===== Samba 2009 =====

==== Highlights ====

  * Pond constructed. See [[rain water harvesting]] for details.
    * 850x450 sq.ft. - ~5% of land area
    * //3 stepped// pond with storage capacity of over 8.15 lakh litres
    * 28,795 cu.ft. of red soil unearthed and used for constructing the pond's banks, a broad //varappu// for growing coconuts around the boundary and two elevated platforms for constructing a shelter later in the future.
    * Total of 5 inlet/outlet pipes across the farm - 4 in [[our farm|zone 1]]
    * Pond filled up and changed shape quite a bit!
    * [[aquaculture]] using 4 varieties of fish, totalling to 750 fish in all
  * [[Tree Planting]]
    * 40 Plantain trees, 30 Coconut trees and 33 other assorted fruit/utility trees
    * 85+% survival rate overall (except plantains others' survival rate is 100%). Localites' reassure that the rest 10 plantains will survive too.
  * [[Organic Paddy]]
    * Gandagasaala and Garudan samba - native organic variety paddy crops sown and transplanted. 
  * Water arrived on **August 17th**
  * Paddy seed buying, costing, planting and operations calendar are part of [[Organic Paddy]]
  * [[Aquaculture]]
    * Total 750 fish
      * Catla: 300
      * Rogu: 150
      * Mirgal: 200
      * Grass Carp (//Pillu Kendai//): 150
    * Survival rate not known (How to estimate survival rate of fish? FIXME)
    * As of 20 Oct 2009, each fish is about 50 gms

==== Guiding principles ====

  * Go the tried and the tested way
  * No fertilizers
  * Organic, Natural pesticides
  * Use compost if need be
  * Document needs, set aside produce to fill up storage capacity
  * Return "wastes" to soil as much as possible

==== Goals ====

  * Publish Samba 09 yield and costs data
  * Publish results about [[Tree planting]]
  * Publish water remaining (as height in inches from the deepest point)