The post The seed of organic future can be spread appeared first on khetibazaar.

The post Vandana Shiva appeared first on khetibazaar.

Going out of Kathmandu to our family farm in Gundu always gets me excited. The fresh air, the simple lifestyle of the community, and getting to work with the soil lures me to visit the farm everyday.

It takes approximately an hour to walk down from Suryavinayak to Gundu farm. I cannot help but smile when I pass the people as they work endlessly in the farm throughout the day. There are chickens, goats, cows, dogs, all mingling with the life around. As I walk along the narrow muddy path to the farm numerous bird species can be seen along the way such as the magpie robin, grey backed shrike, and some egrets. The tile and hay thatched roofs on the houses blend perfectly with the forested and the agricultural land.

  View from the Gundu Farm-house

An avid promoter of organic farming, my family has been involved in farming in the area for over a decade. The process has been rewarding as we are trying to challenge the existing commercial farming system that is dedicated towards mass production of food while poisoning the soil, the existing ecosystem and ultimately destroying our health. There is no more a need to wait for different seasonal vegetables. We have forgotten the seasons and the crops that come with it. Commercial systems are slowly destroying the culture and the pattern of crops and seasons that have been a part of our farming system. I want to therefore make more of a pictorial diary with some descriptions on seasons and crops.

What’s growing  in the month of falgun (february)?

I mean the sun is getting stronger each day and the temperature is rising, for sure the growing months are here. In addition the winter rain this month for few days has helped the soil and the crop. Sure looks great now.The first thing we see are lots of bare land that has been freshly ploughed and has been ready for planting and some have already been planted.

Vegetables

Peas and cabbage are some of the vegetables that were cultivated in the winter and are being harvested at the moment. Varities of spinach such as Raya ko saag, tori ko saag, palango ani chamsur are in abundance in the farm. They are delicious to cook simply with ghyu ko Bhutan and enjoy it with rice in the warm sunshine and the view of the mountains.

As these green vegetables are being harvested we have already prepared seedlings to be planted. Local varieties of pumpkins, beans, coriander, carrots are ready to set their roots in the ground.

                                 Pumpkin and cucumber seedlings ready to be planted                          

 Potatoes are on the ground

Fruits

Aaru  and aaru-bakhara (plums varities) are in flower everywhere. The blossom adds a beautiful delight in the farm. In a few months the flowers will give way to some delicious summer treat. We will wait for it. Enjoying the flowers for now!

Fungi: Shitake mushroom

In many parts of Asia, Shitake mushroom stands as a symbol of longevity due to their health-promoting properties. Shitake mushroom has been used I China for more than 6,000 years inthe form of medicine. We have inoculated our some trees of the species Alnus nepalensis with Shitake mushroom. It took a year for the mushroom to grow and now will continue the fungi growth for the next coming 5 years.

Shitake growing in the farm-its exciting

Grains and oil

Wheat

Wheat is still in its early stages while the mustard seeds are ready and soon will be ground to prepare local mustard oil. The value of mustard oil needs to be highlighted. A quick search made me realise that it has many medicinal properties and has been regarded highly both in Ayurveda and in current mainstream medicine. Look out for the fresh mustard oil this season for cooking and as massage oil.

Mustard seeds

Cooking lunch

Yum daal bhat!!!

Preparing lunch while enjoying the great view and eating out in the balcony. It’s a great joy to grow, pick, feel the earth and then finally supplement oneself with the simple food that comes with great company of wonderful people around. Great life, good health and happiness-all in all a complete bliss!

The post Seasons and crops!!! appeared first on khetibazaar.

The post Know your source!!! appeared first on khetibazaar.

PERMAnent CULTURE, as a concept was originally coined in the mid-seventies by two Australians, David Holmgren and Bill Mollison.This culture follows the NATURES PATTERNS to create SUSTAINABLE HUMAN HABITATS. It is basically a land use and community building movement that is striving for a harmonious integration of human dwellings, microclimate, plants, animals, soils and water and the major aspect of this culture is basically the relationship among all these elements. Permaculture has a great value as it can be used as a movement to impede the current agriculture trend that isolates us humans with nature and its elements.

I travelled for a 10 day course in Hasera about 40 km east of Kathmandu for a permaculture course. My work in organic farming has interested me to  learn more about working not only to grow food but to grow food while also creating life in the working elements of nature such as the soil, water, air, birds, animals and all the insects that are around while working in the field.

The few days spent and learnt have been valuable. It is not just while working with the earth that we think about bringing the concept of organic but I realised that relationships we build around socially need to be equally a part of this concept. The greatest lesson has been “ change the way I see things”. I saw that while we work with nature, there is no such thing as good or bad. Everything is serving its purpose. Even the very insects we call as pests and we want to get rid of are all playing their part. So killing pests is not a way but working with them to help the farm is important. This brought into an interesting principle of Permaculture which says, “ to see problems as solutions”. I was amazed how this brings a completely different working pattern in the field. I have realised that there are more options rather then just killing the pests.

As part of my reading and overall understanding I understand that Permaculture is based onthe ethics of “living as part of a larger community”- one that sets itself outside of individualism. We are a part of a bigger picture and it is important to always understand that what we choose will always have an affect in the greater community that we share this planet with. So this culture is based on a holistic value rather than that of individualism and indifference.

Some aspects that I would like to share with everyone:

• Take time to take care of the earth (all living and non living things) maybe look at the sunrise and appreciate or go plant something and wait and watch overtime as things happen to it.
• Take care of the people around you- help promote self- reliance and community responsibility.
• Give away the extras- you don’t need too much. Give away your time, labour, money, and energy to achieve the aims of earth care and people care.

The post Permaculture appeared first on khetibazaar.

“Lovely ladies selling their organic produce”

We attended an opening of the organic outlet point in Hasera on March 30th 2013. This was a great effort from a women’s group called “Saag Paat” where about 30 women are actively involved in the group. After 12 years of effort and dedication the womens group have now finally started a weekly organic market. The women are full of enthusiasm and express their interest to continue growing organic. They  are hopeful and expect to influence more women from their work and eventually influence other farmers in the area to convert their land into organic. Their beautiful smiles and their willingness to show a successful organic way needs to be appreciated. Kheti Bazaar is very much excited to work with the “Saag Paat” group and market their product. We want more people to come and support their work.

There was much variety of products on the table- such as potatoes, onions, nettle, lemons, varities of spinach, maize flour, maize grits, eggs, brown rice and much more.

Saag Paat group all together

Thumbs up to the great news!!!

We want to thank “ Saag Paat samuha” for their great effort and work. We wish you luck.

The post Saag Paat Samuha- Women’s group start their first organic outlet!!! appeared first on khetibazaar.

Have you ever thought of where your “pads” go after using it. It is obvious that it is non-degradable and remains in the ground and in landfills for years. We can always avoid this by supporting the environment and at the same time providing income to local rural women. Love lady started by Claire Lin in Nepal is working with local women to produce such “eco-friendly cloth menstrual pads”.

What is a CLOTH MENSTRUAL PAD?

These are essentially washable fabric version of the current commercial disposable menstrual pad. It can be made from different fabrics such as bamboo or cotton. Such cloth pads can be used at least for 2 years and more. They are available in different varieties can be used according to your needs.

Some of the advantages of using this alternative are:

• They are more nature friendly as they can be reused for a long time and will not contribute to the landfill/ or dumping site. Once the cloth pad cannot be used it will still produce less waste as they are made out of natural materials that can be composted.
• They are cost-effective as in the long term they are less expensive in comparison to the disposable menstrual products
• This is sustainable as this can be a good source of income for the local rural women
• Avoid exposure of your most delicate parts from exposure to chemical gels and plastics
• Let your skin to breathe

Share  the common vision  for better health  of women and the earth!!!

Kheti Bazaar will be selling this soon…Please keep posted for when you can find this in the Shop

The post Eco-Pad “Cloth Menstrual Pad” appeared first on khetibazaar.

