In the month of May this year we met with HH Bhakti Raghava Swami Maharaja to discuss the developments of our Yashodapura Eco Village (YEV) project in Siem Reap. In the meeting we formulated some plans for this upcoming year. We identified various services that could be taken up in the farm such us 1) building a fence, 2) making a nursery, and 3) planting the moringa trees. Moringa leaves and fruits are very rich in Protein and Vitamin, and in the Vedas the moringa is known as “drum stick”. Brahmanas are fond of this food as the seed is also very medicinal.
After Maharaja’s departure to Australia, we went together with Kisora Prabhu and Jagadish Ananda Prabhu to the YEV; there we made some evaluations for the project and we decided to only focus work in the small area near the ashrama building, and build a strong fence to protect the plants from outside cows and bulls. So since that day till now the end of July we have been working on the fence. We installed wooden poles every two-meters and these poles are now growing making a “live fence” as we can see on the pictures. The plot that we protect within the fence is about 50 square meters; there are already some bananas, and some leaf vegetables, flowers and lemon grass. At the end of July the fence is fully ready. Also to secure the trees in our forest we also put up a sign in Khmer “Do Not Steal God’s Property” so that if somebody wants to steal our trees he will think about it first.
To reach our project we need one hour to travel from Siem Reap town. The road to the village is quite easy but the road from the village to the farm is a bit difficult because of almost daily heavy rain, and the bridge is broken because of big floods. Fortunately, some villagers there always help us to bring our motorbike across the river. Along the way, we distribute prasadam to children and people. Last time we got some prasadam from Mayapur Dham, we distributed to fortunate local people. They are always very happy to receive any prasadam that we give even if it is only a small sweet balls. And some villagers they always ask us “where is the sweet, where is the sweet”? Twice a month we also do regular food for life program in the village.
In this rainy season we continue to produce our own food by growing some beans and sponge guard, which has been growing nicely. There are also some green leaf vegetables growing naturally, and the bananas are starting to grow green again after a long dry season. Flowers, lemon grass, and mangos also continued to grow.
Our daily services during the four weekly days we stay at the farm are as follows; in the morning we do our puja to the Deities, then we cook and offer Bhoga to the Defies. At about 8.00 AM we start to work till 11.00 AM. We then take bath, rest and have lunch at 1.30 PM. We then again start working at 3.00 PM after doing some rounds of japa. We finish by 6.00 PM, then take bath and do our chanting again before we go to sleep. We have our small Deities of Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra as well as small deities of Sri-Sri Gaura Nitai.
We also have one family working on our land although now they are not staying on our land. They came during the day and work on one hectare plot that we are borrowing to them. At present we don’t have our own cows but we take help from our neigbor’s cows and collect the cow dung from them to use for our agriculture.
By the mercy of Guru and Krishna we will continue to update the news regulary once a month from Yashodapura Eco Village. We would like to tank very much all the devotees and our well-wishers who suport our project. Of course we need more help in diferent ways to help fullfill Srila Prabhupada’s mission of establishing Farm Comunities. If anyone has interest to suport this project please kindly write to us. We will be happy to offer a proposal that we have prepared for the up-coming years.
Thank you very much,
Your servant,
Gunaavatara dasa
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