New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

What’s your favorite service for Krsna?

Jayesh and Vaishali from Cincinnati love to feed the peacocks.

Like many pilgrims, they bring their family at least twice a year to New Vrindaban, where they especially love to relax in the peaceful beauty that surrounds them.  They can usually be spotted with Grandpa, generously feeding the hungry peacocks from a maha-big size bag of wild bird feed.  “It’s all Grandpa’s idea.  He loves to feed the peacocks in New Vrindaban, so we bring a huge bag of bird feed each time we come,” exclaims Jayesh.

“I especially like the recipes I find on the Iskcon Desire Tree website,” states Vaishali.

Jayesh and Vaishali and their family show their devotion to Lord Krsna by feeding His beloved peacocks and by cooking for Krsna.  This devotional attitude is our ticket back to Godhead.

Janmastami is a good day to begin things, and we are beginning to think about a sustainable housing project to be built at Madhuban where the residents will be focused on oxen based agriculture. The following is a report prepared for us by Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station.

The Overall Perspective

Our goal is to use biomimicry (an attempt by humans to imitate nature) where ever possible, to create an overall lifestyle of partnership with nature. This practice expands to include how we eat, work and generally live our lives.

The process of designing and creating buildings that are rooted in a philosophy that incorporates biomimicry into the process is hardly a new idea. However, it is an idea that will have many important implications for the future of the planet. This awareness incorporates a holistic thinking about the earth, the environment, humankind and all of the creatures that are needed to support human life.

By learning the skills required, and participating in the construction of shelters, at Blue Rock Station we have found that people become much more aware of their impact on the planet and the choices they face. This new-found awareness can increase or reduce their impact on the earth People have also expressed that the process helps them gain a bit more control in their lives – a sense that they are able to monitor and repair building systems over the life of the structure.

And finally, by its very nature, construction utilizing sustainability concepts helps in the building of community. The shared labor required due to the low-material high-labor techniques tend to bring groups together, cooperating towards a shared common goal (construction of the building).

Principles of Sustainable Construction

This is a brief overview of the principles we employ at Blue Rock Station, a 38-acre sustainability demonstration homestead.

Location, location, location:

All buildings are consciously positioned and oriented with the latitude, contours and other natural features in mind in order to take advantage of the physical dynamics present upon the Earth.

• Passive Solar: Most of the time buildings in the northern hemisphere can capture maximum sunlight (solar gain) in the winter by orienting them (along with abundant windows) on the south side of the structure. Awnings can be used to restrict sunlight (heat) during the summer months.
• Thermal Mass: By using the thermal properties of the earth, it is possible to create the “cave effect” which establishes a permanent winter indoor temperature of 55 to 56 degrees F within certain buildings.
• Prevailing Winds: Structures can also be oriented to take advantages of or protect against prevailing weather patterns.

Use what’s available:

• Discarded materials (“clean garbage”) are plentiful throughout the world. In West Virginia, these materials may include cans, bottles and salvaged building materials (such as barns and other buildings that are scheduled to be torn down). Buildings can be designed with these materials in mind. The cost and value of the project then not only includes the end product, but the true cost may also factor in how much garbage was kept from being hauled and dumped in landfills. Local manufacturing facilities often have waste materials such as packing containers, unusable input materials, etc that could be incorporated into the design of specific projects.
• Locally sourced materials (earth, wood, stones, etc) can also be used and contribute to the ecological nature of the project.

Re-use/re-purpose:

• Birds understand that in order to make a proper nest that is warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot, they must make do with local readily available building materials such as grass, feathers, bits of twine, etc. When creating structures for humans, this gathering process can include using things like slate from roofs, re-used insulation, cupboards re-used from another building, sinks and plumbing fixtures gleaned from auctions or second-hand shops.

Water Collection:

• Water is the “oil” of this century. It is important to create structures that anticipate how water accumulates and flows on the land. Sustainable building practices need to include water collection in cisterns, and vegetated (living) roofs.

Composting:

• Some scientists report that the most serious issue facing the planet is the need to replenish the soil. Collecting biodegradable materials from the home and farm is a great way to accomplish this goal. A variety of techniques are inexpensive and efficient including worm bins, composting toilets, composting bins and other larger types of composting systems (good examples can be found at Malabar Farms, Ohio).

