2. Author : Staff
Email : contactus@ecovillage.org.in
Date Produced : July 30, 2010
Editor : Sriman Rasmandal Das
Serial No. : 39 of 54
GOVARDHAN
ECO VILLAGE
3.
4. Purpose of GEV
The purpose behind this
Govardhan eco-village is two fold
1. To present a sustainable
community model
2. To educate people in the
field of traditional sciences
including Yoga, spirituality,
Cow Protection & Ayurveda.
5. 6th purpose of ISKCON
To bring the members closer together
for the purpose of teaching a simpler
and more natural way of life.
- Srila Prabhupada
6. Pure Eco-friendly
“The product, service, oractivity does not adversely affect the environment, does not consume
any non-renewable resources, and creates nowaste or emissions, and does notharm any living
beings (excluding most plants as these arerenewable). This would bethe purist form of eco
friendly and there are veryfew items that can be placedunder this banner.”
7. Practically Eco-friendly
“The product, service or activity, could represent a reduction in consumption of non-renewable
resources, and/orcreates reducedemissions, and/or produces less harmtoliving beings than
the norm oracceptedaverage.Whilst this is not pure, this represents a "step in the right
direction" or a "change for the better””
8. Vision of GEV
“Living in harmony and according to way Krishna wants us to live
on material level and spiritual level. Living in respect for mother
earth, who is Bhoomi devi, who is the consort of Varaha Dev, who
is Lakshmi herself and honoring her and living in ways which
replenish her resources rather than exploit her resources and then
utilize what ever resources she gives us by her grace for the service
of Lord Vishnu. So that’s our understanding of eco friendly.”
- HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj
12. Need for Organic Farming
• For sustaining the fertility of the soil
• Keeping the agriculture produce non-toxic
• Chemical based fertilizers & pesticides toxic crops & harmful for health
• Genetically modified seeds greater yield, reduction in fertility.
• Oxen for ploughing save them from being slaughtered.
16. Traditional means of agriculture
• Indigenous variety of seeds, instead of genetically modified varieties.
• Cow dung manures & vermicomposts instead of chemical based fertilizers
• Cow urine & neem based pest repellants instead of chemical based
pesticides
• Oxen instead of tractors.
18. Research & Training
• Seminars for educating the local
villagers.
• Lunar cycle based vegetable production
• Pest control using Cow urine and plant
extracts
19. Research & Training
• Vedic rainfall prediction techniques
• Rainfall a local phenomenon and cant
be generalized over wide geographical
area
• Modern prediction systems have failed
time and again
• Vedic rainfall prediction based on
observing symptoms in nature
20. Research & Training
• Protection of indigenous rice varieties
• Planted 54 rare varieties of rice to
protect them
• Currently creating a seed bank for free
distribution to farmers
• Reserching on Ideal organic farming
practices for rural india
21. ORGANIC FARMING
• Educational and training programmes in the nearby villages
• Creating awareness on the improved farm production
technologies focused on organic farming.
• Plan to establish demonstrative units
22. A Holistic Development Programme for Rural &
Tribal communities in Wada Block of Thane District
(GEV’s project in collaboration with BAIF)
•Food Security and Poverty Alleviation
•Improving the health status of the community
•Increasing the asset base of the tribals
•Empowerment of women
23. A Holistic Development Programme for Rural &
Tribal communities in Wada Block of Thane District
(GEV’s project in collaboration with BAIF)
24. Sustainable Model
• Involving the tribals themselves in the development
process, their human, material, social and financial assets.
• Introducing and implementing various eco-friendly
income generation activities, mainly land and livestock
based.
25. The program
• Helping the tribals establish one-acre horticulture
plantation to provide long term sustainable income.
• Improving the agriculture practices by providing
improved technology for the main crops and
introduction of vegetable and cash crops.
• Emphasis on women empowerment
• Various self-help groups will be started focusing on
active participation in land development activities,
raising forestry plants in the nursery, fruit plants
cultivation, kitchen gardens etc.
• To improve sanitation and hygiene through improved
techniques for disposal of solid and liquid wastes.
26.
27. Goshala
Today practicallyno one is making thisdistinction.We aremaking it,
andwe haveintroduced theseideas by establishingfarm communities
andprotecting our cows. And ourcows arewinningawardsfor giving
themost milk, because theyare so jubilant.Theyknow, "Thesepeople
willnotkill me." They knowit, so theyareveryhappy. Nor do we kill
theircalves. Atotherfarms, soon afterthecow gives birthto acalf,
theypull hercalf awayfor slaughter.You see? This means society has
no brain.You may createhundredsof organizations,butsociety will
never be happy. Thatis theverdict.”
(BTG, 1985, SrilaPrabhupada Speaks Out, Advice to the United
Nations)
28. • Started in 2003 with 9 cows & bulls
• Currently 62, expected to reach 100 in next
few years.
• Planning for new Goshala with rope free
zones, fresh water, special calf care etc.
37. Bio-gas Plant
Many bio-degradable wastes can be
used apart from cow dung.
Slurry acts as good organic manure in
a readily dispensable form.
Biogas (mainly CH4) can be used for
any thermal applications like cooking
and electricity generation.
