg4xUX6K-C7P0vrh2H6gDmePATklPcqZvDE7l16s4frHHYAm6kCvJunyihHCOO0EYoZNGcysV64j5WgvG9OVQKI5R1p4azsywWWV-2RjOZNzemEXgsht9ZcKSa_BQhFkBiDjSbBE/s1600/DSC_7377-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqdQrXg4xUX6K-C7P0vrh2H6gDmePATklPcqZvDE7l16s4frHHYAm6kCvJunyihHCOO0EYoZNGcysV64j5WgvG9OVQKI5R1p4azsywWWV-2RjOZNzemEXgsht9ZcKSa_BQhFkBiDjSbBE/s640/DSC_7377-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuEz-cuZc-C-69JrvuA-s_Ifvhyd9OIbwkbgdxYT8zx9_FwLqra5CE_RbW411QCTeatwmulWxG-jvb3hUZkMZuD4RMU-CfLBGyxlcnxsoURdR-Ac7vs0dCaYlx_FnSYB6-HvlaQcOpj3_/s1600/DSC_7378-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuEz-cuZc-C-69JrvuA-s_Ifvhyd9OIbwkbgdxYT8zx9_FwLqra5CE_RbW411QCTeatwmulWxG-jvb3hUZkMZuD4RMU-CfLBGyxlcnxsoURdR-Ac7vs0dCaYlx_FnSYB6-HvlaQcOpj3_/s640/DSC_7378-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZtQISXeD37VDVKzPkLO802xTScbtr6gOFQetP_XHnc-9SbbNnyLTxwUu7UgFSDHwJuFPdSPPZfIcLcmWu3PNR7s09xvJQylafsxrk4ysXYNZ8b6WL6J_4qzTGtGosLpVODuGOHssmaSt/s1600/DSC_7379-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZtQISXeD37VDVKzPkLO802xTScbtr6gOFQetP_XHnc-9SbbNnyLTxwUu7UgFSDHwJuFPdSPPZfIcLcmWu3PNR7s09xvJQylafsxrk4ysXYNZ8b6WL6J_4qzTGtGosLpVODuGOHssmaSt/s640/DSC_7379-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh739QRt2EHDuskU6Ls9zFNCapNpNrBCPGsxlKDBl6v5lauzqEQYB0nOFFbzU9F3rEXPCppbcrpuPef7pqoJX4yEwS_YAGC55KLxCW530r0lgwsTjjcWbqdLP4Id5KpQeNcg4NKO45Fhyphenhyphenzy/s1600/DSC_7369-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh739QRt2EHDuskU6Ls9zFNCapNpNrBCPGsxlKDBl6v5lauzqEQYB0nOFFbzU9F3rEXPCppbcrpuPef7pqoJX4yEwS_YAGC55KLxCW530r0lgwsTjjcWbqdLP4Id5KpQeNcg4NKO45Fhyphenhyphenzy/s640/DSC_7369-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17491574094385118600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439727524569510133.post-85820039890282209212012-05-28T01:28:00.000-07:002012-05-28T01:28:00.819-07:00Cleaning up !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
An essential aspect of Gardening which no one usually likes is weeding ! Despite the fact that weeds are <i style="font-weight: bold;">the </i>plants most suited for your land, no one really intends to have them !!<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
However in our case, we have been truly blessed. If not for weeds, we would have not come across <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_nigrum">'Kashikaya' / solanum nigrum</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portulaca_oleracea">'Gangavayalu'/ portulaca oleracea</a> and <a href="http://www.ddsindia.com/www/foods/doggalikoora.htm">'Doggali Koora' / amaranthus polygamus</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Along with tomatoes, brinjals, lady finger etc, we have our very own 'weeds' which form a major constituent of our diet. No we are not complaining at all! But being lazy as we are, we usually find these 'weeds' alongwith some other nasty ones (which do not form a part of our diet) literally making our garden look like jungle.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
These 'weeds' have a tendency to outgrow what we have sown and they give our veggies and small fruit trees a run for their money! So on May 24th, we decided to clean up the area a bit. Here a few photos which will give you a idea of what we did.</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1Nwi9O8uUswg0zPg4EMWrlHst676E04NIuuiSy-F2hyphenhyphen0KCz7PI-k5QJyjc1gXhyq_BruwuRmeceLBgKVd3ymLiTg92mSqi-wvSw51HJecxb44h7Cx_M0kNXQqBbyhJ5OD-taOjZdWjZM/s1600/DSC_7304-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1Nwi9O8uUswg0zPg4EMWrlHst676E04NIuuiSy-F2hyphenhyphen0KCz7PI-k5QJyjc1gXhyq_BruwuRmeceLBgKVd3ymLiTg92mSqi-wvSw51HJecxb44h7Cx_M0kNXQqBbyhJ5OD-taOjZdWjZM/s640/DSC_7304-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foliage! Before we started "weeding"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
