Govinda’s Restaurant Transformation at New Vrindaban
By Nityodita das
The opening of the newly renovated Govinda’s Vegetarian Restaurant Friday May 10, 2013 for the Festival of Inspiration was another of New Vrindaban’s famous miraculous marathons! On Thursday, May 9, the restaurant was literally a construction site of scattered tools, ladders, paint buckets, wires and unfinished projects. When we opened on Friday afternoon, even we were astonished at the transformation!
View from inside Govinda’s
The visiting devotees and NV residents were treated to a really unique and beautifully designed prasadam experience, with red and white lotus pendant lights dangling above intimate, tastefully designed booths. The fourteen-foot black “big city” ceiling gave the main dining room a spacious feel. In contrast, with its raised floor and faux candle chandelier, the back VIP dining room provided a special atmosphere which perfected its design when Radhanath Swami and senior Prabhupada disciples relished prasadam and association there! The one of a kind custom built eight foot circular buffet table was swarmed by hungry devotees day and night as they circumambulated Krsna in his Prasadam Incarnation. The nine course buffet consisted of two rice dishes, dahl, two subjis which included either a Panir or curried soya dish, puris, pakora, salad, and Halavah or sweet rice. Better than a Sunday Feast? The guests thought so!
Although we had no time to properly organize, customers were served by a staff of a dozen Brijabasis as well as volunteer devotees from New York and Alachua. Special orders of pizza, dosas, and sandwiches were whisked to hungry guests and there were no traditionally long lines or waits!
Restaurant Waiting Area
Overall, the devotees were happy. However, from the management point of view, we have so many things to improve. Our walk-in cooler is not yet operable, our kitchen needs organization, our front end staff needs training, our credit card machine needs hooking up, the Lassi booth (“Snack Shack”! ) needs to be cleaned out, rewired, re-equipped, restocked and reopened.
Entry to Adjoining Gift Shop
Very importantly, we need to do advertising and promotion to the local area to attract the locals, as prasadam distribution is our secret preaching weapon! I remember a letter from Srila Prabhupada to Kirtanananda Swami about how pleased he was that the N.V.cooking was attracting locals. There are devotees out there! They just need to be reawakened by the Holy Food, Holy Name, Holy Books, Holy Place and Holy People!
Hare Krsna!
Cottage Building Workshop Continues in New Vrindaban
by Chaitanya Mangala das
This prototype sleeping cabin is being built in the woods near the Garden of Seven Gates. When complete, it will provide housing for agriculture interns in New Vrindaban.
The foundation of this eco-friendly house is made from rammed-earth tires, the walls are constructed using straw bale infill and covered with concrete.
Come join us Saturday, June 22nd for the second part of the Green Builders Workshop.
PLEASE NOTE: This workshop was changed from June 10 to June 22.
Semi completed cabin
During this session Jay & Annie Warmke, of the Blue Rock Station Sustainable Living Center, will share the basic techniques of earth plastering as we finish the walls of the new cottage.
ECOV is sponsoring the project, and scholarships are available to devotees. For more information, contact: Lilasuka at 304-843-1600 ext 106.
Forest Path from the Cabin.
Garden of 7 Gates near the cabin.
ECOV Board Meeting Minutes April 21 2013
ECOV Board Meeting Minutes 4/21-2013
Participating Members of the ECOV Board of Directors: Anuttama, Chaitanya Mangala, Krpamaya, Madhava Gosh, Navin Shyam, Ranaka
Advisors present: Varsana Swami, Jaya Krsna
1. Restoration of Utility Building at Bahulaban
WHEREAS: The ECOV Board wishes to assist INV in preserving the utility building at Bahulaban for future use.
RESOLVED: The Board grants INV up to $5K to take temporary measures to reduce further deterioration and improve the Utility Building’s appearance, including but not limited to, making necessary patches on the roof and windows, painting the exterior that can be seen from the road and clearing out some of the refuse, both inside and outside.
