The farm is such a delight today. We observe abundance and fertility on a previously barren soil that is being grown on for the first time in a very long time (attached some before and after pics). This soil was once fertile forest and then was given to a tribal family in 1972 which they never farmed due to it being barren. Today we have restored this land, we rent the land from them and employ their family members giving them much needed income and slowly demonstrating to them the natural farming methods they no longer employ. For the first time, one, Vijay, is now trying his hand at growing paddy without chemicals now. They teach us lots too, so it feels like a great exchange of energy.
Back to the barren land, restoration of fertility work was done only this season; chowli, tor, tulsi are now growing in abundance. The ghosale will come back as the heavy rains stop and the flowers will fruit.
On another field, our short life-span 'tambari' rice, now 4ft tall and about 1/4 of it flattened in last Friday's wind; today we see the first heads magically appearing and it looks beautiful! This land too, was barren 12 months ago, and supported MOFCA's HBT in the first season with lal maat and palak helping break up the clay soil.
We continue to be, on a daily basis, amazed by nature and know we have to work with her as best we can as she goes through climate change.
By continuing to closely monitor the situation on the ground we can adapt to strange pests that show up and nip them in the bud and add amrut pani and vermicompost when things are a little rough.
We're all learning and adapting and yes there are hard times, but within the hardship a wealth of experience is gained for next year and to help all the others who can be inspired by it.
Consider that we are all living the proof that crop diversification through organic farming is one way for agriculture to survive global changes. None of us have lost everything because of this. Diversification was identified in a report posted on this forum some time ago explaining the positive role of organic farmings in adapting to climate change.
If we were following monoculture all may be lost. It's great to be part of MOFCA and share the hard times and the good times too knowing we can learn from and support each other. In the UK innovative organic farmers supplement their incomes through offering tourism, trainings and value added produce (by secondary processing). Again something for us to think about as individuals and the group.
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