ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 10/16/2016
ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 10/16/2016
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: Anuttama, Chaitanya Mangala (chair), Kripamaya, Ranaka and Sri Tulasi Manjari (secretary).
Participating Advisors: Jaya Krsna, Vraja
Participating Managers: Mukunda, Nitaicandra
1. Funding for Tractor Backhoe Attachment
WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to invest in equipment to support its ongoing farming-related projects.
RESOLVED: The Board approves up to $8,708 for the purchase of a tractor backhoe attachment.
2. Mukunda’s Monthly Report
- The majority of his time has been at the milking goshala. He has been installing vinyl, trim work, walls, and paneling.
- Next month, he anticipates rewiring the electrical, renovating the steel posts, rebuilding the back door, and finishing the walls.
- For the Steering Committee, he helped plan a meet-and-greet for the Village Council nominees and helped organize the election which will take place at the end of October.
3. Nitaicandra’s Monthly Report
- The vegetable gardens are slowing production: the squash is finished and the tomatoes, okra and peppers are slow to ripen.
- Swiss chard, kale and strawberries are producing nicely.
- Our cover crops are starting to build soil.
- Paw paws are ripe.
- There is a lack of fruit on the apple trees, possibly due to the cicadas or a late frost in May.
- We have finished harvesting potatoes, approximately 5K lbs.
- Cows and oxen are doing well at Nandagram
- Caitanya Bhagavat has been busy with fence mending.
- The oxen are now pulling logs as part of their training.
- We are having a good hay season.
- In the flower gardens, marigold season is over and preparations are being made for next season, including planting 600 bulbs of three new varieties of lilies.
- Anuradha and Nitaicandra walked the garden so she could develop a menu with the cooks for the Prabhupada festival based on the garden’s seasonal availability. This was an important step in reaching our goal of using our produce. We are grateful to her for highlighting our harvest.
- Many varieties of seeds have been saved: tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, beans, okra and amaranth. More will be ready soon.
- Krsna Nama has gone back to Bulgaria for immigration purposes. We miss his contribution to our team and hope that he returns.
Next month, he anticipates:
- Beginning work on the pit greenhouse at Nandagram
- Planting winter wheat and cover crops in the community garden with the help of the oxen
- Harvesting apples and paw paws
- Prepping the garden at Nandagram for next year’s vegetable production
4. November Joint Board Meeting Preparation
A tentative schedule was discussed:
- Friday: pre-weekend afternoon meetings, dinner at the temple
- Saturday: morning department head presentations, afternoon community dialogue, dinner at the temple
- Sunday: a morning tour & a service appreciation ceremony in the afternoon