2. Demolition of pink building at Bahulaban
WHEREAS: The ECOV Board wishes to improve the over all appearance of New Vrindaban and, whenever possible, recycle/reuse the rubble in various projects around the Community.
RESOLVED: The Board authorizes a grant to INV of up to $30,000, as required, for demolishing the pink building at Bahulaban. Half of the total amount spent shall be a direct grant, and half shall be a loan, to be repaid from the first of any payments INV receives in connection with gas leasing royalties.
New Vrindaban’s 24 Hour Kirtan 2013!
Hare Krishna!
We’re thrilled to announce New Vrindaban’s 7th Annual 24 Hour Kirtan 2013! As always, the festival will be held on the third weekend in June, 15-16.
Please visit the Mantralogy site for details.
Last year’s audio files, and indeed all years’, are available for free download on ISKCON Desire Tree.
Please scroll down to the last file to get all of last year’s kirtans in one 1287.43 MB zip file.
Last year featured two historic reunions with HH Radhanath Maharaja playing mrdanga for HH Varsana Maharaja, and HG Badahari Prabhu and HG Agnideva Prabhu singing together after many years. Please see the photos below.
Agnideva Prabhu and Madhava are confirmed to come this year as well as our regulars– Gaura Vani, Ananta Govinda, Acyuta Gopi, the Mayapuris, etc. . . . Hope you are all inspired to attend this year!
Agnideva and Badahari Prabhus
HH Radhanath Swami and HH Varsana Swami
Madhava
Mayapuris
Friday Evening Lord Nrshimhadev Appearance Day Schedule
5:00 PM LECTURE
6:00 PM ABHISHEK of big Lord Nrsimhadev by 2nd initiated devotees only, on the altar. Simultaneous abhishek of small Lord Nrsimhadev in the temple room.
7:00 PM AROTI
7:45 PM LORD NRSIMHADEVA’S feast
Spring Workshops in New Vrindaban and Wheeling
New Vrindaban Food Independence Workshops
Spring 2013 Schedule of Events
*Ten workshops free and open to the public to explore the realm of self-sufficient living
-Saturday’s workshops are held at sites in Wheeling, beginning at 12:00 noon.
-Sunday’s workshops are conducted in New Vrindaban, beginning at 3:00 p.m.
For information contact The Small Farm Training Center. Email:info@farmeduction.org
Workshop Detailed Descriptions Below:
The Teaching Garden in New Vridaban
Raised Beds, Cold Frames and Square Food Gardening Basics
Date &Time: Saturday, May 18th , 12:00 noon
Where: Wheeling Island Garden Hub. Behind Madison School on Maryland St. (adjoining the Island Rats Community Garden)
Presenter: Robert Martin, Green Wheeling Initiative
Contact info: Email: ompottery108@ gmail.com
Workshop description: Turning a small space into a viable garden with optimal production, requires raised beds, easy-to-build cold frames and square foot gardening techniques. Robert Martin’s talk is full of pracrtical “show ‘n’ tell” advice. He’s designed and built raised bed gardens on several elementary and pre-school playgrounds in Ohio and Marshall Counties. His 2012 workshop attracted over 40 attendees who marveled at seeing tomato and basil plants growing out of hay bales used as cold frames. Robert is also a skilled composter and will answer questions regarding alternative composting techniques, where to locate a composting station and where or not to use an open bin.
Food Independence: The Early Early, Really Early Garden
Date & Time: Sunday, May 19th, 3:00 P.M.
Where: Small Farm Training Center, 3759 McCreary’s Ridge Rd, Moundsville, WV 26041. New Vrindaban Community, Marshall Co., WV.
