RID POVERTY & HUNGER IN 50 INDIAN TRIBAL VILLAGES

Daily Rhythms

January was cold, but that spells the harvesting, re-sowing planting cycles of so called 'English " vegetables like cauliflower cabbages, carrots, broccoli etc. Earth Trust too is in introspection mode. What next? We kick started the whole Organic movement in the Nilgiris. It took a lot of persistence despite tremendous setbacks to just soldier on. After two decades, our patient passion has paid off. The Organic farmers have formed their own organisation and  handle their own marketing. They are being supported by the State Government Apparatus.  The weekly markets run by them are getting increasingly popular.  Our job as a primary mover is over.

We were able to start work in our resource farm at Holabettu, thanks to the generosity of our few staunch supporters. The three poly-houses are full of vegetables growing, beans carrots and so on. The land outside has been cleared and potatoes and zucchini planted. There is a seasonal rhythm that gently takes over. the artichokes  are blooming and the seeds are setting. We will have a small quantity of completely open-pollinated artichoke seeds. Infrastructure work in the form of repair of existing basic structures is going on.

The women's programme is chugging along its usual course. Our dedicated teachers patiently teach the fresh batch of women. The sewing machines suffer a bit at the hands of novices. We are planning to include machine knitting too. Our Honorary Project Director Nimmi John, in charge of the women's programme teaches them about nutrition and does one-on-on sessions with them advising them on what they should or should not eat. She is on the board of Studies, Providence College for Women Coonoor, for syllabus framing for UG and PG Botany.

In February, The Earth Trust sponsored 2 women farmers to attend the Organic Seed Production Workshop and Roots and Tuber mela ( Festival ) conducted by  Sahaja, a farmer producer Company based in Mysuru. They are very active in seed conservation and exchange. Needless to add, they work only with dedicated Organic farmers. Our 2 lady farmers also carried seeds from their farms for exchange. Organic seeds are going to be the next big challenge. We are also planning to become seed self sufficient eventually. The Earth Trust is a very respected name in Organic farming circles.

In the meanwhile our Women's programme is carrying along very well. Our dedicated staff  transform raw hands into patient and productive ones. Every batch has a natural leader. We try and encourage her qualities.

The garments they stitch and knit and crochet are all sources of fulfillment boosting confidence. They are able to get jobs. We have introduced machine knitting as part of the course. More than all the learning, it is the discovery of companionship in a safe -space that works wonders. They blossom and that is our- Earth Trust's real agenda.

if you were to go through our earlier reports you would find that the activities are the same, the participants are different. At the end of the day, sowing- planting -reaping have  a blessed ordinariness and dependability. And the eager women who join each fresh cycle of soft skill teaching , why they too add to the familiarity of the cycle!!