Black water treatment:

• In dealing with human waste, it is necessary to understand the volume of material that will be generated in a traditional toilet. It is not necessary to mix the gray water (waste water from sinks, showers and other non-toilet waste-water sources) with black water (waste originating in toilets and other highly polluted sources). Black water can be treated in a number of systems that are on the market today.
• One important concept of sustainable living is that whatever is generated on the site, must be dealt with on the site (it is not a simple matter of flush and forget). What is used and how it is disposed of becomes a daily conscious choice.

Some Advantages of using clean garbage:

Clean garbage is plentiful. Bottles, cans and tires are useful for filling in the space that make up wall cavities in structures. The garbage itself is “invisible” because the finished wall will be covered over (with some sort of material) to create a smooth finish.

Since it is merely a matter of filling in space, it seems logical to utilize materials destined for the waste stream for this purpose. Understanding the various physical properties of the waste material (insulating value, thermal mass, ability or inability to decompose) assists in selecting the right material to assist in the specific project.

Tires

Over 350 million tires are abandoned annually in the US alone. Tires rammed with earth create bricks that are capable of forming solid walls that will actually absorb heat and radiant that warmth back into the room. When used properly as part of the structure, they create a sturdy wall that will last forever. An added bonus is that tires do not deteriorate, so that if the building would need to be dismantled in the future, the same tires could be re-used in other walls, become raised beds or, by the time they would need to be removed, used for a variety of other purposes. Since tires used this way are not subjected to oxygen, sunlight or water, there is no fire risk and there appears to be no leaching (based on extensive tests) of chemicals used in their manufacture.

Bottles

Bottles are plentiful, especially brown ones. When used to create walls they also provide some insulation factor (both for warmth/cooling and sound). Bottles can also be cut and taped together to create openings for light – adding an artistic effect to the wall. Plastic as well as glass bottles can be used for this purpose, although glass bottles tend to provide better structural support (not crushed by the weight of the mud or other materials used during construction).

Cans

When used to create walls, they also provide some insulation factor (both for warmth/cooling and sound) derived from the trapped air they contain. The use of cans and/or bottles can also extend the other materials required (less adobe or cobb required, to build the walls). Also, when arrayed in a honeycomb pattern, the cans help create a lighter, but also a stronger structure than solid clay (for example).

Straw bales

A variety of baled straw products are available throughout the US (wheat, rice, barley, and others). They can provide a high insulation factor to a building and are renewable in that they are the byproduct of industrial grain production. Straw bale construction is a mature and widespread building technique. Many governmental bodies have already adopted codes and standards that apply to straw bale (no need to reinvent anything or spend a lot of time in education). In order to be effective, straw bales must remain dry over the life of the building – requiring particular attention to modifying traditional foundations and roof overhangs.

Low cost

No building material or process is “free”. While energy is used to transport re-used and re-purposed goods, and there is often a high labor cost, the true price for the structure is less than the true price of a traditionally built structure.

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Here is a nice set of pictures taken by a guest.

See the whole album here.

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Dear Prabhus

There will be a meeting and registration on Thursday, August 2 at 3:30 PM at the school house for parents wishing to register their children for the coming school year.

If you have any questions please contact Ruci

Protecting New Vrinda-vana, Land of the sacred Tulasi Trees

by Lilasuka dasi

Krsna played with His cowherd boyfriends and the gopis in Vrindavana, where Vrindadevi, or Tulasi, reigns.  We live in New Vrindavana, which is non-different from Vrindavana. We must protect this most precious village, as it is very dear to Lord Krsna.

In this mood, a mixture of a total of seven Brijbasis, long-distance Brijbasis and concerned guests met at the BlueHome Artworks Gift Shop after the Sunday feast to discuss how we can keep the land of New Vrindavana cleaner and free from unnecessary garbage through such things as recycling, and through developing less wasteful daily habits.

In attendance were: Lilasuka, Jesse (Sr.), Krpamaya, Rafael,Thakur (who lives in Moundsville), and two guests who have been here for a couple of weeks and may be staying a while longer, Bethann and Shashi. Charles was supposed to come but did not get back from his weekend trip in time for the meeting.

We brainstormed what we each feel needs to be done to help New Vrindavana at least get back to the standard she was at about 20 years ago, when there were almost 700 residents and when recycling was the norm. (continued below the pictures)

It was an exciting discussion. We invite anyone who is interested to please meet with us next Sunday at the same place, after the feast, at 3 PM. to help us brainstorm and to offer their time and/or expertise and/or ideas.

