We’re exceptionally proud of our thriving ecosystem, in fact the moment you enter Shalom you will notice that we have butterflies flying around through the year, not to mention the dragon flies hovering about, we even know where they sleep at night on the farm 🙂
In the monsoon you’re sure to find the ground crawling with crabs in the night while being serenaded by frog orchestras and crickets. If you’re brave enough to switch off all the lights and sit outside on the permanent chairs, you will see fireflies too.
Apart from this we have monitor lizards and many others, a couple of snakes and a whole variety of caterpillars, birds and other flora and fauna on the farm. We do our best to keep the space as rustic and beautiful as possible, but our priority lies in keeping the ecosystem alive.
Even though we have had many snakes that are non venomnous as well as with venom, we have never had any incident of bites or issues with them. We have a deep respect for every living organism on our farm, treat them with respect to avoid any issues.
A common crow butterfly caterpillar These bunch of baby millipedes are only seen during the monsoonsSpiders create a fairy land at Shalom, when their webs get beaded drops of dewI had the joy of watching a Shikra catch and kill this lizard at the farmSun birds feed on the nectar of the pagoda flowersAn owl moth feeds on a rotting pineapple, we grow a lot of pineapples and some are left over due to late ripening, food for those that need it.If you consider your self lucky you may get to see a Bengal Monitor Lizard also known as a GorpatA bottle nose turtle popped up at the farm one day, we took it and released it in the river with good intentions!You are very likely to encounter a buff stripped keelback at our farm stay but fear not its harmless and magnificent to just watch it catch tiny frogsEver knew that frogs are carnivorous? Big guys like this Bull frog eat up multiple small ones at a go.Hairy caterpillars mean don’t touch me!These bugs are found on the vines of gourds growing mostly, plenty for all 🙂Isn’t it gorgeous? The oriental garden lizard!The caterpillar of the Parasa lepida moth, you never ever want to touch these unless you really want to feel a stinging electric feelingAnother monsoon special don’t know where they disappear after that 🙂Can you imagine this sun bird chose to build a nest on our front porch 🙂 The veiled lady, a rare mushroom at Shalom farmWild oyster mushrooms, I forage mushrooms sometimes and these are absolutely delicious fried.
