Visiting Dharamitra

 

I had the pleasure of staying a few days with a good friend, Professor Tarak Kate, who founded Dharamitra - Friends of the Earth - a non profit organisation working with hundreds (and now thousands) of organic farmers across rural central India. Based two hours out of Nagpur, the heats were now the highest yet (hitting around 47 on the day I arrived). Everyone was so incredibly welcoming and the many projects they are involved with very interesting and inspiring. One of Tarak's indigenous cattle above, he is working to reintroduce into the area. Colourfully dressed neighbours (below) to Tarak's farm where they are experimenting with many organic and sustainable agricultural practices.

 

With it being the end of a hot hot summer, few of the farms were in production so many of the farmers were in town working with the various cooperatives they have set up. Here a farmer is processing organic sugar cane to make fresh and delicious juice that is very popular.

The organic farmer's cooperative selling everything from food products to hair shampoos, grains to shirts. Their restuarant out back was selling all organic curries with bread and rice for Rs25, about R4. What  was awesome, not just because I spent a year studying local food economies, is that these organic products were being sold directly by the farmers to the local community.

Sunset in the compound where I was staying. The food in Wardha was the most delicious yet, though I wouldnt have imagined that could of been possible.

An especially auspicious day meant that there were at least five wedding parades in the main road. Nothing quite like an Indian wedding!

We visited the site of a new campus that Dharamitra is starting to build alongside a stunning lake. Beautiful, big water buffalo blocking our way back, taking their time.

Many of the projects were working on rural technology and innovations - above are clay tiles that also keep the buildings much cooler.

A simple and effective water efficient irrigation system using clay pots and plastic pipes.

Double clay pot system with water between that acts as a natural refigeration system - keeping fruit and veg fresh in 45 plus degrees.

Paper making from waste banana leaf by product and waste cotton materials.