Catching the juicy worm – egrets have a field day at Savista!
Savista’s annual agricultural calendar has begun. A little over three weeks into the monsoon we, like the farmers in the community around us, began our seasonal agricultural activity. This was after a year’s break during which we had let the fields lie fallow.
A section of our land has been ploughed and we have sown
- Millets (bajra and jowar),
- Three varieties each of lentils and grams/beans (moong, moth, gavaar), and
- Sesame (til).
Just enough for our own needs. In this semi-arid region of India, these are the customary rain-fed crops that require nothing more than a few occasional showers for their growth. Sown in the immediate aftermath of the first rains, they take root effortlessly, and will be ripe and ready for harvesting by the time autumn sets in (mid-October).
A Riotous Celebration of Nature
As the tractor moved, turning up the rich dark earth moistened by the rains, a riotous party erupted without warning. Dozens of birds arrived from other parts of the farm and there was much excited hopping around and chirrupping as they helped themselves to what must surely have been a big haul of juicy earthworms and other insects that had been hiding in the soil. As the tractor continued with its work, big field egrets flew in in a blaze of white and gold to join the party!
Conclusion
The start of the farming season at Savista brought not just the hope of a fruitful harvest, but also an unexpected and joyful gathering of nature’s creatures. Moments like these serve as a reminder of how deeply connected all forms of life are, and how every small effort to care for the earth can lead to a rich return of life.