Funds are available for this, so there is a lot of hope! ECOV has promised to support related projects.  We just have to present exactly what is needed and then start doing it!

In the meantime, we’d like to share with you all some of the places where your recycling can be taken in the local area.  Glass can be taken to Bridgeport, OH, where there are recycling bins underneath the I-70 overpass, just as you get off of Wheeling Island, from Wheeling, across from Moore’s Music. You can take aluminum cans to Strauss Bros in Wheeling, near Kennedy Hardware, close to Jebbia’s. They pay .50 cents a lb for aluminum cans.  Also, Quigley Recycling in Sherrard will take cans.

Please contact Lilasuka if you have questions, or are interested to help at 304-843-1600 ext 106 (office) or her cell at 724-263-5381 or lilasooka@msn.com   Thank you.  Hare Krsna.

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by Jaya Murari das

These somewhat Delicate Fragrant Lilies are one of the many varieties of Flowers, Flowering Shrubs, etc. that were brought here by my late parents personally thru the years. After their departure from this world, a couple of devotees went to their previous residence in Indiana and brought back 2 Full 3 ton Truck-loads (overloaded) of flower bulbs, flowering shrubs, etc. and these are just one of the many varieties.

There is no suggestion that they even exist, until the first day when they send up a stalk & then by day 2 each has a 3/8 to 1/2 in. stem that reaches about knee high, the 2nd day it will have just a few flowers, and then by the 3rd & 4th days, their top has as many as 8 to 10 blossoms. Nice for Arati Offerings ..JMd

KRSNA JANMASTAMI COMING UP KI JAYA!!

The “real” Janmastami day will be on Thursday Aug. 9 this year.  We will have our Janmastami midnight celebration that night, as we usually have.

In addition to this, in the mood of ongoing celebrations so our pilgrims can join in,  we will also be celebrating Janmastami on the following dates:

-weekend of Friday Aug.3, Sat. Aug. 4, Sun. Aug.5

-weekend of Friday Aug. 10 (Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja Celebration), Sat. Aug. 11, Sun. Aug. 12

-Labor Day weekend of Friday Aug. 31, Sat. Sept. 1, Sun. Sept. 2, Mon. Sept. 3.

Schedules are attached.

Hope to see you there!   WELCOME aug 3 5 11&12TO NEW VRINDABAN.janmastami

WELCOME aug 9&10 TO NEW VRINDABAN.janmastami &vyasa

WELCOME LABOR DAY. TO NEW VRINDABAN.

Hare Krsna!  Happy Janmastami coming up!!

Balarama’s Appearance Day Festival Wed. Aug. 1   2012

On this most Auspicious Occasion, everyone is encouraged to prepare whatever preparations that you’d like 
to make for Lord Balarama on His Appearance Day.

Our goal is to offer at least a total of 56 wonderful preparations at His special evening offering.
This rare opportunity is especially meaningful to all those who are partial to HIS Special mercy.
Please have all preparations in the Temple Pujari Room no later than 6:00 PM.
Thank you for your consideration. Hare Krishna.

                                                         ***

Schedule for Wed. Aug. 1:

5:30 pm                    Abhisheka
6:00 pm                    Lecture and offering of 56 preparations
7:00 pm                    Artika and Kirtan
7:45 pm                    Prasadam Feast served

This is a reminder toplease  come and help us hold Radha Vrindaban Chandra’s colorful and festive  Puspa Abhishek ceremony tomorrow evening, Sat. July 28 right after the evening 7:00 PM arati.

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New Vrindaban’s Festival of Colors

Coming Sat.Sept. 15 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

click on the poster:  

newestFOC Poster5(1)

Color your life and throw your worries to the wind! That’s the Festival of Colors.

We’re all in this together. We all speak one language on this ecstatic day. Come and celebrate the variety of life. The Festival of Colors is neither religious nor secular – it is a family friendly gathering of people united in their desire to celebrate life.

This day will energize and bring colors into every aspect of your life.

COUNT DOWN!!!

5   –   4   –    3   –   2      –     1    –           THROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Every two hours there will be a unified “color throwing”!!

Many of you have heard of the Holi celebration where brightly colored, organic powdered chalk is thrown into the air in a tradition dating back thousands of years in India. For safety and health reasons, colors from outside are strictly prohibited.

Visit the vendors on the field between throwings to get all kinds of souvenirs and other merchandise.

At  New Vrindaban Community, 3759 McCreary’s Ridge Road, Moundsville, WV 26041