Category: Nature

2020 Raj Farm Update# 5 – The Great American Transplant!

In keeping with the spirit of July 4 weekend theme for today’s update is Independence and The Great American Transplant at the Raj Farm! Prior to today’s update all plants at the farm were growing in pots. Some of the plants had been clamoring for independence. Happy to report the farm has been able to make that happen for plants that had grown and were capable of being independent. 👏 For other plants we reached a compromise and transplanted them with the promise their case for independence would be reviewed periodically over the next few weeks 🙏

Independent at last! 👌
1) Roma Tomato: 2 set of seeds were planted this season. Both grown and mature, granted independence! One now growing in soil right outside kitchen wall (top left picture) and on the ridge (middle left picture)
2) Cucumber: 2 set of seeds were planted this season. One set grown and mature, fully independent growing in soil right outside kitchen wall (top left picture). Has started flowering
3) San Marzano Tomato: Top right picture. Fully independent, about a dozen raw tomatoes waiting to ripen and add color!
4) Sweet Bell Pepper: Top right picture. Independent! One pepper nicely shaping up (circled in white), others in flowering stage
5) Habanero Pepper: Independent and on the ridge (Left middle picture)
6) Watermelon: Planted after last update, growing independently now (Left middle picture)

Transplanted for freedom! 👍
1) Jalapeno Pepper: Transplanted to separate port for experiencing freedom (bottom right picture)
2) Pink Rose: Transplanted to different bigger pot for freedom to grow faster and express themselves more freely

Happy where they are! ✋
1) Strawberry: Bottom left. Developing well after weathering initial rabbit attack
2) Basil: Happy to stay put as all others that were sharing space have moved out! No morning at the farm is complete without flavorful basil leaf adorning the sandwich 🙂
3) Onion – White Lisbon Bunching: Spreading fast like grass. Impressive growth (bottom right picture, left big container)
4) Onion – Walla Walla: Washington’s official vegetable mascot for now, pretty soon Washington state will cede that right to Wisconsin. After all UW means University of Wisconsin, Madison whatever those upstarts from the Pacific Northwest may think or say 😉 Hey Walla Walla Organics (https://www.facebook.com/wallawallaorganics/), get ready for some serious organic Walla Walla competition from Raj Farm 😂

Next update will likely feature “Harvesting: Are we there yet?” 🥰

Raj Farm wins prestigious awards!

We here at Raj Farm are humbled by the honor this farm has received in the form of multiple awards in recent days. 👏
The awards that have been won are
1) Fastest growing farm *
2) Spirit of green *
We would like to thank our patrons and many followers for their unstinting support and much encouragement over the years and making Raj Farm a part of their lives spring through fall.🙏
Nothing works better as expression of gratitude and thanks than flowers. Smiling roses waving and saying thanks in their own inimitable way ✋
Looking forward to sharing more such happy moments in the future! 👍

* Instituted in 2020 by “Raj Encouraging Raj” foundation, the prestigious “Fastest growing farm” and “Spirit of green” awards are given to farms in Raj backyard that follow the highest standards of excellence and quality, grow at a rapid pace and adhere to sustainable practices for this generation and posterity to live in harmony with their surroundings 🙂

Caught in the act!

Had gone out for grocery shopping. Looks like one person was looking forward to me going out: My philosopher friend rabbit 😅 Seizing the moment rabbit started scoping the backyard for food potential. Wife was having supper. She got up to photograph her little buddy. Rabbit did a full 360 as he surveyed the menu on display. Took a bite of flower plant I transplanted to coir basket this morning (transferred earlier rabbit victim yellow rose plant to the pot this flower plant was originally in this morning) 😡 Then wife uttered the magic words: Raj will be back home any time now! 🤣 Good presence of mind 👏 Rabbit pulled a vanishing act instantly 🙂 Remains to be seen what tonight holds for the poor plants facing a ravenous and rapacious rabbit intent on rampage 😢

I am doing my job, you do yours!

As I looked out the window this morning my heart sank. The rose plant in the backyard had a trimmed look, dreams appearing to be nipped in the bud 😭
The culprit: Rabbit of course 😡
Tried to reason with the rabbit. This is how the conversation went.

Me: Hey rabbit, what have you done to my rose plant? Do you have an explanation for your action?
Rabbit: I did what I normally do!
Me: Which is?
Rabbit: Doing my job!
Me: And what is your job?
Rabbit: What you see!
Me: Eating whatever is in sight?
Rabbit: Listen, you are doing your job, I am doing mine. You are trying to put food on the table, I am trying to put food into my mouth. We are both doing our jobs. Do I complain to you about how you do your job?
Me: Can we work out a solution where you do your job part-time so that the plants can survive too, you still have your job and I can stay in the business of growing plants? 🙂 The rabbit ran away before I finished what I was saying 😠

I learned my lesson the hard away though. The great outdoors belong to the flora and fauna of that place. We are probably lucky to get a lease on something that doesn’t really belong to us 🙏

My enemy, my wife’s good friend!

