The above pictures were taken at Navdanya, an organic seed-saving farm and international education center for organic farming, founded by Dr. Vandana Shiva, located in Ramghar, northern India. The top picture is of the rice-seed field, where there are over 500 varieties of local rice seed cultivated. Navdany also has over 200 kinds of local potato seed and much much more. Seeds are given for free to local farmers, so that they don't have to purchase GMO seeds from multinational companies like Monsanto, whose plants are engeneered to not produce seeds. All the local farmer must give in return is 1.25% of the amount of seed they recieved from Navdanya from their next harvest.
Navdany is one of the places I will go go seek instruction and materials in the project I have been recently blessed to become involved with; I am helping a friend and his family develop their farm in the Garhwal province, over 7000 ft. high in the mountains, in a village called Chamba. My friend is interested adopting biodynamic farming methods to grow vegetables, cow fodder and continue cultivating the hundreds of apple and almond trees which already grow on the beautiful terraced property overlooking the Himalayas. The project, which includes the farm, is going to be a "living museum" of traditional Garhwali culture. In the face of globalization, local culture is under threat, and rapidly traditions are dying away. This project I have been fortunate enough to become involved in will be a place for students and scholars to observe how traditional life used to be and how it can be of benefit to people in today's world. There will be an organic restaurant, a museum of ancient manuscripts belonging to my friend, who is a member of the royal family of Garhwal, and an exhibit of traditional Garhwali painting prints. I have had the honor of desiging the exterior architecture of the building! I will help in any other ways I can to support this project dedicated to preserving the earth, traditional wisdom and culture and being a beacon of sustainability and adaptability in contemporary society.
For many years my three-fold priority in life has been combining art, education and agriculture in a way that nourishes the soul, empowers free thining and cares for the environment. That is why I have chosen to become part of this wonderful initiative, which braids together all three strands of my life path. Truly I have been blessed to make the aquaintance of the wonderful family that is starting this project, and that they are open to my ideas about biodynamics and artistic creativity. If anyone would like more information about this project, has any ideas or suggestions or wishes to make a donation to the farm/living museum at Chamba, please let me know via my email address: asrachael@yahoo.com
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| Navdanya Organic Seed-Saving Farm |
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| Seeds that can save the world from GMO monopolies |
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| A cow at Navdany Farm, used for plowing fields, and worshipped by Hindus for its life-giving milk and manure |
The above pictures were taken at Navdanya, an organic seed-saving farm and international education center for organic farming, founded by Dr. Vandana Shiva, located in Ramghar, northern India. The top picture is of the rice-seed field, where there are over 500 varieties of local rice seed cultivated. Navdany also has over 200 kinds of local potato seed and much much more. Seeds are given for free to local farmers, so that they don't have to purchase GMO seeds from multinational companies like Monsanto, whose plants are engeneered to not produce seeds. All the local farmer must give in return is 1.25% of the amount of seed they recieved from Navdanya from their next harvest.
Navdany is one of the places I will go go seek instruction and materials in the project I have been recently blessed to become involved with; I am helping a friend and his family develop their farm in the Garhwal province, over 7000 ft. high in the mountains, in a village called Chamba. My friend is interested adopting biodynamic farming methods to grow vegetables, cow fodder and continue cultivating the hundreds of apple and almond trees which already grow on the beautiful terraced property overlooking the Himalayas. The project, which includes the farm, is going to be a "living museum" of traditional Garhwali culture. In the face of globalization, local culture is under threat, and rapidly traditions are dying away. This project I have been fortunate enough to become involved in will be a place for students and scholars to observe how traditional life used to be and how it can be of benefit to people in today's world. There will be an organic restaurant, a museum of ancient manuscripts belonging to my friend, who is a member of the royal family of Garhwal, and an exhibit of traditional Garhwali painting prints. I have had the honor of desiging the exterior architecture of the building! I will help in any other ways I can to support this project dedicated to preserving the earth, traditional wisdom and culture and being a beacon of sustainability and adaptability in contemporary society.
For many years my three-fold priority in life has been combining art, education and agriculture in a way that nourishes the soul, empowers free thining and cares for the environment. That is why I have chosen to become part of this wonderful initiative, which braids together all three strands of my life path. Truly I have been blessed to make the aquaintance of the wonderful family that is starting this project, and that they are open to my ideas about biodynamics and artistic creativity. If anyone would like more information about this project, has any ideas or suggestions or wishes to make a donation to the farm/living museum at Chamba, please let me know via my email address: asrachael@yahoo.com
Hi Rachael -- I'm enjoying reading your blog. I am very interested in the seeds and farming aspect as it kind of goes along with my conservation work here at home in Wilton. I see that you visited Michelle and I saw her post -- hope she had a wonderful time, too. I'm so glad you are enjoying your trip and having such wonderful learning experiences. I want to know all about your design of the exterior of the building at the Farm, too! Stay safe. Love you!! Lynne
ReplyDeleteHey Rach,absolutely love this post on FB! This is such an awsome thing you are doing! I am uber jealous. Seed saving is huge!! We must combat those mutha f"ers at Monsant0! I am very proud of you. When you get back, I have plans for a community farming project. Getting about 10+ people together to buy some land in southern new hampshire to grow non-gmo food. The world must know how extremely important this is!! It's life and death and yet everyone in the states are too involved with bullshit. Love ya and talk to ya soon, Tom
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