Cleaning up is much more of a task than planting. So we decided to work in patches. Also we have planted lots of Bananas and Casuarina, which are a bit difficult to make out within the sort of jungle of that we have. We cleaned up a patch carefully, put our very own 'homemade' compost near the young fruit trees and proceeded to the next area.</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzV3uWRQU9zXPQ5T7gUYrZzeREZdumRSd3zuJeoI4fOKr5uP9gRvXX4Lw2T6ea6W6W7xLvgFIQJM6poB6PLG_aV1GnD4-bqCJU4wxkdVzYGQRdmfj1lYVVnzch9ZflnV_y6nmStxyXz22/s1600/DSC_7316-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzV3uWRQU9zXPQ5T7gUYrZzeREZdumRSd3zuJeoI4fOKr5uP9gRvXX4Lw2T6ea6W6W7xLvgFIQJM6poB6PLG_aV1GnD4-bqCJU4wxkdVzYGQRdmfj1lYVVnzch9ZflnV_y6nmStxyXz22/s640/DSC_7316-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the top, on the left we have patches where we cleared the 'weeds'. Right side is untouched</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OJjcaNkJX_XL6zQkVI5wPR3eeC3j6k-Mh9khNLdIICUZ0xmnyHKO53xAQZUSIX2NVxF138PTPFweCLQSr6d6mxpbABlJ2-0EB7C4Bb3ckvQTpnGsaz7ZqvKISwQBeUOBqZNt3Eu2ZohD/s1600/DSC_7318-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OJjcaNkJX_XL6zQkVI5wPR3eeC3j6k-Mh9khNLdIICUZ0xmnyHKO53xAQZUSIX2NVxF138PTPFweCLQSr6d6mxpbABlJ2-0EB7C4Bb3ckvQTpnGsaz7ZqvKISwQBeUOBqZNt3Eu2ZohD/s640/DSC_7318-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left side of the garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrLwJzD3xpdFVYA_M1hUMCdC6pJNY8pexLx-5_H2ZouKuUU7Wuu_Tjwvo2CP1PEFZ0mnW9Ns_Tduk48c1ZrEUjVhuoqTBC7afqC8o-HpRsbS1-0O60Cl-2ROOnpLEgohU6a0_xc1DeWkR/s1600/DSC_7317-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrLwJzD3xpdFVYA_M1hUMCdC6pJNY8pexLx-5_H2ZouKuUU7Wuu_Tjwvo2CP1PEFZ0mnW9Ns_Tduk48c1ZrEUjVhuoqTBC7afqC8o-HpRsbS1-0O60Cl-2ROOnpLEgohU6a0_xc1DeWkR/s640/DSC_7317-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right Side of the garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiat5xXC4fwD6PIEi0oap1Vl5X2Km9ao3PmLAJSbNG0wdRocMRiJsiKvq1py7AoTX4LDF8KTE4tVNhTqJEAjFu-TjDHM2do0ocq-qPy0zreBJGzRv2D7SihWHisEr09FB8HF4l9JpixargS/s1600/DSC_7303-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiat5xXC4fwD6PIEi0oap1Vl5X2Km9ao3PmLAJSbNG0wdRocMRiJsiKvq1py7AoTX4LDF8KTE4tVNhTqJEAjFu-TjDHM2do0ocq-qPy0zreBJGzRv2D7SihWHisEr09FB8HF4l9JpixargS/s640/DSC_7303-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close view. This is how we ended up clearing. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Little did we know that due to false information, we ended up clearing our 'ground cover' just before the hottest time of the summer ! So for now we have put a stop to this chop and drop. In order to salvage our lost pride, we are contemplating on cover the ground with either coco peat or straw. Be tuned for further updates !</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17491574094385118600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439727524569510133.post-33986035650434842212012-05-09T02:11:00.000-07:002012-05-09T02:22:00.890-07:00Hail Storm Rocks - But the garden persists..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Jai sai master!!<br />
<br />
