Morning Has Broken!

Morning, the spectacular sunrise sending its spattered rays through the  branches to the green grass below like showers of light over a center stage. In the distance the screams of gibbons or 'mawas' as they are known in Malay splinting the morning air waking the surrounding forest to a new day while the birds sing from branches high up in the tall trees in the compound of the organic farm. I took a slow walk towards the fields of newly sown rice seedlings each planted in neat rows standing not four inches high above the wet muddy ground. The camera hung from my shoulder ready for any surprise that would capture my fancy along the dew covered dirt an gravel road.

The whole area looked like it is slowly waking up from the night's slumber as the morning is broken to reveal that which I have been instrumental in keeping neat and tidy from scattered dried leaves to well well trimmed grass and hedges, newly ploughed plots and rows of beds fresh still from the being tilled yesterday. I felt elated as i watched the herons rise and land like white sheets of paper carried by the wind and the ducks waddling down the road towards their feeding ground, where did they sleep last night i wonder and do they have eggs laying somewhere?

This is the SRI LOVELY Organic Farm, a place that is slowly growing into a center for the research for organically cultivated rice and at the same time striving to become an Eco Tourism site for those who are into naturally cultivated crops or fruits and vegetables along with the main crop of rice.

 These plots of rice patches were left idle by their respective owners and later a coorporative was formed including all the land owners to lease these lands and get them to be productive with organically grown crops and this was about three years ago. The idea of this venture was spearheaded by the  Major ex- Military or Captain ex-sea man as he was both at sometime or other. I call him Capt for short and his name is Zakaria.

Today with a handful of staff members the farm is slowly getting the attention of many including international concerns that promotes organically grown food produce. However the support of locals and neighbors including those who formerly owns these plot of lands is not encouraging as is common with any Malay ventures, there will always be those who would raise doubts among participating members when their interest is not met especially in the monetary form. They insist upon quick returns for their efforts or would rather see themselves in the leading roles or no deal. As far as i can see, Malays have a poor work habit and lack commitment when it comes to performances in the field and so the couple you see making it happen in the field are from Indonesia.