Contact info: Email: info@farmeducation.org
Presenter: Terry Sheldon, Small Farm Training Center
Contact info: Email: info@farmeducation.org
Workshop description: Direct seeding peas, lettuce, spinach radish, mustard chard, fava beans, beets etc as early as March 1st? Impossible! Terry Sheldon, Director of the Small Farm Training Center, has done it for years. If you really want to break away from dependency on those expensive chemical veggies from California, here’s the workshop that demonstrates the materials, tools and tips that lead to and early and continuous harvest. Seeing is believing.
‘No Till’ Gardens: A Fit for City and Suburban Plots
Date & Time: Saturday, May 25th , 12:00 noon
Where: The 18th St. Overpass Garden, corner of Wood St. and 18th St. under the elevated highway in East Wheeling.
Presenter: Danny Swan, East Wheeling Community Gardens.
Contact info: Email: dannyswaninchina@ aol.com
Workshop description: Starting a city or suburban garden plot on poor soils is remedied by learning a few simple ‘no till’ perma-culture principles. “No till” garden sites in East Wheeling have produced thousands of pounds of organic produce without back breaking tillage—even on abandoned urban lots with virtually no topsoil. Danny Swan, co-founder of the Green Wheeling Initiative, explains the methods, tools and strategies behind “no dig” gardening. Learn how to convert garden problems into opportunities
Local Plant Identification and Making Potent Herbal Medicines
Date & Time: Sunday, May 26th, 3:00 P.M.
Where: Small Farm Training Center, 3759 McCreary’s Ridge Road, Moundsville, WV 26041, New Vrindaban Community, Marshall Co., WV.
Presenter: Dr. Nick Tsacrios
Workshop description: Eighty percent (80%) of the most valued medicinal herbs that inhabit the continental United States are found in the Northern Panhandle of
West Virginia. This is due to the region’s rugged terrain, a unique topography which
gives rise to a diversity of micro-climates. Hike the fields, woodlots and meadows with herbalist Nick Tsacrios, an MD graduate of the University of Florida. Nick has twenty years of experience applying the use or medicinal herbs in rural West Virginia. He presents a compelling case for the use of local medicines, their traditional uses and how to make tinctures, salves and tonics from wild crafted plants.
Compost Heaven: Transforming Bio-Waste into Black Gold
Date & Time: Saturday, June 1st, 12:00 noon.
Where: The 18th St. Overpass Garden, corner of Wood St. and 18th St. under the elevated highway in East Wheeling.
Presenters: Gary Perigo and Danny Swan
Contact info: Email: perigo449@comcast.net
Workshop Description: What we normally think of as waste—food scraps, discarded paper, yard waste etc—is the building block of healthy soil. Every garden site, big or small, needs a composting area to create a closed loop, no outside input nutrient stream. Gary Perigo, Marshall Co. Extension Master Gardener, and Danny Swam team up to take the mystery out of what to do with all that bio-mass “stuff.” They demonstrate various composting strategies—including vermiculture—for novices and veteran recyclers alike. Composting doesn’t have to be a smelly pile of rotting matter when you know how to transform it and nutrient dense black gold.
Cows Are Cool
Date & Time: Sunday, June 2nd. 3:00 P.M.
Where: Small Farm Training Center, Temple Dairy Barn, 3759 McCreary’s Ridge Rd, Moundsville, WV, 2604,New Vrindaban Community.
Presenter: George Connor
Workshop description: Not so long ago, Ohio and Marshall Co.’s were dotted with hundreds of independent family run dairy farms. Local dairy farming has since been replaced by a beef cattle monoculture. Is there a future for dairy? Why are cows integral to sustainability? Hear why cows are unique amongst domesticated farm animals. It may look like mother cow doesn’t have a care in the world, but there’s a lot more going on behind those big brown eyes. Visit a functioning diary barn and meet the cow herdsmen (and women) who milk, feed, groom and raise these gentle ladies. Taste fresh (pasteurized) cows milk and see a demonstration on how to make quick curd (cottage cheese).
