Reports

This week we setup a new home for our new Eco Village participants from Indonesia.  Bala Krishna prabhu laboriously moved the trailer using his tractor, a process that took half the day.

Our two devotees from Indonesia, Kisora Krsna prabhu and Danavir prabhu, arrived in Vancouver on Thursday June 22nd and after spending that day at the ISKCON Burnaby temple took a bus to Cache Creek where Ramanath prabhu picked them up. They were shown to their new residence, a trailer conveniently placed near the log cabin. The very next day they were helping with some of the renovations taking place in the log cabin. The renovations included taking out the old bathtub (must have weighed 200 pounds or more) and shifting the wooden stove from its the south-west of the cabin to the south-east of the cabin. By the end of the day the yajna was completed and the devotees could finally rearrange the interior to give it more of a temple atmosphere.

This past week has been a week of "measurements". We started by selecting the site for the greenhouse soon to be coming up. The greenhouse will be located to the east of the existing library building and will measure 20 by 40 feet using metal posts as the arches.  It will be a similar model to the one constructed in Ramanath's garden. We will start planting when the soil is transferred and laid out. The greenhouse will provide food for the Eco Village from March until November.  In addition to the greenhouse, we also measured out the future toolshed that will be located to the immediate west of the same library building.

Now that the water line and hydrants are in place, we can easily irrigate our fruit orchard.  A drip system is in place using a barrel.  The barrel is filled with water and it drains slowly to the drip line below.  We have also planted some poplar trees as a wind block.  As well, the first of the strawberries have been planted.  The next stage of farm infrastructure building is to prepare the soil for the future greenhouse. 

One of the most basic and vital utilities needed for an individual and community is water. To provide for the effective development of our Vedic Eco Village we had envisioned adding a new waterline that would have to cover 3500 feet.  Just for the materials, a total of 1500 feet of two inch and 2000 feet of one inch pipes had to be ordered, along with seven hydrants and various brass fittings for the connections, an initial investment over $ 6,000. So not a simple undertaking.

Our weekly summary of activities begins!  We have mapped out and measured the boundaries of our Vedic Eco Village and selected 4 acres of land facing east for the Gurukula Colony. Markings have been put into strategic points identifying  the Raja Marga and Circle Road all converging at the centre point where the temple will be located. Areas have been identified for micro-cabins and guest residence to be built in cob and cord-wood style construction. In the future we plan to have an area outside the Gurukula Colony for woofers/guests to stay in the summer time. Our contractor will soon come to build the 1008 meter long water pipeline to service the Gurukula Colony as well as the entire eco village.  In addition, we will be making the roads and boundary of the 33 acres property. Construction, land clearing and landscaping will begin in early June for which we welcome the participation of interested souls. Simple rustic lodging and food will be provided for services rendered.