By Nityananda Das
November 11, 2013. Adventures in New Jayapur, Prabhupadanuga Farm in Fiji
SMALL STEPS TOWARDS SELF SUFFICIENCY
Little by little, in small increments, we are making baby steps towards implementing Srila Prabhupada’s principle of local self sufficiency. Old ways and habits are slow to change, especially when one is not being forced by circumstances, but is doing so by choice. I am convinced that force by circumstances is coming soon, so better to adjust and learn smoothly and deliberately while we can rather than under emergency conditions due to the financial system freezing up or world war disruptions. I expect both very soon. Of course, devotees have been waiting for these things since the 1970’s… But whatever the exact timing of Prabhupada’s World War 3 predictions, the real reason for self sufficiency is not to “survive,” but to be happy in Krishna consciousness with simple living and high thinking. The people of this planet are sinful and miserable in “modern” civilization, and it is our duty to lead them to a way of life that will easily supply their necessities and be favorable for spiritual advancement as well.
Prabhupada wanted his farm projects to show the world the way back to a Vedic civilization based on daivi-varnashrama dharma. Some reflections on our slight progress and plans:
MONEY- Real wealth is a stock of grains and quality milk cows, fertile land and of course, a full storehouse of Srila Prabhupada’s books, not fistfuls of dollars. Recently we completed our bookroom and have managed to distribute many hundreds of Prabhupada’s original books all over Fiji. I personally enjoyed assembling all the transcendental literatures in neat stacks according to titles: TLC, NOD, SB, BG, POI, SRI ISO, POY, BBD, SSR, MB, ROP, OCHK, (that’s book distributors’ shorthand for various book titles) and the new pocket Gitas.
Although we have no stock of grains yet (nor a granary…), our first cows will arrive soon from NZ in March. Last month we discovered an area of the farm with black, rich soil even more fertile than our prevailing brown soil. So our wealth is increasing with Prabhupada’s books, cows, and fertile land. As for money (those colorful plastic fiat Fiji dollar bills) to buy in town whatever we are not producing ourselves, the first concern is to minimize our “outside” needs and thus reduce the money “needed.” We refrain from buying many things- such as sodas, ice cream, fireworks, designer clothes, or whatever we do not really need and need now (just put it off as long as we can). Frugality was not the banner of our previous city lives of bling and whim, but it has become our shadow on the farm. To help with the expenses of town purchases, we find ways to get some money- we sell firewood collected from clearing land, extra fruits to market vendors, and some water cress to steady customers.
Our goal is to only spend what the farm will earn by next June, which implies a high standard of self sufficiency. No income, no job, no donations, no pension, no social security, no inheritance trust; just a fixed amount of savings that keeps dwindling. After that, no more dipping into the piggy bank.
Gradually, we intend to reduce our trips to town as the farm takes shape and we produce more of our own needs from the farm. It is conceivable that in the future we might only go to town once every few months by bullock cart, a round trip expedition of perhaps 8 days. We have planted 12,500 dalo (taro) plants which will cover our annual labor expenses, which will be higher now during the farm’s initial development stages. But without a pressing or legitimate need, there is no incentive or rationale to plant crops just to accumulate money.
We also operate a small general store on the farm, the small markup on goods from town defraying labor costs (it will be nice to trade labor for our own milk, coconut oil, rice, etc in the future). We presently have 9 workers, down from 20 when the Krishna Lodge was under construction. A big chunk of expenses goes to the excavator’s fuel and operator, but its role is soon to be fulfilled since farm roads, clearing, building sites, and gravel extraction have almost been completed. As the New Jayapur residents increase, we should need fewer outside workers. Generally speaking, as self sufficiency is developed, our reliance on money decreases to the point where we only need as much as we can easily get from excess local production. The transition from our previous lifestyle to this balanced state of farm living may burn up some savings over the first year or two, so we recommend new residents to calculate an amount of savings they should have to succeed in achieving their self sufficiency. It is crucial to work on reducing our need for money, which can be like a cat chasing its tail.
Sandalwood seeds (hundreds) have been planted and a steep hillside awaits arrival of the seedlings- hibiscus host plants are already in place to give shade and nutrition. Sandalwood has characteristics similar to gold- durable, scarce, valuable – and today a 20 year old tree can be worth many thousands. Our sandalwood orchards will not only supply the deities, but also be a fallback for emergencies in the future (for money or trading).
FOOD- Since moving out to the farm from our rental in town last year, we no longer buy bananas, papayas, coconuts, turmeric, lemons, water or electricity (we have our own farm reservoir and solar power), greens (we have water cress, roro and bele leaves), tomatoes, plantains, and breadfruit.
Our supply of eggplant, okra, and French beans is increasing too, and in the next year or two, fruits such as avocado, rambutan, lychee, mangosteen, chico, oranges, grapefruit, mandarins, pineapples, guavas, will be available. We just made a second strawberry box since the first has done so well- a handful of them on the deity plate every morning!
