By: HG Hari Kirtan Das
This is one of the important courses in Varnashrama college. Srila Prabhupada emphasised that growing one’s own food is one of the important activity in creating Varnashrama communities.
Few quotes from Srila Prabhupada:
“So let us try to make an attempt to organize a New Vrindavan scheme, and I shall request all my students to develop this idea and show a good example to this Western part of the world where people are always engaged in ugra-karma, asuric-karma.”
“Everyone has to earn his livelihood by agriculture,..”
“Every man must possess a piece of land…”
“The first necessity is that you should be self-sufficient. That is God’s arrangement.”
“There are so many lands. Come here and grow food. Grow fruit. That is… That is the desire of Krishna. Annad bhavanti bhutani. Produce food and eat insufficiently, be strong, and chant Hare Krishna. That is our philosophy.”
Thus inspired by Srila Prabhupada’s words this course was designed to give few Vedic insights in the field of agriculture and also to make the whole activity of growing food spiritual, beginning from choosing seeds, tilling the land to harvest, storage and offering to Lord Krishna, which otherwise may seem to be material activity. And thus we chose to name the course ‘Holistic Agriculture’.
The course included both theory to understand the logic and reasons to revive traditional agriculture practices and also practical activity to help the students gain some hands-on experience.
Of course, the theory part outlined subjects on the study on soil nature, seed selection, water resources, different stages in agriculture, different traditional and contemporary agriculture practices, green revolution turned to be the brown revolution, for evils of agriculture, etc.
And the practical activity included soil test, a look at traditional water lifting devices, ploughing the field, preparing natural fertilizers, pesticides, composting and mulching, etc.
HG Giriraj Prabhu, an experienced farmer and person who is involved in SSKBK project from its begging days explaining the traditional agriculture practices. Personally guiding them in every activity.
HG Sidda Balaram Prabhu and Bhakta Kshirodh did wonderful service of cooking during our Varnashrama collage.
> Morning 7: 45- Kashyap ( herbal tea derived from our land ) & few snacks
> 9: 00am- breakfast
> 3: 00pm- lunch
> 7: 30pm- light dinner