It is a hard thing to survive with the summers in Hyderabad. But generally there are showers in the evenings. On such evening some strange and rare thing happened. But before I speak about that let me tell you something. There were beautiful Banana trees, papaya trees, and many such fruit and vegetable trees all over our garden. It was very beautiful and we all were happy about the production. It was full of papayas giving at least one everyday. And then suddenly on 6th of April there was a Hail storm!! I was so sad that i was out of station, but the storm was awesome! It did damage the gardens, but because of nature's grace they were pretty fine.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/hzQYX7VItOA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
In the previous post you have seen a puppy which lives in our garden. In the excitement of hail storm everyone there forgot about the puppy. But it found a shelter under the trees by itself and it was not effected by the hail storm. The video of the storm is attached above have a look at it!!</div>Laya Raagitha Alaharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04855205205786524138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439727524569510133.post-1860684353201029442012-03-18T14:06:00.000-07:002012-03-18T14:08:02.385-07:00A must-see video<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
For all those who are interested in growing stuff (especially plant stuff and brain stuff) this video is a must-see.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/13323213?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/13323213">Keyline Farming 1955</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4213882">RegenAG</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
This was found by my good buddy uppu and he shared it on facebook. But since this blog is way too popular than facebook, i thought I would share it here for the benefit of one and all.<br />
<br />
Cheers!<br />
<br /></div>DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410094941790922309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439727524569510133.post-80056070791101355182012-03-03T12:07:00.004-08:002012-03-03T14:04:34.991-08:00Abundance and Neglect<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello there!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NRFwsz_vxKWP-K4lgi5XvpoTwtm_IBonCjXJGAlojeYAloMhF0lsH9vlhyWseo7vuVb7gInoe4JwrqrnP5ido139wLKeB6wkx0aoQA1zSYu2aweWwp-Ru5yCtUqMpJgNtt8J_l173kA/s1600/DSC04596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NRFwsz_vxKWP-K4lgi5XvpoTwtm_IBonCjXJGAlojeYAloMhF0lsH9vlhyWseo7vuVb7gInoe4JwrqrnP5ido139wLKeB6wkx0aoQA1zSYu2aweWwp-Ru5yCtUqMpJgNtt8J_l173kA/s320/DSC04596.jpg" width="240" /></a>In the last post you have seen some photos of a garden, but here we are not talking about that garden. We are talking about another little garden. You might not understand how I/We got so many little gardens and why they are not 'my friend's garden' or 'my neigbours', but its a long long story. We shall come to that later on in future posts.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzqn-4d6jwdIQUlvysrsOvnGiFghb2q0S9l7R5u4CxU1O2TtigMA6DgwcDn4dxxHVemw8agLTDhSC-DD-TTjnkR6D9N3557cEQdiUXe43OSS3udPnvnaMTfAGE9Bsh_GiPd025GghG68/s1600/DSC04741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzqn-4d6jwdIQUlvysrsOvnGiFghb2q0S9l7R5u4CxU1O2TtigMA6DgwcDn4dxxHVemw8agLTDhSC-DD-TTjnkR6D9N3557cEQdiUXe43OSS3udPnvnaMTfAGE9Bsh_GiPd025GghG68/s320/DSC04741.