Short update today on my enemy, my wife’s good friend: Rabbit!
Sighted this rabbit in the backyard where some Raj Farm transplants are.
First the rabbit acted coy pretending to be enjoying a pleasant, sunny morning.
Next took off like rushing to work.
Finally posed for a picture as if catching up breath after a hard day’s work: flattening the cucumber plant ☹️

Voracious appetite, good at posing, appears to have discriminating taste!
Remains to be seen if tomato and basil plants, that were not part of the diet for the day, survive the onslaught!
Wife finds the rabbits cute, son likes the sight of rabbits running around, taking a nibble here and nibble there. What can I say? 😄

2020 Raj Farm Update# 4

Time for Raj Farm update! It’s been a period of hectic growth and lot of activity at Raj Farm. Let’s cover this week by each plant category
1) Cucumber: 2 set of seeds were planted this season (Top right picture). One set has grown large enough to warrant moving to own container, the other set can for now remain in the container and probably will grow faster without the shadow of bigger cucumber plant looming large
2) Jalapeno Pepper: Growing in same container as the cucumbers. Will have more room to grow when bigger cucumber moves out
3) Habanero Pepper: Growth acceleration seen after moving to own container
4) Roma Tomato: 2 set of seeds planted this season. Top right in separate pot and bottom left co-located in a bigger container with basil. Bottom left Roma tomato outgrowing container, will to be moved out
5) San Marzano Tomato: Bottom left picture. Growing in separate pot, first sign of tomato observed with yellow flowers making appearance. Outgrowing the container. Will be moved out
6) Sweet Bell Pepper: Growing in separate container (bottom left picture). Some buds seen
7) Basil: 2 set of seeds (bottom left picture). Co-located with Roma tomato in bigger container. Growing well, more space need will be met when Roma tomato co-tenant moves out
8) Roses: All growing in their own separate container/pot (bottom left an bottom right). Seeing them flower brings a smile always
9) Strawberry: Growing in separate small pot (bottom right). Newcomer to the farm. Showing signs of early promise
10) Onion: Onion seeds planted this week (top right corner of big container in top right picture). Right now only black patch visible as we allow onions to settle in
11) Watermelon: Waiting in the wings, not planted yet. They will soon be in action!

Next update will feature “The Great American Transplant” 🙂

2020 Raj Farm Update# 3

You thought we would have taken it easy last week? Nope, Raj Farm has been humming with activity 🙂 The growing needs of this season’s batch has been recognized along with the need to still maintain social distancing. Major activity at the farm the past week has been transplanting and moving the plants around. Leftmost top and bottom pictures are the plants in their dorm before the move. It was obvious the dorm was getting crowded and space was getting tight if the plants wanted to spread their wings and explore growth opportunities. Some of the plants, like the roses (middle 2 bottom pictures), wanted to move to new digs hoping to blossom on their own like their friend in bottom rightmost picture. Their wishes have become real. Hey, we are all about making budding dreams come true and letting those beauties flower even more feeling free to express their colorful personalities. Sweet bell pepper was feeling a bit of a misfit with the roses and expressed a desire to move to own place preferring solitude. That was accomplished too. The cucumber plants wanted a break in sharing space with the tomatoes and were hoping to share room with the pepper plants (jalapeno and habanero). Their desire has been fulfilled too and they appear to be liking the newer dorm with bigger room to grow (top rightmost picture)! Promises to be a busy summer here at Raj Farm. We wouldn’t want it any other way 🙂

2020 Raj Farm Update# 2

Yes, Raj Farm has been chugging along! Come rain or shine, flora at Raj Farm keep smiling and growing. Sorry, the farm is not yet open for public visits as social distancing protocols have to be maintained and some of the fledgling plants need extra protection. 🙏 For now you have to be content with the content you see online 🙂
It’s been a great year of learning for Raj Farm class of 2020. Some have blossomed beautifully in colorful ways 👌 Tomatoes (Roma and San Marzano) and cucumbers are coming into their own, peppers have been a mixed bag 👍Habaneros started a little slow but appear to have hit their stride now. Sweet bell pepper plant may need some personal attention as it appears to be withering a bit. Jalapenos have been a no show so far, expect them to emerge from their shell shortly. The motto of Raj Farm has always been “Grow at your own pace”. In accordance with that some of the plants that have grown quite a bit will move on from their dorm, where they share space with other fellow plants, and graduate to living separately in their own space. Other plants that are still getting their feet wet will stay in the dorm for now. Their development will be monitored and they may move to their own place if the farm faculty determine that would speed up their development. All in all good show by all plants. Kudos to class of 2020, you have come a long way! We are proud of you all 👏

Different walks of life

People come from different walks of life
People go for different walks in life
Some walks, like catching a beautiful sight, are inspirational
Some walks, like walking across a parking lot, are functional
Some walks, like charity walks or a sportsperson walking across a ballpark, are purposeful
Some walks, like seeing a homeless person holding a sign, are learning experience

Few sights are as awe-inspiring as that of a view from top of a hill
Few sights are as colorful as catching glimpse of a perfect rainbow
Few sights are as calming as seeing a body of water
Few sights are as rewarding as seeing perfect sunrise, sunset or clear, azure sky
When I am not visiting a place with family I prefer to walk alone
Gives me opportunity to quietly contemplate and reflect

These days my walks are mostly between my office room at home to kitchen or other rooms
Couple of times in my inter-room trips I may make a detour to the backyard
To catch glimpse of the plants and greet them “Wassup buddy”
Those flowering plants cheerfully bloom
In solitude I bloom!

https://youtu.be/857mPxY5UDI

P.S. Was meant to be more of a photo-essay with just a short intro to display nature unfurling its magnificence for all to behold and enjoy as a picture is said to be worth a thousand words. However, me being me, couldn’t resist 🙂 While words may try to capture the spirit the pictures capture and convey the full essence! Meant to be first watched as a collage and then as montage as each individual picture plays in the attached youtube URL!