Reports

We wrapped up a summer full of activity and the Eco Village boundaries are taking shape.  The south side colonial fence is complete. The gate for the east entrance has been built and is currently lying on the ground until we can get an machine to lift it into place.  The gate will be about 4 meters high.

This month we celebrate both Go Puja and Gopastami at the Govardhana Goshala In Saranagati Village. On both occasions, Surabhi cow was nicely decorated and sumptuously fed.  Gopastami is the coming-of-age celebration when Nanda Maharaja gave Krishna the responsibility for taking care of the cows. Krishna had previously been taking care of the calves. 

At the Govardhana Goshala, the zebu ox have been regularly put into a yoke and pulling a cart.  With the guidance of Daivata and Yoginath prabhu, they have been moving items like manure from the Goshala to gardens.  They also hauled logs for wood day at Govardhana Academy where the community cuts 12 cords of wood for the upcoming school year.

As we clear through the forest, the location of goshala is becoming more evident.  The goshala will be in the north west corner and the entrance should face the north east, with sufficient sunlight and good ventilation.  Cows do not like dark. Darkness does not allow good health.  Cows love airy spacious inviting surroundings.  As per Vedic wisdom, Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi stays in place which is clean, hygienic and attractive.

Forest materials are being moved into different location.  On road and pathways, the forest floor (a.k.a. duff) is being moved into the garden areas and orchard for mulching trees. Fallen tree branches are being chipped up and put onto the raja marg and pathways.  

The heat wave continues, with temperatures 10 degrees hotter than normal and no rain in sight.  The fire north of us continues to grow, 2 months after it began.

Lord Krishna told Sri Narada that “you will find me wherever my devotees come together to remember me and chant my names and glories".   Lord Jagannatha appeared in Vancouver and Kamloops this week.   We took a break from harvesting and Eco Village Construction so that we could spread the glories of Lord Jagannatha and sing the holy names throughout our province.

Festival of India presents the timeless culture and Knowledge of the eternal Vedas. It delivers the ageless social serenity of the Vedic culture to today's characteristically chaotic population.  

The Festival of India appeared for the first time in Kamloops and was co-managed by Saranagati Village residents.  A special guest appearance was made by Surabhi cow.  Our Brahmacharies led kirtan and helped distribute books.

Cordwood building has begun using cob made from all local materials: earth, clay, straw and cow manure.  Cordwood construction is also known as stackwall or stovewood.  Cordwood or short pieces of debarked tree are laid in a cob mixtures to build a wall.  There's a lot of manual labor involved in building a cordwood house, however the structures can last for many years.  There are some homes in Canada that are between 100 and 200 years old.  Cordwood is commonly used to build homes, barns and saunas.

Our initial project is a boot room in front of a yurt.  We are perfecting the cob recipe and techniques to latter use for Eco Village buildings.  We are using earth near our lake which is naturally high in clay, so we only need to add a little bit of clay.  

The straw is coming from tall grass cut in our garden and dried in the hot sun.  The cow manure comes from "visiting" cows who have lately populated our village.

Two months into a drought, we have adjusted our daily life to the heat, dryness and smoky air.  Forest fires have caused poor air quality, worse than China, Mexico and Los Angeles, in our valley and our entire province.  We have focused on our activities in the cool forest and in the greenhouse, where is the air is cleaner thanks to plants and trees.

Forest management continues as we sort through the thick forest, transforming fallen and crowded thin trees into fences and other building materials. Forest floor "waste" is being raked up for use as mulch in the Eco Village Gardens

Venu Gopal prabhu has joined our village and morning program.  He is helping prepare the land for transplanting 108 fruit trees and is sharing his permaculture knowledge with us.  An important permaculture practice is mulching, putting plant matter, compost and tree chips on the top soil to preserve moisture and shield the earth from the hot sun.

Saranagati Rathayatra filled the air with kirtan this weekend.  Despite the smoky air and threats of fires closing the highways, devotees from Calgary and Vancouver came.

The word "yatra" means journey, or tour. For Lord Jagannatha's ratha yatra, the means of transport for Lord Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhardra is by way of chariot, or 'car'. This chariot vehicle is known as "ratha".

Those who have the good fortune to view the Jagannatha deities, or who help to pull the chariots along on their ropes, are benedicted by the Lord during the ratha yatra parade.

Srila Prabhupada very simply explained the meaning of Ratha Yatra. He said that Ratha Yatra is the meditation on bringing Krishna back into our hearts.

Work on the Gurukul colony land continues.  Clearing of the forest and roadways are our priority now and the land is starting to take shape.  We purchased a profession chainsaw to assist with forest clearing and cutting up fallen trees.  These trees are being used to build the colonial fence and some will be used for gates and future building projects.  The left over pieces of trees and branches are being pilled up to be used as soil builder in garden areas.  Kishora prabhu setup a "Colonial fence factory" where the fences pieces are being crafted, then assembled and put into place.

The village exchange and market was busy this week, as we have more produce in the garden and greenhouse.

The forest fire north of us continues to burn and move further north, thankfully. Some of the highways have been re-opened and we can now see the blackened fields left behind by the fire.  The local fire chief visited our community and encouraged us to keep the areas around our home clear of wood and dried grass - so our efforts are well timed.