Aranya Eco Village an Organic farm near Anchetti forest.

Courtesy: https://www.facebook.com/tuar6/ Rajnish Kumar (Founder of Aranya Eco Village)

     I come from a farming family near Bihar(raja rajnish kumar). I left my studies in Delhi in 2008 to broaden my horizons at the Shikshantar Institute in Udaipur. here I learned many things from film making to water conservation. I joined the Environmental Leadership Programme at Sadhana Forest in Auroville I learnt about vegan cooking, waste material with creating interesting cool things like wallet , building house, Permaculture design , Drip watering, eco toilets, land scape designing, English speaking and writing, 3 years later began to realise I wanted to be an organic farmer.

     Our Eco Village was established 3.5 years ago following the principles of permaculture design. It is a home to many animals from Buffalo to Chickens. Our main crop is millet, but we grow a variety of fruit and vegetables and have many Eco building projects to complete. Sustainability and working in harmony with nature and each other is at the core of everything we do.

    There is a close relationship between our project and another Organic farm which also welcomes volunteers. My family are all the creatures great and small on the farm. The mud house can house a large group or a family. Tents are also available, although volunteers may wish to bring their own. Blankets and some bedding can be provided but volunteers are asked to bring sheets. Meals will be provided following the local cuisine.

    The farm is situated near the Elephant reserve at Anchetti forest in the beautiful, indigenous forest, nearby is a quiet ashram. The Krishnagiri region has a museum, ancient forts and temples. Every year the Krishnagiri Dam and reservoir attract many tourists.

    Volunteers are welcome to be at home on the farm, be creative and be part of a community.
Permaculture design, Natural farming, resort designing, local culture, cooking. Big scale farming. Compost making, natural fertilizer making, mud house building designing, ( cob, rammed earth, Earthship, earth bag House, )Seed cultivating. Walking in forest forest fruits collecting, playing with kids in Village teaching English,

Courtesy: https://www.facebook.com/tuar6/
For any complaints please write to abcdfarming@gmail.com or comment below..!

View our sitemap

Read More

A 13 year old Backyard Farmer - Know more

*courtesy Gopi Devarajan (Facebook)

Last Friday veg market at the OFM (www.ofmtn.in) , something special happened. Siva, a small kid who is in 7th standard came to ofm along with his mother (who is a regular customer of ofm). His mom told me something which surprised me, she said that siva is interested in growing plants and he is aspiring to be a farmer !!! ( did you hear that). They started as a consumer at one of the OFM outlets in thuraipakkam, near Siva’s house.

A hobby became his passion. yes, siva is growing keerai in the front yard of his home. In a small piece of land adjoining his house he grows various varieties of greens. He brought about 35 bunches of red amaranthus (thandukeerai) and arakkeerai that he harvested that morning. His mom asked OFM if siva could sell the greens at the OFM veggie Bazar. (Arun of ainthinai, the OFM outlet at OMR have visited the place already for inspection and assured the organicity). So, OFM allocated a separate section for the kid and made him to sell his own greens directly to the customers just to encourage him. We made an announcement about the kid to all our customers.

oh boy, he was so happy that all his greens got sold in 30 mins of time. Of course his mom was so proud of his boy selling greens to customers...what more you can ask for..
He promised me that he would take more lessons from the experts and will bring more varieties as well...i was awestruck by his passion...it was such a wonderful sight and inspiring...
Team, pls encourage such enthusiastic kids in your circle whenever you get a chance. or even better, create one..:)

View our sitemap

Read More

Once A Chartered Accountant, She Left Her Corporate Job To Pursue Organic Farming & Help Farmers

Courtesy: Logical Indian

“Despite primary agricultural produce being essential for the livelihood of every person, it doesn’t yield profits for the farmer. Why does this happen?” questions Vishala, a chartered accountant with the determination to repair the condition of the farming sector.
Vishala (AKA Vishalakshi Padmanabhan) had been working in the corporate sector for four years before she decided to take a different path – one which aligns her work with her passion. She identified that the agricultural sector of our country needed an overhaul – a system which uplifts the farmers and benefits the consumers as well.

