Staff Member Sonam and Jhamtse Gatsal student Shanti answer questions regarding their organic farming initiative

Q: Why did you decide to start organic farming?

Sonam: Farming is a normal practice for the people of this region. Most families have a small farm in which they grow their own food. Similarly, at Jhamtse Gatsal, we have had many small farms over the years in which we have grown different vegetables. As we are a reasonably large community, we spend a lot of money buying vegetables from external vendors. Often, these vegetables are brought from other districts and states where they are grown with chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This is not good for the health and wellbeing of the community members. It is much better when we can grow our own food in our farms where we are sure that our produce is untainted by chemicals. This is just the start; our vision is to make Jhamtse Gatsal self-sufficient in the food we eat.

Shanti: To me, organic produce is very important because it is just another term for natural. Through natural farming we can get equal if not more produce than other methods and it is free from harmful pesticides and chemicals. Also, preparing our own natural pesticides, like biodigesters and bio-enzymes, as well as simple techniques, such as mulching, bedding, mixed cropping, etc. are the foundation of growing our own food in a sustainable way.

Q: What practices do you use which are different from the ones used in your region at large?

Sonam: At the end of last year, we underwent a month-long training at Annadana Soil and Seed Savers in the state of Karnataka in southern India on some incredible practices in sustainable farming and seed conservation. We learned best practices in sowing, weeding, mulching, making beds, etc. We also learned to make our own biodigester (a natural substitute for pesticides) which has helped us ward off insects and pests. All of these practices have made a huge impact on the quality and quantity of our produce. For the last 6 months, we have grown most of the produce consumed in the Jhamtse Gatsal kitchen. This has been essential, especially now, considering the risk of buying vegetables from outside during the COVID pandemic.

Q: What do you envision for this initiative in the future?

Sonam: I think that eventually we can grow 95-100% of the food that we eat at the Community. We have already scaled up our farms by terracing some of the hillside and we hope to do more in the coming years. We also want to learn more and share the best practices with the rest of the region and the world at large. We think that growing food is an essential life skill that every human being must possess. It is the way to reach the stage where we live in cohesion with nature without disturbing its delicate ecological balance.

Shanti: I hope that our organic farming initiative will become a large-enough enterprise that people from all over the world will come to learn from us. I hope that Jhamtse Gatsal will be a learning centre for sustainable and right livelihood practices. However, before we get there, I know that we must learn a lot first – this is our goal for the next few years.

Q: Is there any message that you would like to share with the rest of the world?

Sonam: I would like to thank all of our supporters from the bottom of my heart because none of this would have been possible without your kindness and generosity. We are motivated every day to work harder and do more because of the faith that you have put in us. I would also like to request everyone to take small steps towards living a more sustainable and self-sufficient life by growing their own food.

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