We plan another rice planting in March-April on the far side of the river, hopefully with levees for flooding, a system which will double the production. Our first rice planting was broadcast on dry land, and gave 100 kilos from less than 2 acres. More plantain (vundi), pigeon peas, papayas, longbeans have been planted closer to the Lodge. Instead of running to the store with money and diesel-guzzling vehicle, we are getting used to sauntering out into the grounds to pick what’s ripe and ready for the next deity offering!
Food self sufficiency is priority- a fact of the material nature that should not be overlooked!
ENTERTAINMENT- We have our own in-house Mahabharata and Ramayana theatre every evening. We go swimming in the river (not the ocean anymore since there are doubts about radiation due to Fukushima disaster, although the ocean currents should be going to California and not Fiji). We enjoy the natural beauty of sunrise, sunset, the rainforest and the ever-changing play of colors and sun or moonlight in the sky, clouds, and ocean stretching out before our vision (no need for Hollywood blockbuster fantasies like Avatar)- and we enjoy tending to all the plants we have put in the ground, pruning, harvesting, de-aphiding (that’s farm talk…)
What other entertainments do we need? Probably we are totally self sufficient in this necessity of human life!
CLOTHING- If things get really stretched (due to war, no international shipping, whatever), there is a tree here in Fiji which the natives still use to make ceremonial bark clothes- a little stiff perhaps, but an option. However, Suvarnamanjari and husband Buddhimanta Prabhus, who are trying to disengage and move here next year, have already acquired a fancy manual loom and are learning their weaving techniques well in advance! She is bringing cotton seeds too (Fiji was famous for high quality South Seas cotton in mid 1800’s). The labor, time, and skill required in weaving will make hand woven clothing very precious, whereas in modern society everything is as cheap as few dollar notes. Note: biosecurity does not allow seeds- if they are declared, they will probably be confiscated.
HEALTH &TRANSPORT- (next issue)
FUEL- Grass is the most inexpensive fuel for the super-efficient grass combustion machines called bullocks or oxen. Prabhupada wanted bulls used for transport and plowing. If we must depend on metal machines, we would prefer the manually operated ones, but coconut oil can replace diesel with some minor engine modifications. Also we have drawings for a small scale, multi-family gobar or biogas (methane) generation plant- a wonderful project for a future industrious member of the community! This can replace the bottled natural gas that comes from halfway around the world (for cooking), and with other modifications, can replace diesel fuel in any engine.
SHELTER- Housing is not so difficult to arrange here because it is an ideal ocean-moderated climate- no need for winter heating nor summer air conditioning. Screened windows are a must for mosquitoes at night though. There is a fly season as well- Fiji is still on planet earth after all. We have used many hardwood trees from our own property to build the Krishna Lodge and outbuildings, but we opted for concrete slab and block walls for the cottages to house future residents, although their roof structures will be timber with corrugated iron. Louvered windows and hardwood doors are featured in the cottages. A nice shelter arrangement or cottage in Fiji does not require a job to pay a 30 year mortgage; the cost may be $10-20K USD or less (and New Jayapur has no water, electric, sewer, or garbage bills).
DEFENSE- When we first moved out to the farm, we brought Jambo, a young German Shepherd dog, thinking we would need him for defense. After several months, due to no training and being always tied up lest he kill the cats (which are our natural rat catchers), we found him a new home with a K-9 trainer. Guard dog he was not- and how would he distinguish between a devotee chanting japa and a thief at 2 am? Fortunately, the Fiji countryside is peaceful enough and we have a good rapport with local villages (although the closest is 7 km away). Petty theft can always be a problem anywhere in the world, but violent crime and armed robbery is non-existent here. For now, we have no need for any defense arrangement, but in the future some members may become practiced at defensive skills as ksatriyas.
VISITORS
Yasodanandan Prabhu and wife were the first foreign visitors to New Jayapur in 2012. This last year we hosted Suvarnamanjari Prabhu from Auckland area, Pranav and Fijian-born wife Stella Prabhus from California, and Dharmabhavana and Fijian-born wife JaiGovinda Prabhus from Dallas. Within the next few months we are expecting more interested parties to visit, including Narada Muni Prabhu from Moscow, Mahatma and wife Radha Govinda Prabhus from Los Angeles, Madhavananda Prabhu and wife from Florida, and Buddhimanta Khan Prabhu with wife Suvarnamanjari Prabhu (again!) from NZ. Also coming in March will be six A2-tested Guernsey heifers, and they are confirmed to be joining as permanent residents. All these visitors are very interested in participating as members in the New Jayapur project, except Pranav and Stella who came to see us while visiting relatives in Fiji.
Yours in Prabhupada’s service,
Nityananda das
New Jayapur, Vanua Levu, Fiji Islands
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Hare Krishna! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Thank you for your inspiring report. May Krsna bless you in all your endeavors.
Hopefully in due course of time you’ll be able to establish a solid defensive program for your community. In the event of a natural or man-made disaster such a defense might prove crucial. There are so many changes happening worldwide nowadays on so many levels that we really can’t take anything for granted. So-called human civilization can easily devolve into animal life at the drop of a hat. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst is a wise strategy indeed. Just a thought.
All glories to your service.