ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 07/30/2017
ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 07/30/2017
Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban.
Participating Directors: Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, Ranaka, Sri Tulasi Manjari, and Vraja.
Participating Advisors: Jaya Krsna, Makara, and Olivia
Recording Secretary: Jamuna Jivani
1. Ranaka’s Monthly Report
- Currently milking six cows at the combined rate of 22-23 gallons per day
- Three heifers are residing at the Temple Barn
- The veterinarian came to check on the pregnant cows: Sita is due in approximately six weeks and Sriya is 2.5 months pregnant by first time sire Madhu from Nandagram.
- Ray finished the goat/calf pen by attaching siding on the front of the structure and ridge vent attached on roof.
- Lalita Gopi has been planting flowers in front of the Temple Barn.
- Ananda Vidya is producing 10-12 lbs. of butter and 15 gallons of yogurt on a weekly basis for the temple kitchen.
- The Kids’ Camp spent time at the Temple Barn learning how to milk along with feeding the cows bananas and taking a cow quiz.
- Hay harvesting and storage: approximately 550 new bales are in the barn in addition to about 250 bales from last year
- Ray cleaned out the manure from under the Temple Barn roadside roofed hay feeder this week. It will be moved to the temple gardens to compost over the winter, then spread on the beds in the spring and disked in.
- Dharmakala is discontinuing her cookie business, which she has been running out of the Valley Barn. This space will be used for canning and freezing vegetables. Ray and Ranaka are preparing the space for its new function. Dharma has been hired to handle the processing.
- Fil has been working on the following projects:
- starting the first 90 minutes of his day working with the ox program
- maintenance at Nandagram and the Temple Barn
- helped with hay harvesting activities
- helped with the Kids’ Camp, harvesting triticale and threshing it in bags for making fresh chapatis.
- Robert is maintaining the Community Garden along with harvesting as things ripen.
- Sukhayanti completed updating the ECO-V herd records on a Google spreadsheet.
- ECO-V had a booth at the Wheeling Ratha Yatra, staffed by Fil, Sukhayanti and Ranaka. The visitors had the opportunity to turn cream into butter by shaking jars with a marble inside, and to learn about cow protection and farming.
2. 2017 ISKCON North America Farm Conference Update
Sri Tulasi Manjari and Jamuna Jivani reported on the previous month’s projects:
- Balabhadra will give a presentation on ox training.
- A kirtan program will be held at Prabhupada’s Palace on one of the evenings.
- Jamuna Jivani called all the devotee farms in North America to speak to them about the conference.
- An email invitation has been sent to every temple in North America.
- The flyers have just arrived and will be sent to temples and farm communities across the continent.
3. Internal Funding Request: $3.5K for November 2017 Appreciation T-shirts & Plaques
WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to acknowledge the dedication of key community members, as well as offer a token of appreciation to the INV and ECO-V staff and volunteers.
RESOLVED: The Board approves up to $3,500 as a budget for plaques and t-shirts to distribute during the November meeting weekend.
4. Venkatachalapati Advisor Resignation
After a three month trial, Venkatachalapati wished to retire as an advisor. The ECO-V board members accepted his resignation and expressed appreciation for his willingness to volunteer.
For regular updates please visit and like the ECO-V Facebook page.
