DQ Farm (est. 1991)

Captain (Rtd) Zaman aka Eudrillus made a surprise visit with some officers from Mardi.

Captain Zaman with the crew-cut seeping coconut water and Zul and others from Mardi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Captain Zaman asked about the keyhole raised beds.  Well, here they are and they keep on expanding....

 

 

 

 

And what is organic fruit farming without weaver ants or kerangga.  Here, they are used to get  rid of termites infesting a tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And our latest project, designing a proper home for stingless bees of which now, we have discovered, we have four species in the farm.

Temporary home.  The bees made this sail-like canvas to protect themselves from ants.

This is the design we are working on now as a permanent home for the bees; design from Utrecht University, Tobago.

 

  

Curcuma mangga is also known as white turmeric.  It tastes like a mango, hence the name 'mangga'. 

 

 

 

The rhizome with skin and without.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Researchers have found anti-tumour activities from extracts of the rhizomes.  On a personal basis, we have found it to have strong anti-inflammatory effect and we have incorporated it into our diet on a regular basis, either as a ulam or salad, or as a drink.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The plant can reach about 5 feet high.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Close up of the leaf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the farm, we gather the soil around the roots and rhizome and make a foliar spray to combat fungal  infections on plants.

 

Take one part soil, one part molasses, and 4 parts water and aerate vigorously for 10  hours. 

 

 

Use twice a week on plants with signs of fungal attacks.

 

We failed with the Italian bees.  They seem to invite mites and worse, they all fall prey to various birds, especially the swifts.

We are now keeping local honey bees.  However, they are more aggressive and the stings are very painful. 

Now, we have found stingless bees in the farm in many places and are now trying to domesticate them.  There are at least three species that we have seen so far, producing a very rich aromatic honey.

These are the size of gnats and produce a dark colored very sweet honey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below are red colored stingless bees which are the size of flies.  They produce copious amounts of propolis.

 

The bees quickly seal up the entrance of the box with propolis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The transferred bees are quickly acclimatising themselves to their new homes; coconut shells.

 

 

 

 

 

 

These bees are ideal for urban homes.  They are stingless and produce better quality honey than the commercial honey that we have become used to.

 

 

 

 

Click on the pics for close-ups