---

---

“We keep hearing news about farmer suicides due to financial incapacity or lack of irrigation facilities. When somebody is actually growing or producing something which we require on a daily basis while struggling to meet their own ends (and the fact that their situation is worsening), this implies that a huge gap exists somewhere which needs to be filled at the earliest. We are not working together, hence the farmers’ troubles are not decreasing,” said Vishala while speaking to The Logical Indian.
This is when Vishala came up with a system – an organic farming collective which would benefit all the stakeholders involved – the farmers, the consumers, and the environment.

---

The Buffalo Back collective

Buffalo Back, is a farming collective which aligns the needs of the urban with the traditional knowledge of the rural.
“It is a platform where people take ownership of what they do – there is no hierarchy and each individual maintains the sustainability standards of the collective,” says Vishala.
With 9 years of experience in farming, Vishala works out of her farm in Bannerghatta forest, 40 km from Bengaluru, Karnataka. The collective has no investors and functions with the help of a land initially purchased in Bannerghatta forest.

“We first need to entirely focus on basic primary food that everyone needs. We are not even thinking of processed food right now. The idea behind Buffalo Back is that food everywhere should be safe for anyone who consumes it, irrespective of whether they are rich or poor – it is an individual’s right. By safe food I mean food that is wholesome and nutritious.”

In this regard, the Buffalo Back works with farmers on a cooperative or a self-help format, depending on the situation of a particular village. The business model is such that each person is accountable for their work throughout the production and distribution process. Each person takes ownership of their job.
For instance, the village where Vishala farms has only sixteen families. Since it is located in the elephant corridor, there is not much scope of agriculture. But the women of the village work in self-help groups where they farm in their backyards.

---

Photo: Kishore

---

Sometimes, small NGOs also offer help. All groups involved at any stage in the process are familiar with the idea of safe food.
The processing is done in such a way that the output is high in nutrients, with no depletion of resources in the process.
“We complete the cycle by educating the farmers about prevention of waste, as half the food in the world is wasted during production. We have created a model where everything is sustainable, local and waste-free,” said Vishala.

---

---

How does Buffalo Back ensure waste-free agriculture?

Since Vishala’s village is located in the elephant corridor, the women mainly grow greens in their backyards as cash crops would be destroyed in elephant raids.
To ensure that crops are not damaged, the women chiefly grow a variety of native greens as they are sturdy and remain fresh for at least two days after harvesting. Additionally, minimal wastage is ensured by using the damaged vegetation for purposes other than consumption. For instance, the plant ‘Bringraj’, is used to make hair oil when its leaves are damaged. 

---

Photo: Surabhi Nadig

---

This is a continuous process as farmers are educated at every step. Depending on the condition of a particular village, different waste-free farming techniques are implemented.

---

Targeting the urban sector

As the lifestyle of the urban population is largely different from that of their rural counterpart and they have a cosmopolitan outlook, they do not consume traditional food easily. Buffalo Back has innovated ways to suit the produce according to urban needs.
For instance, the vegetable ‘drumstick’ is not popular in urban areas. Farmers frequently sell it at a low cost to annul the stock. However, the collective came up with the idea of an alternative use of drumsticks where the vegetable can be harvested at a specific time, split open and the seeds can be sun-dried to make them pop similar to popcorn. With the help of a simple procedure and no use of additives, healthy food is produced for the consumption of urbanites.
Since the past three months, Buffalo Back has been aggressively targeting the urban market. After 5 years of groundwork, planning and understanding, its produce is directly sold to the market by linking the collective to it.

---

Photo: Surabhi Nadig

---

However, a large portion of the consumers still remains ignorant of the benefits of safe food. In this regard, the primary focus of Buffalo Back is ‘Consumer Awareness’.
“Since the past one month, the weather of Bangalore has fluctuated from hot to unbearable. This is the right time to educate people on the importance of sustainability”, said Vishala.
The collective has various campaigns to make people aware of the smallest actions that can cause a major change in their lifestyles while benefiting the environment.

---

The ‘Roots to Grains’ campaign

“In today’s world, we are bombarded with global information and people need to be educated of the various kinds of safe food they can grow in their own backyards,” said Vishala.