Nepal Permaculture Group experts discuss with us the possibilities of the farm 

We had visitors from Nepal Permaculture Group (NPG) in our farm. They liked the farm and we are planning on developing the area in different phases. We are excited to build, create and make a learning space for permaculture. This is possible and is exciting.

Setting the bees- happy happy bzzzzzzz

The best addition to the farm that we did was the BEES. We have brought a hive of bees of local variety called “Apis cerana” in the farm now. As we work with the bees we will learn and progress with the bees. We left at 6 am to collect the bees and after being in the car for an hour, we finally set them up in the veranda of the house. It’s a new place and new surrounding and we hope they will do well and we get delicious honey!!!

Our clean up-crew

We also organised a small clean up in the area around the farm. Plastics rule every part of Nepal and so we decided to do bits. We got help from some local residents. We have come to a big problem. What do we do with the plastics we collected? We cannot burn it- it creates more damage to the environment as the smoke is poisonous and the fine burned plastic creates more problem. What is the solution? Big question for us. We are planning to organise another clean up with the kids and women of the area and we are still trying to think of what we can do with the waste we collect? Any suggestions?

The post Gundu update: Bees, planning and cleaning up appeared first on khetibazaar.

The post Eco pads now available in the shop!!! appeared first on khetibazaar.

There are many artists in the world that have left works that are living as a model of inspiration for the generations to come. I came across such an artist during my travel to Vienna, Austria. Friedensreich Hundertwasser was an Austrian artist, one of the best known during the 20^th century. His work of art is based on the principle that “art must serve a purpose, create a long lasting values and certainly have the courage to strive for beauty in harmony with nature”. This was his mission. His exemplary work of art together with some of his architectural standing in the city of Vienna and in many parts of the world are a testament to his belief to recreate life in harmony with nature.

He talks about different layers of human body and focuses on the third layer that is the skin. He says that skin and clothes have recently undergone most change in the recent times where we are no longer in harmony with nature.

“Paradises can only be made with our own hands, with our own creativity in harmony with the free creativity if nature”.

Standing tree tenant house as designed by Hundertwasser

One of the most intriguing aspects of his work is associated with the need to change the urban homes- to make it more natural. On this basis he started a project called “Tree Tenants are the Ambassadors of the Free Forests in the City”He brings a positive hope in the vertical sterile high walls of the cities through his project.

He states the following:

• Tree tenants create oxygen
• Tree tenants improve the city climate and the well being of the dwellers. They bring the needed moisture into the desert climate of the city, reduce the dry-humid and cold-warm contrast.
• Tree tenants are like vacuum cleaners and more. They swallow the finest and poisonous dust. There is less dust in the apartment and in the street.
• Tree tenants swallow noise. They reduce the echoes of the city-noise and create quietness.
• Tree tenants protect you like curtains from the outside view and create shelter.
• Tree tenants give shadow in summer but let sunlight through in winter when the leaves have fallen.
• Butterflies and birds come back. Beauty and joy of life come back. Living quality is improved by having a piece of nature of one’s own.
• The tree tenant is a symbol of reparation towards nature which is extremely visible. We restore to nature a tiny piece of the huge territories which man has taken away from nature illegally.

Kathmandu in this time has a great need to acknowledge the philosophy  of Hundertwasser to make our city more liveable and to rebuild the city where it is possible to –walk around without the feeling of suffocation with dust; to have space for children to run around; to go sit in the quiet and lay on the grass , space for young adults to climb trees. We all deserve a city that is living with birds, butterflies, frogs and all life forms. This is our right as citizens. This is the right of the nature that has its existence well before we decided to take over.

In the right words of Hundertwasser (1991): “The tree tenant is a giver. It is a piece of nature, a piece of homeland, a piece of spontaneous vegetation in the anonymous and sterile city desert, a piece of nature which can develop without the rationalistic control of man and his technology (Hundertwasser 1991).”

Lets plant trees; lets grow gardens and work to make a liveable Kathmandu city.

The post Art that inspires– Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928-2000) appeared first on khetibazaar.