Inspired by star trek, farming on high altitude

Two friends do wild farming on Western Ghats, following what the film franchise suggests – to observe and learn, not to interfere.
Inspired by star trek, farming on high altitude

CHENNAI:To survive, an organism must live in sync with  Nature’s cycles. Guided by this philosophy, Eldho Pachilakadan and his friend Blaise started wild farming two months ago, which involves growing plants supportive of a local  ecosystem.  

They have a 40-acre farm in Idukki district, near Rajakumari in Kerala, which is located 4,300 ft above sea level. This is at the foothills of Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot.  “The land we have selected finds regular light showers, that keep the soil rich and moist. The microclimate perfectly mimics some of the best climatic conditions for growing fruits,” says Blaise. The two believe that humans are meant to survive on fruits, because they appeal to us naturally through sight, taste and smell. “No processing is required to make us reach for them,” says Blaise.

This is where they differ from Masanobu Fukuoka’s method, which is geared towards growing grains.
The two also observe plant and animal behaviour, and harness it. For example, they keep beehives in the farm’s periphery knowing that it can keep out wild elephants. Or they drop burnt corn into rainwater-harvesting pits which draws wild pigs. “Their rampage prepares the sludge necessary at the bottom of these pits. We don’t need to hire labour,” says Eldho.

Selection of plants

All the plants — flowering plants, fruits plants and plants that host moths and butterflies — are selected on the basis of several factors such as weather and altitude. However, he believes that if a plant is unable to survive in a specific region, it is because it should not be grown there. “They should, hence, be allowed to die and be replaced,” says Eldho.

Irrigation for the farm

The land receives a considerable amount of rainfall each month. This reduces the need for artificial irrigation to a great extent. “We have water catchments designed to capture rain water and terraced slopes to let more water sink into the ground.” However, the most amazing form of hydration, says Blaise, is carried out by the plants themselves. “The plants absorb the mist and dew in the night and stores them.”

‘Pests are true owners’
“What we call pests are just its true owners coming for their lunch,” says Blaise, adding, “Birds, beetles, fungus and insects are a few attacking agents. When you grow fruits, there will be a few birds and animals...but not many that could destroy a whole farm. We believe that some of the produce belong to these friends of ours too.” As for weed, they help in retaining moisture in the soil.

‘Eat only what you need’

Eldho does not harvest all the yield for humans, instead leaves some for other species. “We believe that we should just eat what we need and leave the rest, in its natural form, for birds and animals so that they can find food and visit the place more often.” Going by saying the film franchise Star Trek, “To observe and to learn, not to interfere”, he grows the food that these species can feed on. “There is nothing more amazing than to watch these splendid creations of nature in action.”

‘Community is the greatest source’

He uses nursery suppliers based in and out of Kerala. “We usually list out a set of plants that we have researched and found fit for the area and place an order. The plants are sourced from around the world by experts and are delivered here,” says Blaise. However, he adds, the greatest sources are people from the community themselves. “When one of us find a fruit tasty, we take its seeds and sow it in our land. This is one of our major activity when we travel around the world. Other people can also send us seeds. We also provide seeds and saplings that people ask and are available with us.” Eldho says that he does not consider it as a farm but a community where all species co-exist. “We have been joining hands with like-minded individuals and building up the area as a community which develops, supports and lives within this ecosystem,” he says adding, “We hope that one day the entire world will identify and relate to the need for us to build a global habitat for all species to co-exist.”

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