By NIMMI JOHN | HONY PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR
Report for GlobalGiving October to December 2024
The fourth and the last quarter of the year brings with it a sense of gratification as the Earth Trust (ET) looks back on the year and on twenty years of her work in sustainable agriculture and women’s health and livelihoods.
Safe Food Through Sustainable Agriculture
Farmers mentored by ET over many years have been transitioning from being spoon fed for marketing and sale of their products to members of a larger district level collective with individual farm and product brands. ET has been actively involved in on the job capacity building for better brand strategy and building customer relations, effective communication and market guidance. This happens at the district weekly farmer markets at the big towns of Ooty and Coonoor. ET is also represented on district level policy vis-a-vis organic agriculture and execution of the same.
While October and November saw our farmers improving their earning capabilities independently under our guidance and tutelage, December saw some of our farmers active with the annual Nilgiri Earth Festival which is an initiative to bring together all conservation efforts in the Nilgiris. The organically grown local produce of ET farmers were used at the special meals curated by celebrity chefs and their vegetable would be displayed and sold at the final day of the festival.
Womens health through skill development Program
We commenced training a new three month batch of 15 students early in October. Our trainees are mostly young mothers who undertake the Earth Trust certificate course in health and skill development while their primary school children are at school. As part of enhancing their skills, an expert trained our student in soap making using natural and local herbs and essential oil. They were joined by students of our preceding batches. Through October, November and December, besides tailoring, crochet and hand knitting, we began teaching a new skill ….Machine knitting. We noticed the need to train women in machine knitting as many women owned machines donated by government schemes had them gathering dust on their lofts without knowing how to use them. The hope is that their opportunity to earn more will improve once their learn how to work their knitting machines. Our women’s program is a continuous year long three month process that is great demand … and not without reason!
By MALATHI MITTAL | MANAGING TRUSTEE
By NIMMI JOHN | HONY PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR
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