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is a small piece of land, about 120 sq yards i think, including the walls. We used to play cricket in here (I know that sounds like its too small a place for that, but trust me, its a lot more fun and lot more tough playing in such a small place with the rules we had), and suddenly, I/We became interested in food. Much of it was a fallout from my reading about GMO, leading to my reading up about fossil fuels and their relationship to food, and most importantly, it was a direct reaction to many things I saw in the world, and the desire to live a higher quality of life. Majorly, it was an outburst from searching for answers to many of the world's problems.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tcYKMo84E21C7XeppJnvL86tikaCuKfuUmbm5rxTeQxwuzLa6uYKRddkXT5ds4hoRuDdX47VyxXfXgq9zO_E0bpyAmzjQHtSZGlttK3LvH2YpWbwXZ15U8jsCYNicNpai753KLMTCW8/s1600/DSC04734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tcYKMo84E21C7XeppJnvL86tikaCuKfuUmbm5rxTeQxwuzLa6uYKRddkXT5ds4hoRuDdX47VyxXfXgq9zO_E0bpyAmzjQHtSZGlttK3LvH2YpWbwXZ15U8jsCYNicNpai753KLMTCW8/s320/DSC04734.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VEwg9yTSKIqNXp7Qx0iACHHiLz1maq9HWRBOTZY8_ch4F75dOE0SqpsUCeR0MP2K8gSAAGupvBYQJTT3EwCP3-1bbDoQIDSPMT7VYn7tuTL7kkeq50TejUVtnyTODvGhb-e8RtJB8UU/s1600/DSC04735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VEwg9yTSKIqNXp7Qx0iACHHiLz1maq9HWRBOTZY8_ch4F75dOE0SqpsUCeR0MP2K8gSAAGupvBYQJTT3EwCP3-1bbDoQIDSPMT7VYn7tuTL7kkeq50TejUVtnyTODvGhb-e8RtJB8UU/s320/DSC04735.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So, we dug the place up, and put in our 'mixture'. 1 part cocopeat, 1 part mud/dirt, 1 part cow manure. Mix 'em all up and put it there. I thought of teaching kids (not my kids. I am not married yet. For now, just take my word for it and lets call them 'kids' just to make long story short) and so left it without planting. After about 6 months, it was pretty much weedy and no garden ever got there till then. Then one day, I kicked myself on my backside, got my pals together and we sheet mulched the whole thing and then put a 6 inch layer of the 'mixture' on top in 'raised beds' (raised just by 1 brick.. call them raised.. haha) and planted it all up.<br />
<br />
My buddies put up a trellis and off we went with planting. Greens in the beds, climbers to every pole of the trellis, some tomatoes with their own little 'trellis-es' (forgive me but I dont know the plural, and frankly I dont care, as long as you understand what I mean), and some okra, peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, marigolds and cockscombs as borders. Thats what we had.<br />
<br />
And it GREW!!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFKfCkv78sp_JPFYjSh9Aewi-j8oXfq7gfGXgBJhSJagAMnligbtczooHsKw1tViqf7ptbnd1LVVOvJ8wA5wsPXgS7d912OuiDDHC1Se1mlyrhOa0WLVFyZoPe387CU8z6RXKu2n1izw/s1600/DSC04593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFKfCkv78sp_JPFYjSh9Aewi-j8oXfq7gfGXgBJhSJagAMnligbtczooHsKw1tViqf7ptbnd1LVVOvJ8wA5wsPXgS7d912OuiDDHC1Se1mlyrhOa0WLVFyZoPe387CU8z6RXKu2n1izw/s320/DSC04593.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpNdfgkXqzrXmezkjBIgI4tjyon3BsqUm0c-lvSXP532GI0ZZihDinIupuIupYjS8P6ti0bNzsj1wFfIGyf45B1X-bj8A9oMJ6Fv_nLHhxI1iZcMJVNE8DHm-B85mLixJe5D5alUqXu0/s1600/DSC_6455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpNdfgkXqzrXmezkjBIgI4tjyon3BsqUm0c-lvSXP532GI0ZZihDinIupuIupYjS8P6ti0bNzsj1wFfIGyf45B1X-bj8A9oMJ6Fv_nLHhxI1iZcMJVNE8DHm-B85mLixJe5D5alUqXu0/s320/DSC_6455.JPG" width="212" /></a><br />
<br />
And it gave us a lot. A conservative 'cropping' daily looked like this when the plants are all grown up, and we often got double, sometimes tripple that (while cropping daily).<br />
<br />