Under the campaign ‘Roots to Grains’, suggested by Anil Annaiah, the collective is making people aware of traditional grains — educating them about their roots.

---

---

“There is a lot of food available in the ground, however, people remain unaware of its existence. Such food is much more healthy and nutritious than the super food we are so accustomed to consuming”, says Vishala.
Identifying that human beings have a DNA-level connection with the food around them, Vishala realised that people need to be made aware of its benefits. The Roots to Grains campaign works in this regard.

---

Zero use of plastic from production to distribution

As a replacement for plastic Buffalo Back only uses gunny bags to store its produce. All sale is also concluded in handmade cane baskets, cloth bags, pouches, glass bottles and paper bags, all of which are returned after delivery.

---

Photo: Ananya Mehta 

“The muri (puffed rice) we had stored in gunny bags was getting softer. We got the feedback from everyone to use plastic containers to prevent moisture from spoiling it. But we didn’t want to use plastic, and steel containers are expensive. Such problems are common when we aim to achieve sustainability. However, the public has been greatly supportive to our cause. Just last week, I sent out a mail to everybody saying that we needed storage containers and we were able to procure 22 big containers without any investment of our own,” said Vishala.

View our sitemap

Read More

Organic Farms in and around Bangalore to Volunteer or Intern

Those who like to spend weekends volunteering for farmers and who like to learn organic farming to setup their own farm, Here are the few farms where you can volunteer and learn organic farming in and around bangalore.

Annadana soil and seed savers network

                               
Annadana is actively engaged in empowering and safeguarding the interest of marginal farmers & society by promoting sustainable organic farming.You will be training hands on with our master teachers and lend support in all areas of our operation be it from management to technical but under guidance. Please note: we are not funded by any government nor any private organisation as we sustain our efforts on the merit of our time tested knowledge acquired over 14 years. Most of our interns, volunteers & wwoofers are self funded. Since we are based in a metro it is quite expensive, your contribution will go towards empowering more farmers to join in to revive the dying skill in seed conservation

Vanashree farms - Marasarahalli

Organically nurtured since 2005, this 8 acre farm, only 50km outside Bangalore, was started by IT professional-turned-farmer Srikanth. As with most institutions that strive to be self-sufficient, their dependency on the grid is minimal, with solar-based lighting and gobar gas fuel for cooking. Cows, ducks and chickens are reared on property. On the farm, you can learn all about organic and natural farming by actually getting your hands dirty. Plus, pick up tips on tree and plant identification before bird watching for some relaxation.

Sukrushi farm-Nelamangala

An eco-resort and organic farm, this once barren land has grown lush in the last 15 years. If you want to volunteer long term, then accommodation is free but you are part of the crew and will have to work full time on the farm. There are other options too, and usually, owner Jayram sees several willing helpers every week coming down to get their hands dirty and reconnect with the soil. Produce is delivered to their own restaurant/hotel ensuring locally-sourced, quality product. The eco-resort also supports the village community via responsibly maintained tourism.

Navadharshan-Thally road, Hosur

Bordering the Thally reserve forest, this farm only encourages serious volunteers, not the average tourist. Partap Aggarwal, one of the founders, even brought out the Indian edition of the Fukuoka manual ‘One Straw Revolution’. Dependent purely on solar power, their eco-friendly lodging isn’t too extensive and food is basic vegetarian.  You can choose to help out in a number of different things like eco-restoration or organic farming. With the trust formed way back in 1990, you can be assured of picking up some effective techniques and processes.

Hamsah Organic farm - Sarjapur road

                                                                
A slice of rural life well within city limits, this 5 acre farm run by John Fennessy, is an avid spot for a weekend volunteering stint. Get to use a tiller, walk some cows and cook some kale bajjis! Make sure you attend the seasonal mango harvest. There are constantly new things being sown, grown and reaped over here, making it a lively and interactive space to truly regain your lost roots. Visitors can also head down on weekends to pick up an assortment of interesting produce they have growing there, from zucchini and lettuce, to fresh rosemary and passion fruit!