Starting A Community Garden from Scratch
Date & Time: Saturday, June 8th, 12:00 noon
Where: Pulaski Community Garden site, Jacob St. across from Pulaski Park in South Wheeling.
Presenters: Connie Hoge, Brother John, Ginger Kabala and Marty Wach
Contact info: Email: choge4@yahoo.com
Workshop description: Meet some of the core members of the Green Wheeling Initiative as they showcase the Pulaski Community Garden project in South Wheeling. This is a real success story about a team of South Wheeling residents from the South Wheeling Preservation Alliance. With the guidance of veteran gardener Marty Wach, they’ve created a gardening gem worth touring. Here’s practical advice on how to take a weed infested private lot and turn it into a cooperatively run productive growing site. Hear about their trials, tribulations and victories and how they’re marketing fresh produce at Center Market.
Using Plastic Ground Covers in Gardens: The Pros and Cons:
Date &Time: Sunday, June 9th, 3:00 P.M.
Where: The Small Farm Training Center, 3759 McCreary’s Ridge Rd, Moundsville, WV 26041. New Vrindaban Community, Marshall Co., WV.
Presenter: Terry Sheldon
Contact info: Email: info@farmeducation.org.
Workshop description: This is a highly instructive workshop for seeing the benefits of using woven plastic ground covers and translucent insect barriers on small and large scale growing sites. When properly installed, ground covers cut weeding chores to almost nil Floating row cover thwarts insects and stymie ground hog invasions. What’s the difference between opaque plastic cover and woven ground cover? How do you anchor it down? How long does it last? How do you cut holes for vegetable transplants without ruining the fabric? Take a walking tour and observe how ground covers are being effectively used in the ½ acre Teaching Garden and the 6.5 acre mini-farm called the Garden of Seven Gates.
Growing and Protecting Vegetables When the Weather Turns Crazy
Date & Time: Saturday, June 15th, 12:00 noon.
Where: Wheeling Island Garden Hub. Behind Madison School on Maryland St. (adjoining the Island Rats Community Garden).
Presenter: Andy Reed
Contact info: Email: a1reed@sbcglobal.net
Workshop description: As weather patterns become more unpredictable, knowing how to protect your food supply is becoming critically important. Andy Reed, the owner operator of Apogee Botanical Gardens, grows a wide variety of perennial and annual fruits, brambles and vegetables on a steep hillside in Brigdeport, Ohio. He discusses and displays his experience in season extension to devise winning strategies for plant protection from the elements. Attendees are welcome to visit Andy’s botanical growing site after the workshop ends.
Comfrey: Miracle Herb for Healing, Nutrition and Farming
Date & Time: Sunday, June 16th, 3:00 P.M.
Where: The Small Farm Training Center, 3759 McCreary’s Ridge Rd, Moundsville, WV 26041. New Vrindaban Community, Marshall Co., WV.
Presenter, Nick Tsacrios Master Herbalist, physician and
Contact info: (304) 845-7239
Workshop description: Back by popular demand from the 2012 workshop series is the seminar on how to utilize the roots and leaves of comfrey—aka “knit bone.” Comfrey is a key component to nutrition, healing and farming practice, and is the only land plant containing Vitamin B-12. Comfrey’s ability to heal fractures, wounds and broken bones is universally recognized. An easy to propagate perennial, comfrey salve is a must for every medicine cabinet. Nick walks us through the methods and materials needed to harvest, dry, formulate and use this gift of nature.
Please Come to Meet with and Spend Time with SRILA PRABHUPADA Wednesday, May 22nd
WEDNESDAY:
Please Come to Meet with and Spend Time with SRILA PRABHUPADA (on next Wednesday, May 22nd) at Srila Prabhupada’s Palace Srimad Bhagavatam Remembrance Day
On May 22nd in 1969, Srila Prabhupada gave his first Srimad Bhagavatan lecture at New Vrindaban, from First Canto, Chapter 5, Verses (1-4).