During this process, about 20 families (our friends) stood by and watched us. None of them (almost none of them) were interested in either growing their own food, nor did they understand its value. But once they saw this, they understood. It was tremendous even for myself to see the nurture that mother nature openly offers, and saddening to see the humankind reject such an offering and neglects the mother.<br />
<br />
That said, here is the kicker :<br />
And then, we got 'busy'. We neglected the plot. Look how it looks now. Maybe a lesson learnt. Here is how it looks now :<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLG1LWyQmxt5a3jFY7LFHayeI0T53xOmxUbhkotWdUln2glOKZD_vFHZfXmJjfjMSHz6x6xxyoMyAjViX7BDlcx_o7d5pZbuS2C0kowoSFAcFBDUYLR_L6qTKcI77UGZobnzmeLa07I88/s1600/DSC_6441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLG1LWyQmxt5a3jFY7LFHayeI0T53xOmxUbhkotWdUln2glOKZD_vFHZfXmJjfjMSHz6x6xxyoMyAjViX7BDlcx_o7d5pZbuS2C0kowoSFAcFBDUYLR_L6qTKcI77UGZobnzmeLa07I88/s320/DSC_6441.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Weedy and dry cilantro patch, spinach gone, climbers dead (peacefully after living out their graceful lives to the full) and virtually no produce.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
------------------------------------------<br />
Outside the wall, since we were at the 'dead end' of the road (actually the 'alive' end, if you ask me) we could dig up the mud road (no govt road came there.. we are pretty much the last house of the city, the sub-sub-suburb kinda thing) and planted this little piece.<br />
<a href="http://ammagarisannidhi.blogspot.in/2011/12/permaculture-updates.html">http://ammagarisannidhi.blogspot.in/2011/12/permaculture-updates.html</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesDfhdUjmS3no_n3kXb5RTxYkspwilNqM0xk_wHWHuDA4SPMpft7W0dbK-gk2rVjK6hly4UBAtCS0TAmr2z267nBrI7Z3OSdJkvoEESOx15HaNbj1q8LFGIo5ry9XONUES3tr62DSFu0/s1600/DSC01849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesDfhdUjmS3no_n3kXb5RTxYkspwilNqM0xk_wHWHuDA4SPMpft7W0dbK-gk2rVjK6hly4UBAtCS0TAmr2z267nBrI7Z3OSdJkvoEESOx15HaNbj1q8LFGIo5ry9XONUES3tr62DSFu0/s640/DSC01849.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I did this as a demonstration. This also had bottle gourds and squashes which climbed up the trellis. We had a stray cow regularly eat up some vines, but still this became very productive. And I mean VERY. It had spinach, bottle gourds, two corn plants, 10 tomato plants, 30 okra plants, 10 eggplants, 8 chilli pepper plants, several marigolds, a small patch of fenugreek (which one can rotate every 9 days, eating the greens which are delicious when cooked as dal). It also had a couple of snake gourd and ridge gourd plants, but the cow ate them.<br />
Even this got neglected.<br />
<br />
Nothing to fear though. I am out of station, but my pals are working on it and soon it will be back in shape. And where I am now, a coastal town in A.P., India, we are doing a bit of a similar garden here too!<br />
<br />
Will talk about some 'uncultivated' food crops that grow here in future posts. Oh, by the way, there is amaranthus virdis, and amaranthus sps., growing in my garden(s), without we ever planting it. Initially I though it was a weed until my mom told me that it is edible. Since then, it is one of the most prodigious parts of our produce and many times it grow as an over storey to our spinach!! Gifts of nature favour Heavenly Living.<br />
<br />