                                                                
Swayyam - Yelachetti


A non-profit entity registered in 2011 and currently overseen by Malvikaa Solanki,  the farm encourages permaculture techniques and sustainable concepts such as ‘eat your yard’, a Texan initiative on edible landscaping. It is located almost at the borders of 3 states –Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerela. A minimum stay of 2 weeks is necessary to understand the vibes of the area, and basic food comes at a nominal cost of Rs. 250/day in order to cover grocery, cooking, and other farm expenses. They also have a project called Rangaayana, en effort to revive music, dance and folk traditions. situated at Yelachatti Village, Hangala Hobli, Mangala Village road, Gundlupet Taluk, Karnataka 571111. INDIA

You too have your farm near bangalore, Then write to us or comment here we will reach you.
Facebook page: http://facebook.com/abcdfarming/

View our sitemap

Read More

Infosys Software Engineer to a Farmer - Know more

Courtesy: Better India

    Shankar Kotian from Moodu-Konaje village near Moodbidre in Karnataka says “I was heading a team of 10 people in Infosys. After you reach a certain position in IT, there is not much to learn. There are no challenges. You commute for 3-4 hours everyday. You work mechanically and that’s it. I had reached a saturation point where I was not enjoying anything even though I had everything,” 



Shankar left his job in 2012 after working for Infosys for 15 years in India and abroad, and opted to become a farmer. Shankar had no ancestral land and he started by buying 2 acres of land in Moodbidre. He started planning for this day way back in 2006-07 and planted rubber plants in the first 2 acres.

After research of about 6 years, Shankar was determined to begin natural farming, which was based on the findings of PadmShri Subhash Palekar, and a dairy farm with all the modern amenities to supply hygienic milk to his consumers. In 2011, Shankar bought 8 acres of barren land near a water source in Moodu-Konaje village to start his dairy farm.

In 2012, Shankar quit his job and started building a house first in his newly acquired land to stay and start his new venture. A house was much needed as back in 2012, his farm was not connected to the main road. It was a 3 km muddy road, which made it difficult to reach the farm everyday to work. Once the house was built, he bought organic manure from nearby farmers and grew grass in his land.



Once there was enough grass, he bought the cows. He spent almost three years learning as he had no prior agricultural experience.

“My knowledge was theoretical till I actually started farming and so initially there were lot of challenges,” Shankar said.

Now, Shankar has 40 cows in his dairy farm and supplies 180 litres of milk everyday to KMF – Nandini (Karnataka Co-operative Milk Producer’s Federation Ltd).

The Dairy farm designed by Shankar

The dairy farm is designed and constructed based on the industry best practices followed in western countries, but also suiting local conditions.

Some of the features are:

1. Cubicles between animals to ensure living space for each animal
2. Neck rail and separators in feeding alley so that a given cow eats only the ration that it is supposed to, but not that of the adjacent cow
3. Separate sheds for cows and heifers/calves
4. Rubber mats as bedding for cow comfort
5. Free-stall design with plenty of space outside the shed so that cows can roam around
6. Milking parlour system for clean and hygienic milking (in-progress)

 

Bio Gas Plant – Another source of saving and earning

                                    
   He has also set up a biogas plant of 25 cubic meter, which runs with the dung produced from these 40 cows. Shankar has made a floating drum design for the biogas, but with a twist: the drum is not immersed in the slurry, instead a layer of water keeps it afloat. This concept is more hygienic. There are separate tanks for thick slurry and washed water. The gas produced from this plant is used for cooking and heating water.

   The slurry produced from the biogas plant is very nutritious for the soil and is odorless. Shankar uses this as a fertilizer for the 25-acre land that he has bought gradually in the past few years. The slurry is also sold to the nearby areca nut farmers using a tanker and pipes. This method is less labour-intensive for buyers and the slurry is more nutrient than handling solid farm yard manure.

He has also done 5 acres Napier grass plantation to feed the cows with fresh grass. The farm landscape has a hilltop, which houses the cow shed, and the sloping land has the Napier Grass plantation. This allows the flow of slurry from cow shed to Napier Grass plantation by gravity without using electrical pumping system.

                                     shankars farm.

View our sitemap

Read More