We’re been planting our winter vegetables, and trying to move another step towards having a more sustainable permaculture-based farm. While we used the tractor this time, we’ve now created smaller beds with walkable paths around each, so that we can move from machine-based to hand-tilling methods as we harvest. We have planted peas, spinach, radish,Continue reading “Winter veggies”
Author Archives: Irfana
Gearing up
We’ve been away and our focus has been simply to keep going – protect existing trees, continue with organic farming, and maintain our boundaries. The extreme seasons of north India give us enough to do to keep things under control! In 2025, we plan to do our next round of intense plantation. Since January, weContinue reading “Gearing up”
Visitors!
On February 25th, we had one of our first ‘tours’ of our Miyawaki foresting. Our partner organization, NIRMAN, had a “Farm to Fork” event with all kinds of inspiring and creative activities related to the environment. One of these was a visit to the main land and forest. It was lovely having people visit respectfully,Continue reading “Visitors!”
New additions!
This could be our most exciting announcement to date. We have just brought home a lovely cow and her baby calf! This morning, she gave us three litres of pure milk. Mama and baby seem calm and happy in their new home. We are now in the process of making a shed and a urineContinue reading “New additions!”
Gangavan in 2024
A forest will grow naturally. This year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, called for the world to plant a trillion trees. Many commentators explain, however, that all you need for forestation is to let the land alone without further damage and the forest will grow back itself. Meanwhile, “….a new study shows that theContinue reading “Gangavan in 2024”
Grass and beauty
October. Monsoons are over. It is still raining crazily though. What?? Tonight it is supposed to start and go on for twenty-four hours!!! We are overwhelmed with grass. Kasha grass, taller than a person, with fluffy white flowers waving gaily in the breeze – gorgeous and resilient. Very good at helping us prevent erosion andContinue reading “Grass and beauty”
Preparation for the floods 3.0
Inspecting the bridge – it’s still doing well, but needs a proper inspection and repairs in order to withstand the monsoon onslaught for the next few years. The nala makes a sharp turn and hits our land at one point. Every year, soil is washed away and we retreat backwards. We build a new portionContinue reading “Preparation for the floods 3.0”
Gains and losses
As we enter the hectic pre-monsoon months, where we only think about how to prepare for this year’s imminent floods, we assess the past few months of work. We lost most of the new trees we planted in June-July 2022. Theories about what happened vary. Some trees didn’t make it through two weeks of standingContinue reading “Gains and losses”
2023
It has been a few months since we posted on our site. Ganga Vana has gone through a cycle of seasons: the monsoon and winter. Now it is Phalgun, the last month of the Hindu calendar, and it is Spring, or perfect weather. Welcome back to Ganga Vana. We look forward to sharing with youContinue reading “2023”
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