Peace.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410094941790922309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439727524569510133.post-18831725402218138162012-02-29T20:36:00.001-08:002012-03-04T07:11:15.854-08:00A few photos as a starter!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jai Sai Master!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A few photographs to start off with. Explanation will come later on, but some more photos of our other 'gardens' you can find here :</span><br />
<a href="http://ammagarisannidhi.blogspot.in/2011/12/permaculture-updates.html">http://ammagarisannidhi.blogspot.in/2011/12/permaculture-updates.html</a><br />
<a href="http://ammagarisannidhi.blogspot.in/2011/11/following-pujya-ammagarus-passion-for.html">http://ammagarisannidhi.blogspot.in/2011/11/following-pujya-ammagarus-passion-for.html</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeG2nX5B9zhUJJyRUBrJ2oDmrgvIsaTirMTtlX8rdOStOjPqKTLicwLmi1kR01sjtqPqLG1KblQP9YjvT67s7IbSjaw6aSnxssgdW0atIxvOe1Bs853N2N657gDyw-rfRLCPxN15_jc4/s1600/DSCN0839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeG2nX5B9zhUJJyRUBrJ2oDmrgvIsaTirMTtlX8rdOStOjPqKTLicwLmi1kR01sjtqPqLG1KblQP9YjvT67s7IbSjaw6aSnxssgdW0atIxvOe1Bs853N2N657gDyw-rfRLCPxN15_jc4/s320/DSCN0839.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
These are photos of a work in progress garden. We are adding and removing plants from this, and make it more to the requirements.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And now for some photos!<br />
<div class="separator" dir="rtl" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDg6UJSR43jR_VRE6sOwRsgh3oFuXhlSvPrhHMIdqdIgQLAak_cXBmN7LGKLYu9abqvP7XhzGPL6JY_CntJ_HBylme3ny3RemGdoh7bdVxOuxuL3ejbskGjdzFRMPD-ZISi5VdERKJ24/s1600/bg3-try.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDg6UJSR43jR_VRE6sOwRsgh3oFuXhlSvPrhHMIdqdIgQLAak_cXBmN7LGKLYu9abqvP7XhzGPL6JY_CntJ_HBylme3ny3RemGdoh7bdVxOuxuL3ejbskGjdzFRMPD-ZISi5VdERKJ24/s320/bg3-try.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiib68nLLbAMFZqX9EqqcA2UD5kXqI5ShtKMt_v7TSVHBrbX58YpvWn6t3FhrI1mdv1UGjmopyb79KuD3wUCI6K-JlTqyMgCxKn2lcsO5VlJArUUGudaaSbVjC3FWzi_jNifw3RelU6zbg/s1600/DSC_6364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiib68nLLbAMFZqX9EqqcA2UD5kXqI5ShtKMt_v7TSVHBrbX58YpvWn6t3FhrI1mdv1UGjmopyb79KuD3wUCI6K-JlTqyMgCxKn2lcsO5VlJArUUGudaaSbVjC3FWzi_jNifw3RelU6zbg/s200/DSC_6364.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6yWLN7aCPmsrnQfuS3THuvK0T-KgvDb3S49snzN1di1hbPrqVYuLCTK1c4RwjBvkGAKLyG8U4cIZQeegnjmsk4hbHTRtOrKh9l3YUKkssUo0wFuYrSKfvv1GFMwey2-mu43uSWiRBfI/s1600/bg-try.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6yWLN7aCPmsrnQfuS3THuvK0T-KgvDb3S49snzN1di1hbPrqVYuLCTK1c4RwjBvkGAKLyG8U4cIZQeegnjmsk4hbHTRtOrKh9l3YUKkssUo0wFuYrSKfvv1GFMwey2-mu43uSWiRBfI/s320/bg-try.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFz3ehxt8s64aofaM-nZAEXJBWvK3TZXMsxk0uvKcHebIyXil_Ptkcxo9RDj36XO_yKs1Hyewyh5_6cJYJ5DnJ-4DAOV1KCXZFd8INs3EmB1l8OZ0j5xp5nWgP80xY7cU2aUab5WbVr6k/s1600/DSC_6377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFz3ehxt8s64aofaM-nZAEXJBWvK3TZXMsxk0uvKcHebIyXil_Ptkcxo9RDj36XO_yKs1Hyewyh5_6cJYJ5DnJ-4DAOV1KCXZFd8INs3EmB1l8OZ0j5xp5nWgP80xY7cU2aUab5WbVr6k/s200/DSC_6377.JPG" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-MblnEO4aBvcnaFpb8Hppx8yS1OsGfSk1EKx6uK6O7lH2ca-ysJTBO_45xX6_up9jvFXPOpWWoY-kU0DPEtZJ2EzSAqtTtpdKi3f74DRHU3xpeEPUTomkbaXCK7CaJivaT9h2_7xbU8/s1600/DSC_6374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-MblnEO4aBvcnaFpb8Hppx8yS1OsGfSk1EKx6uK6O7lH2ca-ysJTBO_45xX6_up9jvFXPOpWWoY-kU0DPEtZJ2EzSAqtTtpdKi3f74DRHU3xpeEPUTomkbaXCK7CaJivaT9h2_7xbU8/s320/DSC_6374.