Projects

Goshala & Nandishala

Maharaj and Revati2025 cow hug cowshed vastu goshala

goshala birds eyeAs in the original Vrindavan, cows play a central role in the lives of the Brajavasis, similarly, we plan to focus all the activities within our Vedic Eco Village around cows and agriculture.

For the maintenance and good health of the cows we will have designated grazing areas in fields and forests.  When the weather permits, will arrange for the cows to be out grazing most of the day.  

Guest cabins will be located beside goshala.

Dharma Discovery with Govardhana Academy

chulha dd-clearcut haladar dd

Hands-on learning about cow care, ox cart & plowing, gardening, forestry, natural building, cob, arts, crafts & markets.  We feature Vaishya life: cow and ox care, farming and trade in markets. 

On-going Experiences

  • greenhouse maintenance, seed starting & plant care
  • cooking on Mass Heater with cow dung
  • brushing & feeding cows
  • ox cart rides and transport
  • thinning forests, building water lenses
  • bringing produce to market & bartering
  • natural building with cob and milled wood
  • using local materials (clay, earth, dung)
  • harvesting, seed saving, drying & winter storage

Projects

Grazing Fences

Revati fence Cow fence  kishora-fence

Project Summary

Build a safe and accessible 7500 feet metal fence around the farming/grazing area of Lot 384.

Fence details

Fence built with metal posts and page wire (aka galvanized netting).  6 gates allow residents and cowherders to access grazing land and move cows.  New fence does not cross any roads!

Opportunity

Cows will benefit from more grazing areas and this will regenerate the land.   SVHI residents can farm on fenced-off farmland after cows have grazed.

Fruit Orchard expansion

Orchard Krishna

Our Apple, Pear, Cherry, Apricot, Hazelnut and Walnut trees trees are 10 years old.  Raspberries, strawberries, currants, gooseberries, honeyberries (hascaps) and saskatoon berries are growing. Millet, buckwheat, grains and pulse seeds are being saved for future plantings. 

The southern fruit orchard has 4 trees planted and installed drip lines.   We have built a temporary fence but will need a permanent one when there are bigger trees giving fruit.

The co-op orchard in the north of eco village has apple, pear, plum and apricot trees, as well as berries. 

Kitchen and Chulha

chulha cob kitchen

We are building kitchen for all living areas of the eco village. We will start with a simple outdoor kitchen to feed the volunteer builders of the Colony.  We will need a basic structure with roof, cob stove (for cooking with wood and dung), stainless steel sink, tables and storage areas.

The colony kitchen will provide prasadam for guests, workers, teachers and students of the Colony. 

 

Nature Cure Center

herb godhan

A small "Nature Cure" clinic for Eco Village residents and guests.  We grow and create our own medicines.

  • Natural, locally grown and harvested medicines
  • Cow medicines
  • Holistic health care
  • Patients stay in small cabins during summer time.
  • Yoga Therapy

Vaidhyashala

Indian traditional medical science through Ayurveda. Ayurveda draws from the ancient knowledge of holistic healing and believes in restoring the harmony of the body.  Vaidhyashala educate and train the upcoming generation of healers.

Varnasrama College and Patha shalla

farm apprenticeship ox and kids vedic library

The Learning Center (patha shalla) will host a Vaishnava College and provide brahmana and ksatriya training as well as accommodating other teachings.  

Vedic teachings point to universal basic concepts and principles that can help lead individuals and society to a peaceful, healthy and productive life. Those principles are based on an agrarian lifestyle promoting sustainability, self-sufficiency, localized living and respect and protection of all living entities, especially the cows, all centered on a strong character formation upholding moral, ethical and spiritual values.

Mass Heaters

chulha chulha mass heater rocket mass heater rocket mass heater

A rocket mass heater consists of an insulated combustion chamber where fuel is burned with high efficiency at high temperature, and a large thermal mass in contact with the exhaust gases which absorbs most of the generated heat before the gases are released to the atmosphere.

We have built rocket mass heater to heat water and provide a warm area to bath.  We are working with various recipes for plaster, for example: