New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 10/01/2017

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 (chair), Kripamaya, Ranaka, and Vraja.

Participating Advisors: Jamuna Jivani (secretary), and Makara.

1. Ranaka’s Monthly Report

• Caitanya Bhagavat continues to work with the oxen for 1.5 hours each morning.
• The ox Priya has been diagnosed by the veterinarian as having an early form of genetic arthritis and is being retired from the ox program. He had been training with Hari who will continue to be handled individually until he is able to be paired with a new partner, hopefully one of the calves due soon.
• Robert reported on the September fruit and vegetable harvest (not including the tomatoes and green beans brought to the Valley Barn for Winter Storage). The numbers given indicate pounds:

Green Beans – 76

Carrots – 24

Apples – 32

Tomatoes – 100

Kale – 12

Chard – 31

Basil – 5

Patty Squash – 17

Strawberries – 12

Blackberries – 4

• In addition to what is listed above, Robert has been delivering to the Valley Barn processing room green beans and tomatoes for freezing. To date, 44 gallons of green beans and 33 gallons of tomatoes have been stored. This marks the end of the preserving for the season, as ECO-V’s two freezers are full.
• Ananda Vidya is milking six cows at the Temple Barn. Milk production is holding at 20 gallons per day.
• Ananda Vidya continues to produce 10-12 pounds of butter, 15 gallons of yogurt, and a half gallon of ghee on a weekly basis, and delivers them to the temple kitchens.
• Malati is due in October, and Sriya and Anjali are both due in February.
• There are three heifers residing at Temple Barn: one-month-old calf Lalita, nine-month-old Vamsika, and 18-month-old Subhadra.
• Ray finished the hay harvest for the year. We have approximately 460 new first-cutting and 200 second – and third – cutting bales in the barn, in addition to the approximately 250 bales carried over from last year.
• The main projects in October will include: harvesting, washing, and storing potatoes; spreading manure; chisel-plowing and disking areas in the temple garden; replacing the underground electric line to the Nandagram pasture cabin; pressure washing and painting the Valley Barn fences; and finishing work on Dharma the Bull’s outside pen expansion project at the Valley Barn.
• Nila Gopala is working to finish Madhu the Bull’s shed and pen at Nandagram.
• Lila is harvesting strawberries and blackberries, and weeding their spaces. She is also weeding the asparagus area.
• Suchandra, Robert and Lila are delivering between 200-300 flowers per day to the temple. Also, Robert continues to makes vases for the temple daily.
• Approximately 7,000 locally grown, organic flowers were delivered for Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra’s Pushpa Abhisheka ceremony, held on September 9th.
• Robert, Suchandra and Lila are putting the garden beds to rest for the winter and have already begun planning for next year.

2. ISKCON’s 2nd North American Farm Conference Update

Jamuna Jivani reported on the conference preparations:

• The conference is less than two weeks away.
• Currently, there are approximately 25 participants registered.
• A panel discussion on the topic of ahimsa dairy has been added to the schedule. The panel will include Balabhadra, Ranaka, Lalita Gopi, and Kalakantha.
• The seminars will primarily be held in the new Yoga Shala.
• Three-dozen organic cotton t-shirts have been ordered for the conference, which are being sponsored by ECO-V.
• The schedule still needs to be finalized and some supplies must be ordered.

3. Nila Gopal’s Resignation

Nila Gopal announced his plans to relocate to New Vraja Dhama in Hungary at the end of October. The ECO-V board members and advisors present expressed their appreciation for Nila Gopal and Sukhayanti’s service and contributions over the six months they have been involved with ECO-Vrindaban and wish them well in their future endeavors.

4. Process for New Board Members & Advisors

The ECO-V board has decided to implement a more formal procedure for those who are interested in being involved with the ECO-V. Interested parties should notify Ranaka via phone or email. He will act as the liaison to inform the board.

5. ECO-V/IMPCA Partnership

WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to strategically collaborate with similar organizations with a goal to support and encourage mutual growth.

RESOLVED: The ECO-V Board commits to a three-year partnership with the ISKCON Ministry of Cow Protection and Agriculture (IMCPA), as proposed by Kalakantha prabhu.

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