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKOZS5iKC5W8UcULSC_LYJmelBtkpoMfcOfJq6qV3UzFki1EDe96V9PUNSo7sdKYEXAsAlFJSTiqXdSuz9YvLIeL5E4yQjZyTRG9xpAbOKbKSMQzkAsEOdqgxZQffwC3sqFz559_VJt8/s1600/DSC_6388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKOZS5iKC5W8UcULSC_LYJmelBtkpoMfcOfJq6qV3UzFki1EDe96V9PUNSo7sdKYEXAsAlFJSTiqXdSuz9YvLIeL5E4yQjZyTRG9xpAbOKbKSMQzkAsEOdqgxZQffwC3sqFz559_VJt8/s320/DSC_6388.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSw3b-6ylyewbbt88uh_JppL7YW7VNuQLaDxJ9XDBjfjbHwu5vnyvVGSRHsaVG-ToZga3VQ11JegXY3bSVECngTM1MBogToHAfbZ9zRd3YkzWxdQxmBjmcYx9yg0Ov0uGmsSIR0T46NM/s1600/DSC_6369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSw3b-6ylyewbbt88uh_JppL7YW7VNuQLaDxJ9XDBjfjbHwu5vnyvVGSRHsaVG-ToZga3VQ11JegXY3bSVECngTM1MBogToHAfbZ9zRd3YkzWxdQxmBjmcYx9yg0Ov0uGmsSIR0T46NM/s320/DSC_6369.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLTuI6FWuPzkrwN3RjhMHg1QVgxiNhvJjDvXT0EYI7yb4fFcfRKAqpFEbaKY9PmdZ2uEUwH4A3nMLznJbYpUvt6yuu6-UotCGPw-EDdvRFjC55YPcPrcQZU-mOomrm1AAFUKrXSD7rmM/s1600/DSCN0843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLTuI6FWuPzkrwN3RjhMHg1QVgxiNhvJjDvXT0EYI7yb4fFcfRKAqpFEbaKY9PmdZ2uEUwH4A3nMLznJbYpUvt6yuu6-UotCGPw-EDdvRFjC55YPcPrcQZU-mOomrm1AAFUKrXSD7rmM/s320/DSCN0843.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">And all those are the voluntary tomatoes which we got from manure. We never planted them and we have about a 100 of them in this garden!
</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">The same plot as it looked on Jan 1st 2k12 :</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">And a stray pup we picked up and named 'bagh' (after the dog that Swami Vivekananda had):</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeo0s9OUrhLWKcT2R9MEfq9AL-iTAWrnMlD6UpbCCSwO5PLIixzJH559kNdrpqcQQ5VoHBTEhQ1g1oibnkcVlSQ79TvKgbBkiXCGrG6MWFwe1oqpVtnwDNI59JVWXsxUBaHnNIdv_xDU/s1600/DSCN0853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeo0s9OUrhLWKcT2R9MEfq9AL-iTAWrnMlD6UpbCCSwO5PLIixzJH559kNdrpqcQQ5VoHBTEhQ1g1oibnkcVlSQ79TvKgbBkiXCGrG6MWFwe1oqpVtnwDNI59JVWXsxUBaHnNIdv_xDU/s400/DSCN0853.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
More on more tiny gardens we have, stuff that we are doing/did, to come soon!<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Jai Sai Master!!</div>
<br /></div>DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410094941790922309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439727524569510133.post-45737525510482840802012-01-30T08:14:00.000-08:002012-03-03T14:03:49.046-08:00JAI SAI MASTER!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jai Sai Master!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokUpPXRfM9wk4xN1xBwBexcxmAOYifN9n_4ac2_9ROfjV1z0QECtoB23Ob7lrEG3pe78_wYK0diudDQzOgGpTljgR1xGJK2af85NS-KL2hU86Fz_XsK2-HSPBQB4IMpUG0YWErA0gCVs/s1600/Master_page1.tif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokUpPXRfM9wk4xN1xBwBexcxmAOYifN9n_4ac2_9ROfjV1z0QECtoB23Ob7lrEG3pe78_wYK0diudDQzOgGpTljgR1xGJK2af85NS-KL2hU86Fz_XsK2-HSPBQB4IMpUG0YWErA0gCVs/s320/Master_page1.tif" width="238" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is our little blog, regarding various things like nature, kids, gardens, ecology, spirituality, etc. Here, the main focus might be (atleast initially) our gardens and our experiments with various aspects of life and living. Hope you all enjoy, have something to learn from here, and also help us learn a lot.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
May the Master's grace, the Nectar of Heavenly Living, shower on us all.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jai Sai Master!!</div>
</div>DJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410094941790922309noreply@blogger.com3