GOVARDHAN

ECO VILLAGE
Author : Staff
Email : contactus@ecovillage.org.in
Date Produced : July 30, 2010
Editor : Sriman Rasmandal Das
Serial No. : 39 of 54
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.
 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
 Pure Eco-friendly

“The product, service, or activity does not adversely affect the environment, does not consume
any non-renewable resources, and creates no waste or emissions, and does not harm any living
beings (excluding most plants as these are renewable). This would be the purist form of eco
friendly and there are very few items that can be placed under this banner.”
 Practically Eco-friendly

“The product, service or activity, could represent a reduction in consumption of non-renewable

resources, and/or creates reduced emissions, and/or produces less harm to living beings than
the norm or accepted average. Whilst this is not pure, this represents a "step in the right
direction" or a "change for the better””
 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
Activities of Govardhan Eco Village

Rural
Education

FACT
(Facility for Alternative
Construction
Technologies)
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.
Agriculture Produce
• Fruits Produced:
Bannana, Mango, Chikoo, Papaya, Jackfruit, Guava
• Rice Varieties produced:
Garvi (more water)type - Zini, Govind Bhog, Kolapi,
Siddhagiri, Pusasugandha, Blackbuma, Telosingh,Kalagira,
Old kolam.
Halvar(less water) type – Padama, Dangi
• Cereals Produced: Tuar, Moong, Channa
• Flowers Produced: Jasmine, Marigold, lily, lotus, rose
Vegetables produced:
Ambadi, Ladiesfinger, Pumpkin, Beetroot, Broccoli,
Chakota, Brinjal, Chawli, Bottle gourd, Corriander,
CauliFlower, Carrot, Gavar, Ghevada, Gholsabji,
Gilka, Hirvamath, Harbhara Bhaji, Ginger, Bitter
gourd, Cabbage, Kakdi, Karanda, Khursani, Lalmath,
Methi, Green Chilies, Corn, Dry Chilies, Muli,
Navalkol, Parval, Papdi, Papaya, Rajgira, Shepu,
Turai, Tinda, Tomato, Tondli, Alupane, Val
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.
Organic Farming practices
• Crop rotation
• Composting
• Organic fertilizers & Pesticides
• Permanent raised beds
• Companion planting
• Mulching
• Drip and sprinkler irrigation
Research & Training
• Seminars for educating the local
villagers.
• Lunar cycle based vegetable production
• Pest control using Cow urine and plant
extracts
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
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
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
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
A Holistic Development Programme for Rural &
Tribal communities in Wada Block of Thane District
(GEV’s project in collaboration with BAIF)
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.
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.
 Goshala

Today practically no one is making this distinction. We are making it,

and we have introduced these ideas by establishing farm communities
and protecting our cows. And our cows are winning awards for giving
the most milk, because they are so jubilant. They know, "These people
will not kill me." They know it, so they are very happy. Nor do we kill
their calves. At other farms, soon after the cow gives birth to a calf,
they pull her calf away for slaughter. You see? This means society has
no brain. You may create hundreds of organizations, but society will
never be happy. That is the verdict.”
(BTG, 1985, Srila Prabhupada Speaks Out, Advice to the United
Nations)
• 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.
3 breeds
• Tharparkar,
• Gir
• Dangi
Cow protection is about
expressing our gratitude
for the wonderful gifts that
cows have given to human
society.
The purpose of Goshala is
to demonstrate the principle
of cow protection and how
their blessings can be
suitably utilized in our day to
day life.
• Bulls engaged in
• Ploughing
• Oil mill
• Flour mill
• Transportation within
GEV
• Animal Driven Prime
Mover
• Milk from the cows meets the daily
requirement of milk for the community.
• Cow dung used for Biogas plant, manure
& cottage industry
Alternative energy
sources
• Biogas Plant
• Solar
• ADPM
• Firewood
 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
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plants with plans for future

expansion. A 15 KVA generator
runs entirely on biogas.
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
 Firewood

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 Biogas for Cooking
 Fuel Efficient and Smokeless
Firewood Stoves (Chulhas)
Solar

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 Solar Thermal
 Solar Photo
Voltaic
 GRIHA

Govardhan Research Institute

of Housing Alternatives
Traditional Buildings Modern Buildings
 Built with locally  Built with highly processed
available materials natural materials
 Extraordinary comfort  Release toxic substances into
even in harsh climates our homes
 Close connection to  Damages the environment
earth with calming &  Tend to isolate us from nature
healing effects

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 Types of Rammed Earth
Earthen Homes @
Made from earth that is ‘rammed’ or
GEV packed between forms. A little
moistened clay-rich subsoil is shoveled
into the forms, tamped by hand or
 Rammed earth pneumatic tamper. Walls are often left
 Cob unplastered and look beautiful.
 Compressed
Stabilized Earth
blocks

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COB House
 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.

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Compressed Stabilized Earth blocks
 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.
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 Rural
Education
 Educaion

Gurukul for children & Varnasrama College.

The purpose to establish a training college for Brahmacharis and Congregation devotees
becomes a must if we want devotees to work according to their varna (inclinations) and
acquire relevant skills to become economically stable so as to focus on self. It is also
required when the student graduates from the Gurukul. More so, if education has to be an
ongoing or lifelong quest then, a dedicated facility will definitely help to facilitate these
inspirations.
• 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.
 Home Schooling @
LNHO

 Vocational training
 Personal counseling
 Spoken English
classes
 Value education
 Spiritual tours
 Yoga classes
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.
HEALTH CARE
• BhaktiVedanta Hospital is
providing effective
healthcare to rural
population throughout
Thane district with special
focus on tribal areas in Wada
& Palghar.
Result
• These activities
have led to
appreciate
devotees and
thus help
create goodwill
among the
local villagers.
Women Empowerment
 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.
“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.”
 Ambisate

Rautpada Dighase

Jambivilli Awla

Villages
Asnoli Dabhad

To fulfill the desire of

Srila Prabhupada,
Danor Galtare
Rural Preaching at
GEV is flourishing in
15 villages over past 4 Mohilee Aunda

years.
 New Temple
Construction

Future plan: To make a new temple complex built by

sustainable materials and eco-friendly technologies.
 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.
 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
 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