September 15, 2014. Adventures in New Jaipur, Prabhupadanuga Farm in Fiji
GARDENING BLUES, AND GREENS
The Fiji Islands are enduring a drought- hardly any rain has fallen in several months. This is highly unusual and must be a result of global negative karmic buildup. Fortunately we have permanent hillside springs and streams, and our supply of water is still coming by gravity flow piping to the garden and the dharmashalla main building (our hills should continue supplying water indefinitely although many water sources across Fiji are drying up). Every day I need to water my garden of greens, basil, tomatoes, cabbage, radish, peppers, lettuce, spinach, eggplant, long-beans, and a few other odds and ends. In spite of the hand watering, the corn, okra, ginger, and French beans “bit the dust,” and dry the dust was…
The new garden area was scraped clean of decades worth of bush growth, but no plowing was done with the idea of testing the “no-till” philosophy of farming. It is now apparent that the garden plants’ roots could not push very deep into the soil, and their growth is retarded and then more reluctant due to the lack of rain. I won’t plant anything new and do a plowing when this garden cycle is done in a few months. Also, I’ll spread some rotted tree matter over the patch before plowing, maybe a couple bags of goat manure as well. As you can see, our gardening expertise is a process of learning and improvements, adapting and adjustments. Sometimes our plants don’t automatically explode with produce, but little by little, we are becoming self-sufficient, as Srila Prabhupada wanted. After millions of years of human civilization producing what they need locally, it is only in the last 60 or so years that we are getting our necessities from FAR AWAY, such as from overseas, in the case of Fiji. Fiji now imports 90% of its food! Any disruption due to war, epidemic, fuel shortage, etc… and shipping of overseas goods may suddenly not reach to Fiji- and thus the wisdom in self-sufficiency. Jaya Srila Prabhupada!
“I have seen your farm and cows, and it is very nice. It is just like Bengal in India. Develop it very nicely by growing food for man and animals. This project you should consider very important. The idea is that people can be self-sufficient and raise their own foodstuffs and have sufficient milk to save time and chant Hare Krishna. Why should they work so hard in the hellish factories? Let everyone live simply and be Krishna conscious.” Letter to Nityananda das, 1977, New Talavan.
WATER CRESS FLOURISHES IN COOL SEASON
This time of year, in the cooler months of May- October, the spicy water cress does very well, flourishing simply by rooting in the gravel of the spring-fed stream. It has a peppery, crunchy taste that goes well with a lunch plate of chapatties, dal, rice, and subji. Lately we have been picking 25 or 30 plastic 1-gallon grocery bags to sell in town once a week, supplying faithful customers who really like water cress. Since we stopped milling timber in the forest for our construction, it seems the parrots have returned to the property, and one pair watches over the water cress patch, protesting whenever we arrive…
WATER SUPPLY IMPROVEMENTS
In the last few weeks we have expanded our water reserve capacity, adding two more 2700 liter tanks, bringing the total to three tanks, or 8100 liters. We have a constant gravity flow supply of about 3 gallons a minute, or maybe 4000 gallons a day, delivered a kilometer by 2 and 3 inch PVC pipe from a hillside reservoir. Photo below is of concrete reservoir construction in early 2011. This one water system will supply all six cottages underway as well as the dharmashalla with guest rooms, kitchens, etc.
CEYLON SPINACH
Typically spinach, lettuce, chard, kale and so on like to grow in cooler climates, as we did in Mississippi back in the 70’s and 80’s. That was 30 degrees latitude, whereas we in Fiji are at 17 degrees, which is much warmer. Accordingly, we must carefully choose varieties of greens suited to the tropical climate. One species that does very well here is Ceylon spinach (Basella alba, or creeping/vine/Malabar spinach)- a fast growing, soft-stemmed, leafy vine vegetable used widely in India, China, SE Asia, Africa, reaching 10 meters in length with its thick, heart-shaped leaves of mild flavor. High in vitamins A and C, iron and calcium, it is low in calories but high in protein. It is perennial, and not a recurrent exercise in planting and cultivation- Ceylon spinach is vigorous and prolific, an excellent component of the devotional self-sufficiency, simple-living lifestyle. It is easily propagated from stem cuttings or its own soft black seeds.
Cooked alone or with other vegetables, it is a favorite across India. Known as shak or baji, it is probably the deep green leafy vegetable sak that was prepared for and relished by Lord Chaitanya in Puri (see Chaitanya Charitamrita). I planted some small starter seedlings in the garden under a starfruit tree and will make a trellis for it to grow upon as soon as it gets up a little more. These little adventures in transcendental horticulture make my day… day after day, here in Fiji’s tropical paradise. Hare Krishna!
OTHER NEWS
Work on the cottages progresses slowly, with the roof now on the second cottage. Waterlines have been installed to all of them, which are being buried by Samu Tonga and Matai from Naviavia village.
The fat, speckled long-bean seeds I got from Pranava Prabhu’s wife’s sister in Labasa were planted under a wire trellis, and are starting to produce. Pranava and Stella visited us from Los Angeles last year.
Although some could not endure the recent dry weather, most of the hundreds of pineapples planted by Jordan on the hillside slopes around the temple site are growing well. Some of last year’s pineapples are making fruits already, which will be ready starting in December. Pineapples usually take 2 years to fruit.
Inspecting our fruit orchards, I saw that some of the avocado trees (3 years old) were flowering…!!
A Malabar Chestnut was in danger from bank erosion along the road- a loose stone embankment fixed that! It took a few loads of river stones; it was fun arranging them properly to last future heavy rains.
A look down the coast from the dharmashalla veranda as the tide recedes; and our small peanut patch.
SUMMARY
The Roman Pope has opined that World War Three has already started with the widespread increase in regional wars and conflicts. Nationalism and militarism are increasing; it seems that the continued increase of war will coincide with global deflationary collapse- not a pretty picture. All Vaishnavas should now take these signs seriously and consider how they can best be situated for their near-future preaching and devotional service. New Jaipur is a positive alternative to the rapidly devolving situation in the modern civilization. Nuclear war approaches, and humanity is due for much turmoil which can only be alleviated by establishing Prabhupada’s varnashram Hare Krishna farms. Our Vedic Village farm project retains Srila Prabhupada as the sole diksa guru, via rtvik representatives. As an affiliate of the Hare Krishna Society, we are part of Prabhupada’s ISKCON which is situated beyond the corrupted original institution. There are 857 acres of titled, fully-paid land in a pristine South Seas rainforest environment of Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second largest island. We have some openings for a few qualified devotees based on adherence to certain conditions as contained in our Village Constitution (available by email). For someone who might like to participate in a Prabhupada Vedic village- please inquire. One must chant 16 rounds daily, follow the four rules, visit the project, and a then comes an agreement of participation. There is no cost but 8 hours community service a week, regular attendance to the morning program, and to become a productive participant, one fifth going to the deities, Sri Sri Radha Govinda.
Yours in Prabhupada’s service,
Nityananda das New Jaipur, Vanua Levu, Fiji Islands
If you would like to be added to our regular mailings of Vedic Village Review news bulletins, please send us an email at srigovinda@gmail.com. Hare Krishna! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
NEW JAIPUR FIJI WEBSITE (in progress): www.vedicvillage.org
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