By: Rama Lakshman Das
Chant, Chant, Chant ………… Plant, plant, Plant…………………
Bh.Prasad Prabhu (whose son studying at SMIS) visited IDVM-India Secretariat office located in chakra building at Mayapur to inquire about the possibility to teach students at SMIS about organic farming and cow care. I said I need to discuss few things with school principal so after a couple of days, he organized a meeting with Ajaya Mathaji (SMIS principal). Prasad Prabhu and I went to school, Mathaji received us cordially and as we started our discussion she mentioned that IDVM-India will organize some courses on farming. After initial discussions, she was happy and extended full support to organize these classes. She wanted to reintroduce self-sufficiency classes at the school. She also expressed her future plans to keep a few cows, take care of them and serve them during the day at the campus. This message was shared with H.H.R.P.Bhakti Raghava Swami, who is the co-minister of IDVM-India and the E.C. His Holiness encouraged and appreciated this idea and suggested the organization of Go–puja on every Purnima day. This time Vishnurata Prabhu joined me in meeting the principal to share the good news. She was very happy and during our conversation, she shared her childhood experiences as her father was serving in Indian army in many military camps where he was posted. He served at Dairy farm at Military camps. After many years, again she is getting an opportunity to serve mother cow in the Holy Dham Mayapur. This time, Ajaya Mathaji introduced us to Harinam Prabhu, who teaches at the school and also takes care of boys section. After some discussion, Harinam Prabhu said that 31 st December is a holiday for the school, but he will invite boys for the short courses and practical seva in gardening. As promised he turned up with few enthusiastic boys at 10 AM on that day. We collected tools from the school, the plan was to prepare the field to grow some vegetables.
After briefly explaining the preparation of land and plantation methods, we immediately started the practical session. Bali, Srihari, Anantha and few other boys enthusiastically took the tools and started preparing the beds to grow vegetables. Later, we went to the campus and collected some dry biomass and small broken dry twigs to use as bedding. We followed the “PERMANENT RAISED BED” technique to prepare the land. Advantages of this technique are as follows:
1) Improved soil fertility and quality
soil physical, chemical, and biological properties
2) Improved water management
better infiltration, storage, and less evaporation
3) Reduced salinity problems
4) Reduced wind/water erosion
5) Reduced labor/fuel costs
6) Higher yields
7) Extended seasons
8) No soil compaction
We prepared two beds each 10 feet by 4 feet. Some more students joined on the 1st of January and prepared two more beds. After two days the school reopened on 3rd January and we planted four Kasava (Tapioca ) saplings, Red sak (local Bengali leafy vegetable), two varieties of beans, pumpkin, bottle guard, dhaniya ( coriander) and Cucumber.
Now we are praying that the seeds grow and we need your blessing to offer them to Panchatattva and Sri Sri Radha madhava. It’s a humble beginning and we still have a long way to go………….
