Its the Final Countdown....

I've been trying to write a blog post to sum up my experience in India for about the past hour. After writing and deleting and making my way through an entire pot of tea I have come to the conclusion that this is impossible to do. It may be my laziness or my lack of clear thinking after all that caffeine, but I also just don't think its necessary. One thing I do have to admit is that India was not an easy place to travel. This is part of what I loved about the country, but also what I hated. Cultural differences and lack of efficiency in the most basic processes in India made me quite excited to come home. The amazing food, cheap marketplaces, and the most absolutely ridiculous transportation circumstances (think a cow on a motorbike, flying three feet in the air on the back of a bus, and fitting nine people in a three-man vehicle) made up for the frustrating times. Truth be told, I have no plans to go back anytime soon.

Even at a farm run by a non-profit created by activist Vandana Shiva things were not quite as I expected them to be. While no one can be perfect some things on the farm weren't run with the same policies I have heard come out of Vandana Shiva's mouth. The "Chemical-Free Zone" of Bija Vidyapeeth used gallons of turpentine to paint our living areas and brought in food from unknown locations for our meals rather than using what was grown on the farm. I don't feel its necessary to disclose my entire opinion of the place in case anyone else is looking to travel there themselves. There are a few things I would have done differently knowing what I know now, though. First, I would have been fluent in Hindi. Second, I would have showed up for a year or two with a more practical project that could benefit the farm. Finally, if I had no project, I only would have come for a course then traveled to other farms that could have used my help. Running a non-profit in India can't be easy and I think Bija Vidyapeeth is really trying to do the best that they possibly can do. However, if I were them I would work out a few logistical areas and communication issues before inviting too many more people to the farm.

However, I would not trade all the people I met on the farm for anything. Of course, this was what I got most out of the experience. Not only the people who worked on the farm but those traveling through truly made the experience for me. I met storytellers, students, job quitters, soil scientists, green builders, farmers, Italians, yogis, hippies, politicians, artists, travelers, architects, activists, doctors, musicians, permaculturalists, entrepreneurs, and chefs and learned something from each and every one of them.

There... I knew if I just started writing it would come out. But of course there is always more to say....

Next up! Chapter 2: I have been back in Montana for nearly two weeks skiing, settling into my new home, and starting my final year of grad school in Missoula. My new home in Missoula is at the FLAT (Forum for Living with Appropriate Technology) where I will take on projects to demonstrate sustainable living with other students. I am quite excited for this opportunity and look forward to the projects we come up with. I plan to focus my time on projects for the garden and ways to get the local community more involved. As projects come up I would like to continue to share my experiences and will plan to add to this blog. Thanks for following me on the first part of my journey!

The height of intern season at Bija Vidyapeeth.

The cutest old man chef I know! Prem ji

Bonds are quick when living on a farm in India!

Goa, Going, Gone!

Yes, I am back in the United States, but I do feel a few wrap up blog posts are in order. Before trying to sum up this experience, let me first share some pictures from my last 'hurrah!' in Goa! Sick of taking ice cold bucket showers and waiting until lunchtime to feel our hands again, a few interns and I decided it was about time to head south and soak up some sunshine. Traveling to Goa was somewhat how I would imagine traveling to Puerto Vallarta for Spring Break. Hookahs, larger than life whiskey bottles, and men wearing short shorts were a few highlights of the nearly 30-hour train ride it took to get there.

Like many Indians of the North told us, Goa was actually a completely different country. Excessive Christmas decorations, baked goods, and the lack of conservative dress actually made it feel like I was already back in the US. Our group of seven equipped with scooters spent time driving up and down the coast visiting spice plantations, old Goa, and testing out the different beaches of the area. The laid-back lifestyle provided for a very fun and relaxing end to the trip.

A little traditional Goa mixed with traditional India.

Fish curry - 80 cents!

Our first mode of transportation - bicycles! Rode them all the way to, and even on the beach!

My favorite spice vendor in North Goa! Thanks for the garlic ginger curry powder!

Hiked down to our very own beach in south Goa.

The smell of fish in the south replaced the smell of garbage in the north.

Peppercorns growing at the spice plantation.

My ride!

Christmas was everywhere!

Seed Saving with Negi ji

I nearly forgot one of the most important workshops at Navdanya: Seed Saving! Negi ji, who has been with Navdanya for all 25 years took time during one of his visits to sit down and share the basics of seed saving practices at Bija Vidyapeeth. Even at the farm they have made mistakes and Negi ji was happy to share with us all the methods tried so that we may learn from their mistakes.

Seed saving containers at Bija Vidyapeeth have ranged from plastic to tin drums to bamboo baskets. Negi ji shared with us that the bamboo baskets - plastered with a mixture of cow dung, urine, and rice husks - provide the best environment for keep seeds. Plastic containers and tin drums allowed moisture inside leading to disease and rot of the seeds. In the plastered bamboo baskets Bija Vidyapeeth was able to keep seeds for up to 3 years with still a 95% germination rate. He also told us that an ancient seed saving practice in India is to place seeds inside an empty gourd and seal with cow dung.

The most important thing when saving seeds is to ensure the seeds stay dry. The seed bank at Bija Vidyapeeth was also built with moisture control in mind. No cement was used in the construction of the seed bank. Instead, the walls are reinforced with cow dung and urine. For large quantities of seed (such as rice and grains) that will be saved in large containers, these containers should be kept at least 8" off the ground by bricks or wood. These seeds should be stored in the container in layers to deter pests. Negi ji recommended to layer the seed, then the husk, seed, husk, etc., then place some chilies in the top, and finally add a layer of cow dung. Seeds can also be hung from the ceiling. Millet and radish seeds are hung from the ceiling in the Bija Vidyapeeth Seed Bank. And that's seed saving basics in a... seed shell!

Inside the Bija Vidyapeeth Seed Bank.

Negi ji - his shirt reads, "Trust Me, I'm a Farmer"