Newsletter #1 | December 2024

 

NEWSLETTER #01 | December 2024
-------------------------------------------------
Greetings from Balambika Sanctuary and The Vilvam Foundation!
Thank you all for your generous contributions towards our efforts to save and promote native seeds and cattle. 

Month of Karthigai
---------------------------
This monsoon, we have sown nine traditional varieties of rice - Karuppu Kavuni, Mapillai Samba, Kappakaar, Devaki, Kuzhiadichan,
Pisini, Vaigunda, Salem Samba, Sempalai and Pisini.

Day 01 : The 9 Paddy Nursery and the Puja Before Planting

Day 14 : The Nursery Babies are now old enough for Kindergarten

Day 14 : Preparation for Transplanting

Day 14 : Transplanting into 9 different Paddies arranged so that varieties that have similar  life cycles are not adjacent (to prevent cross pollination)

Day 14 : Done!

The paddy will now ripen over the next 115 to 150 days

If all goes well, once harvested, you can all expect to taste these rare varieties of rice come next April!

Month of Aadi
--------------------
Over the past three months, the vegetable seed-saving efforts have also been in full swing.  We are now growing 24 varieties of Keerai (greens), 12 varieties of Ladies Finger, 12 varieties of Brinjal, 8 varieties of Bottle Gourd, 2 varieties of Ridge Gourd, 2 varieties of Snake Gourd, 1 variety of Pumpkin, 3 varieties of Chilli, 12 varieties of Tomato, 1 variety of Radish, 2 varieties of Carrot, and 3 varieties of Beans.

Our first batch of seeds!

These seeds will once again find their way into rural homes where they will be cherished like they used to be in times before the 'Agri Shop' became the master of our food universe. Do let us know if you have a terrace garden or a garden or a balcony where you grow veggies.


Month of Aipassi
------------------------
We were graced with the birth of a baby bull - Keshava. Keshava is the baby of Lakshmi and Padmanabhan (our resident Thaarpaarkar cows whose ancestry can be traced to the Thar Desert in Sindh)