I first met Sreenivas Ghatty in 2003 in Bangalore. We were at a conference on tree based biodiesel. I actually sat in the section reserved for journalists, on the strength of stories I had been publishing in GoodNewsIndia. I had met Prof Udipi Shrinivasa two years earlier and visited his seminal work at Kagganahalli where he had demonstrated on a large scale, pongamia oil driven power generation. That and my other stories on tree based oils earned me much attention and the pongamia tree itself became quite a star.

Whether the tone of my reports was pardonable enthusiasm of an engineer or it was the hype of an uncritical evangelist, is not for me to declare. At a minimum I was a convert who ceaselessly searched to see how a plantation may come about and actually fill a local community’s need for a petrofuel substitute.

That search, after many false starts, dead leads and dud investments, eventually led me to commit myself to pointReturn. The project’s mission still remains this: “Self sufficiency in food, water, energy and cash for 40 people from 15 acres of wasteland”. If that comes about, wouldn’t it be a compelling model on permanent view? Well, with such delirious dreams are some men afflicted and they are often loath to let go of their affliction.

Pongamia pinnata, the tree that holds me in thrall, is to play the lead role in the ‘energy and cash self-sufficiency’ part of the pointReturn mission. Since 2007, pongamia saplings have been planted, and they form about 50% of the 800 trees now growing at pointReturn. The plan was to have a 1,000 pongamia standing eventually.

The ethical, technical and economic arguments favouring the tree have been stated in my earlier stories. In this I argued that the small scale, tree based liquid fuel alternative cannot be viewed through George Monbiot’s lens of ire. In this, I described how local and non-exotic our saplings are. As for pongamia economics, although I squirm a bit about what I wrote in my 2001 article [see box], when I came to estimate how much an acre of trees at pointReturn might return, I am gratified - and much relieved- I had been quite prudent. In 2006, I had prepared a 12 year financial perspective. From it, I reproduce the following footnotes:

basis :
production: 250 trees per acre; 10 kg seed/tree
selling price:
oil: Rs.40/L in 2015 and 10% increase per year. ie: Rs.40, 44, 48, 52…
cake: 10/kg in 2015 and 10% increase per year. ie: Rs.10, 11, 12, 13

It has been some months since I wrote at length. One reason is I have been in a new and busy rhythm -as I shall soon elaborate. Also, I have been making shorter posts elsewhere and twittering. And, there is another blog that narrates the events at pointReturn more frequently.

Let me make this a tour of many topics that are worth reporting on. And because it’s a rather long-winded tour, I must be considerate and offer quick jumps. Click on any of these or read on.

• Phase shift: A slight and perceptible change has occurred
• The work rhythm: What is the work routine and life at pointReturn?
• Growing food: Experience with growing vegetables and grains
• Water, now: Status of water availability following rain water harvesting
• The road ahead: Where do I see it go and what are we doing about it?

The pointReturn adventure began not so much with the idea of giving trees a home, but to facilitate the home trees will make. For thirty years now I have not been able to pass a full grown tree without, at a minimum, registering its presence. Often I do not know its name or nature and I am more mystified, therefore. What is its inner life like? I am sure it has one, for, I sat alone once, for a whole two hours staring at a giant neem tree and let it heal my heart. It stood over 80 feet tall. In the evening breeze, it gently waved its boughs and I was sure it was all only for me; at any rate the universe did not exist save for the tree and me. …read on

Having spent over an year in developing water security, fences against grazing cattle, road access to the site, a room to stowaway tools and a basic shelter for overnight stops, the time has come at last to begin planting. Ahead of answering ‘what’ to plant, I cooked up a strategy in answer to ‘how’ to plant. Some basic rules emerged. …

Once you are seduced by vetiver’s ability to restore sloping lands, there is little relief until you get hold of a stock and plant it. But there are several important aspects to consider along the way: where to find it, how to transport it, how to care for it and when and how to plant it. The experience narrated here could be of use to you. …read on

The quickest way to fall in love with vetiver [ vetiveria zizanioides ] is to count the many ecologically gentle ways in which this simple, hardy, Cinderella grass can serve and better our lives. …read on