Category: Nature

2022 Raj Farm Update# 3: Firewalls!

It’s a sure sign of summer at Raj Farm. 4-legged hackers have been gaining access to and stealing data (flowers, fruits, veggies, leaves, shoots and anything else that is edible!). 😡It’s a summerlong game the hackers like to call “Stop me if you can” that’s played out past few years at Raj Farm. 😃 Security is of prime importance and so we have put up firewalls for protection of the plants. I know the firewalls/cages/trellis around lettuce, beets, parsley and salsa peppers have wide range of ports open making them less secure but it’s to satisfy application (of hands to pluck produce) needs. 😊 The hackers have drawn first blood with successful breach of lettuce, beets, parsley and salsa pepper containers. The situation will be closely monitored rest of the summer and security updates issued as necessary 😉
Nah, I am not angry or upset with the 4-legged hackers. Wifey says if they win we earn good karma for feeding hungry creatures, I agree with that 👍 The hackers are very resourceful 👏 but I just wish they were smarter though. Let me explain. “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you” goes a saying. And my hand waters the plants! If the hackers don’t show enough restraint they are jeopardizing their own food source 😂

2022 Raj Farm Update# 1: Rose to the occasion! 👍

Pink, Yellow and Red roses leading the way! 👏
They certainly rose to the occasion. 😊
This year trying a slightly differing approach to potting plants. Lot of plastic pots from buying flowering pots past few years with soil inside too. Trying to minimize buying new pots and reuse existing ones. Towards that end I have cut out the bottom of some of the plastic pots and placed them in spaces with an inch or two of the soil dug in. The idea is to use the soil inside the pot and yet promote the growth of the roots in the soil underneath the open bottom of the pot. The pot should also provide a support structure in windy conditions. Let’s see how it works out. In the composite picture roses appear to be leaning toward roses of other colors and engaging in a lively conversation. 😄
Enjoy the feast for the eyes of flowers in bloom 👍

Guilty Pleasures Series: #2 – Nature and wildlife documentaries

I am always filled with amazement whenever I watch nature and wildlife documentaries on TV. The majesty of huge trees in woods, the feline grace of a wild cat, the natural beauty of flowers and birds, the grandeur of high mountains and big rivers, the vastness of the oceans and the variety of marine life are all awe inspiring and humbling at the same time. They are worth traveling many a mile to catch a glimpse of. The next best thing of course is watching them in the comforts of the living room (Sorry, no TVs in my bedrooms 😃). As impressive as the sights are equally impressive is the passion, dedication, patience and effort put in by the crews working on the documentaries. It’s always a pleasure to appreciate the beauty of nature.

What do I feel guilty about? Me being me about a few things.

1) There is always a sense of sadness on seeing that flora and fauna alike are getting endangered alike due to increasing demands of human race. Forests appear to be making way for fields to grow food grains or for construction. Bodies of water are shrinking to accommodate human water needs.

2) While it’s thrilling to watch a wild cat hunting for its prey and that’s its natural instinct it’s sad to see any life getting lost. I still distinctly remember a wildlife documentary about Africa in which a pack of lions attack an elephant at night when elephants do not have good sight. During the day and when elephants are in a group the lions do not stand a chance. So, the lions gang up, isolate an elephant at night and attack from all sides.

3) With so many plants and animals thinning in numbers I wonder if we will be the last generation lucky enough to see tigers, elephants and other endangered plants and animals in person. Will posterity be content on watching how it used to be on video?

Wouldn’t it be great if humans and animals can communicate with each other in a language both can understand and speak? Humans could learn a few things from animals like being able to sense changes in weather and also learning to survive in extreme conditions without needing much. Animals could learn from humans to be more organized and harnessing natural resources for their needs. I wonder about what goes through the mind of animals that are in danger and running for their dear life. What is the thought process of all the small fish that get gobbled by bigger fish. There are insects with a life span of just a few hours. If God has created everything there has to be purpose for every living thing. Without a purpose it doesn’t make sense. I keep asking myself a basic question. What is the purpose of everything that has life? 🙏