Currently, GEV has a 30 m3 floating
dome and a 6 m3 fixed dome biogas
plants with plans for future
expansion. A 15 KVA generator
runs entirely on biogas.
www.ecovillage.org.in
38. Animal Driven Prime Mover
2 bulls rotate a lever connected to a
positive displacement pump through a
gear, chain & pulley system
Discharge – 7000-8000 liters/hour at
60 ft depth (equivalent to 5hp pump)
Operated for more than 12 hrs a day
with multiple bull pairs
39. Firewood
Biogas for Cooking
Fuel Efficient and Smokeless
Firewood Stoves (Chulhas)
www.ecovillage.org.in
42. Built with locally
available materials
Extraordinary comfort
even in harsh climates
Close connection to
earth with calming &
healing effects
www.ecovillage.org.in
Traditional Buildings
Built with highly processed
natural materials
Release toxic substances into
our homes
Damages the environment
Tend to isolate us from nature
Modern Buildings
43. Made from earth that is ‘rammed’ or
packed between forms. A little
moistened clay-rich subsoil is shoveled
into the forms, tamped by hand or
pneumatic tamper. Walls are often left
unplastered and look beautiful.
www.ecovillage.org.in
Rammed Earth
Rammed earth
Cob
Compressed
Stabilized Earth
blocks
Types of
Earthen Homes @
GEV
44. Cob is a mix of clay-rich
dirt, sand & straw. The
material is applied often in
loaf-shapes to the
foundation and wall directly
by hand or by shovelful.
When cob dries, it becomes
hard like sand stone.
Works for many climates.
Time-tested building
technique –1000s of cob
homes are still occupied
after 500-700 yrs.
www.ecovillage.org.in
COB House
45. Made at GEV by mixture
of soil, quarry dust and
lime. Only 5-10% cement
used.
Mixture poured in a die
and hand pressed in a
machine
After 3 weeks of curing
load bearing capacity
increases to 60 Kg/sq
cm.
Bricks are laid on the
foundation and the
binding agent is also
similar to the brick
mixture.
www.ecovillage.org.in
Compressed Stabilized Earth blocks
47. Educaion
Gurukulforchildren&VarnasramaCollege.
Thepurpose toestablish a training collegefor Brahmacharis and Congregation devotees
becomesa must if we want devotees to work according to their varna(inclinations) and
acquirerelevant skills to becomeeconomically stable so as to focus on self. It is also
required when the student graduates from the Gurukul. More so,if education has to bean
ongoing orlifelong quest then, a dedicated facility will definitely helptofacilitate these
inspirations.
48. • LNHO started in1905 in Mumbai to give shelter to the
famine afflicted children. ISKCON invited to operate in
‘80s
• LNHO shifted to GEV in 2005
• Steady efforts to provide excellent quality training &
education, along with imparting spiritual values to many
rural children from economically underpriviliged families.
49. Vocational training
Personal counseling
Spoken English
classes
Value education
Spiritual tours
Yoga classes
Home Schooling @
LNHO
50.
51. GEV took initiative for creating a positive change in the lifestyle
and the state of affairs of rural communities by providing them
• Sustainable livelihood
• Improving available natural resources
• Healthcare, sanitation, education & training etc.
52. HEALTH CARE
• BhaktiVedanta Hospital is
providing effective
healthcare to rural
population throughout
Thane district with special
focus on tribal areas in Wada
& Palghar.
54. Cottage industry run by Women
• Khakara making
• Paper bags making
• Bamboo products
• Handicrafts
Empowering Tribal women
Wadis (integrated farming system
comprising of horticulture,
agriculture & dairy).
Self Help Groups (SHGs)
Training and exposure visits.
Women Empowerment
55. “Make the farm the center and go ten
miles this side, ten miles that side, ten
miles this side, etc., with four bullock
carts. Sell books and preach and live
peacefully at the farm.”
56. To fulfill the desire of
Srila Prabhupada,
Rural Preaching at
GEV is flourishing in
15 villages over past 4
years.
Villages
Ambisate
Dighase
Awla
Dabhad
Galtare
AundaMohilee
Danor
Asnoli
Jambivilli
Rautpada
57. Future plan: To make a new temple complex built by
sustainable materials and eco-friendly technologies.
New Temple
Construction
58. Govardhan Eco Village – A place of Pilgrimage
• Govardhan with the
parikrama of the different
places of Govinda Kunda,
Radha Kunda, Shyama
Kunda, etc.
• Barsana, Nandagram
• A place where we could
actually get away from the
passionate ugrakarma
lifestyle of city and be in
Vrindavan.
• A place of pilgrimage to
heal the body, mind and
soul.
59. Govardhan Ashram – A place of pilgrimage
• To recreate the the spirit of
Virndavan.
• Balaram with oxen &
plough, Krsna with cows.
• To develop replicas of the
12 forests of Vrindavan.
• Walkways, Auscpicious trees
• Diaromas of pastimes of
Krsna
60. Govardhan Eco Village – Contact
Address: Guhir Road,
Galtare Village, Wada
(Taluka), Palghar,
Maharashtra 421303, India
Phone: +91 91672 04666
Hours: Open Daily ·
8AM–6PM
www.ecovillage.org.in