Comments for point Return

Comment on Beginning to grow by kedar_til

kedar_til — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:26:15 +0000

Dear DV,

I am a regular reader of your site. Thanks so much for sharing info with us. This is all very inspiring.

While discussing your work amoung friends, one of them summerised…you will be building various banks…Water bank (beneath the earth(!)), food bank (will require it if start producing surplus and for yearly crops), seed bank (to avoid junk and BT seeds), plants blank (like you did for Pongamia), energy bank (solar, wind, pongamia oil, biogas), a bank of rich fertile soil all over the land ….and a defined cycle to replenish stocks in those banks…..!!

One query - Have you given any thought on installing a biogas plant? Like the one developed by ARTI, Pune which is very efficient. This site also gives D-I-Y instructions. (I should not give the site address as you have already given a very good artical about Dr. Karve’s work on GoodnewsIndia!)

http://www.arti-india.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45:arti-biogas-plant-a-compact-digester-for-producing-biogas-from-food-waste&catid=15:rural-energy-technologies&Itemid=52

Best wishes for your mission and may this project become a guiding start for many to come up in future.

Regards,
- Kedar

Comment on Beginning to grow by papramod

papramod — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:26:57 +0000

DV, just to compare my situation since I started in 2004. my land was always cultivated when i bought it - main crop was groundnut and raggi. I adopted horticulture and planted 1000 mango samplings. with ill planning, i faced a harsh reality of water shortage.

following your footsteps, i have created 2 ponds with more than 4 million Lt water capacity, adopted my own version of swales across the area. the monsoon started good but looks like the current 35% deficit will not be reclaimed this year. however, the water harvesting system seems to be yielding results. whether it will help me sustain the upcoming summer is a question, but i have resisted digging another bore well until now.

I can definitely see a increased bird population, a horn-bill gang, peacock flocks along with jackal family who have become residents at the farm.

However, I continue to have the challenges of parthenium menace if you have that at your land?

Comment on Falling in love with swales by kedar_til

kedar_til — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:08:35 +0000

Dear DV,

Don’t know how it may help, but in watershed developments, CCTs need to be done on entire catchment area of watershed to get full effect. So, in your case, is it possible for you to do 1-2 swales on the west side outside of your property? The percolated water will benefit the borewell.

- Kedar

Comment on Falling in love with swales by gskishore

gskishore — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:35:50 +0000

Dear DV, Thanks for the article. It is like a new year eve’s gift.

Comment on Falling in love with swales by papramod

papramod — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:28:51 +0000

Dear DV, thanks for such a insight.. I have approached Ringo to check if he can visit my farm and help me in planning.. this is a great help and I badly needed this.

Comment on Falling in love with swales by dv

dv — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:30:03 +0000

sorry, kedar
i have reset it as ‘public’, a moment ago
-dv

Comment on Falling in love with swales by kedar_til

kedar_til — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:21:52 +0000

Hello DV,

Can not see the slideshow. Getting message that “This video is private”. How can I see it?

- Kedar

Comment on Falling in love with swales by chandrakant

chandrakant — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:02:10 +0000

Dear DV
Wishing you and the team at point return a happy and pleasant new year. On reading, how can one not fall in love with swales? If Only a marginal farmer( if I may use that word)be educated in the virtues of swale, that would be more effective than policy makers groping around committees to implement. Thanx a lot for en lighting. chandrakant

Comment on Adventures with the Rocket Stove by varaahan

varaahan — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:54:48 +0000

Sure I would like to get one such rocket stove.
I am in Chennai.

varaahan@rediffmail.com

Comment on Falling in love with swales by v.r.janardhanam

v.r.janardhanam — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:12:34 +0000

Dear DV,
It is amazing how you get the strength to do such wonderful things. Obviously it is your love of nature that is making you do all these things. I wish you all the best for the New Year and may the swales give you all the joy that you wish for. Hats off boss
sarath