Devotees are invited to share memories and readings from Srila Prabhupada’s given lectures in New Vrindaban, as well as impart how these lectures have helped them on thei spiritual journey.
SANGAM SCHEDULE:
5:45 P.M. Bhajans
6:00 P.M. Readings and Sharing of Memories and Realizations
7:00 P.M. Arotika (Followed by Honoring Prasadam)
your servant
Kripamaya das
The 13th Festival of Inspiration at New Vrindaban
The temple room was packed.
This year, the Festival was indeed an inspiration, according to many visitors to New Vrindaban on May 10, 11 and 12, 2013. Before the Festival of Inspiration got under way, it was not without its tense moments. On Thursday morning, May 10, you never could have imagined that Govinda’s Vegetarian Restaurant at the Palace Lodge would be fully functioning that evening. That morning, the place was strewn with tables, paint brushes and out-of-place counters. But, by Krsna’s mercy, and the hard work and dedication of many devotees, it all came together right on time. This year there were some real improvements not only in the restaurant, but in the Palace Lodge rooms and the new New Vrindaban Welcome Center as well.
One pilgrim at the festival commented on the efficiency of the new Welcome Center. “I especially appreciate the enthusiastic and helpful attitude of the young ladies working there who greeted me.”
The opening of the fully renovated restaurant was a miracle in itself. “Govinda’s Vegetarian Restaurant looks like a high class dining room. The food was very good – not too spicy. And I felt very comfortable sitting in one of their booths. The cake was amazing.”
One guest remarked, “I really felt welcomed and I also appreciated the love coming from the devotees with whom I came in contact during the Festival of Inspiration.”
Another young woman said that she felt “very well taken care of by the ladies in the asrama. “ Her husband commented that, “The very artistically performed drama about the Bhagavad Gita was the high point for me.”
A disciple of Bhaktitirtha Swami who attended the Festival was remembering something that her guru had said. He always emphasized the importance of appreciating every devotee. In this same mood, the disciple wanted especially to acknowledge all the hard work that was put into this Festival of Inspiration by each and every devotee, from the organizers of the presentations down to the pot washers and construction workers, as well as so many others behind the scenes.”
In the Bhagavad Gita, Krsna claims: “I carry what My devotees lack and preserve what they have.” Rarely was this experienced more clearly than before and during the 13th Festival of Inspiration. The restaurant, the renovated lodge rooms, and the welcome center were all functioning right on time, and the residents and pilgrims enjoyed so much inspiring kirtan, classes and association. Krsna carried New Vrindaban through those tense, yet exciting moments leading up to the Festival and made it glorious.
The Sacred Cow – Classic ITV Video
Documentary investigating why the cow is considered sacred in India.
9 Case Studies at Govardhana EcoVillage – Presented by Gauranga Prabhu – Saturday, May 13th, 2013, 5pm
Dear Brijabasis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I am happy to announce that Gauranga Prabhu, Chowpatti Temple’s Vice President, will visit New Vrindaban this weekend.He will present to the New Vrindaban Community “9 Case Studies at “Govardhana EcoVillage“.
ISKCON Chowpatti realized at their farm an impressive EcoVillage with many wonderful features of interest for the future development in New Vrindaban. Please attend his presentation and learn about ISKCON Chowpatti’s experience in building an EcoVillage.
Date: Saturday, May 18th, 2013
Hour: 5pm
Place: under the Lodge
Title: 9 Case Studies at Govardhana EcoVillage
Speaker: Gauranga Prabhu
Hare Krishna.
Your servant,
Jaya Krsna das
Welcome to Brijabasi Spirit
Thank you for taking the time to visit the New Vrindaban community blog. Think of visiting our blog as making a virtual pilgrimage.
Hare Krishna Hare KrishnaKrishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
"May cows stay in front of me; may cows stay behind me; may cows stay on both sides of me. May I always reside in the midst of cows."
Hari Bhakti-vilas 16.252
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