Fwd: Vanvadi Van Utsav beckons! Oct 9 to 14
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Journeys With Meaning
Oct 7, 2014, 3:01:26 AM10/7/14
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Hi :)
Some of you may be interested in attending this... do take a look. It's great fun usually, being on the land right after the monsoons when it's lush green. :) Homi, Neha, and I will be there for a couple of days at least... Neha and I are going there on the 9th and will return on the 11th mostly.
Love,
Vinod
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: bharat mansata <bharat...@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, Oct 7, 2014 at 12:40 AM
Subject: Vanvadi Van Utsav beckons! Oct 9 to 14
To:
Cc: "vanuts...@gmail.com" <vanuts...@gmail.com>
Dear All,
You, your family and friends are warmly invited to the Van Utsav at Vanvadi from Oct 9 to 14, 2014. A central theme this year is: 'Land Care and Community'.
Vanvadi is a collectively owned organic forest farm (more forest than farm) in the foothills of the Sahyadris, between Mumbai and Pune, about 100 km from Mumbai, and 12 km from Neral station. It aspires to evolve into an ecological forest village community. Presently, it offers only rustic accommodation (roof and mud floor!) in a lovely natural environment, without grid electricity or piped water.
You can view some recent photographs, taken during a Vanvadi forest foods walk and rice transplant on 27-7-14, at the following flickr album:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rishigangoly/sets/72157645985354325/
The Van Utsav is a multi-generational, open-agenda, self-organised gathering in a forest setting – to celebrate nature and community, with responsibility. In a spirit of voluntary sharing, the participants themselves offer to conduct specific activities, workshops or discussions. These are announced on a common billboard, stating the time and place of each. People join what they like.
Some time every day is reserved for joint gatherings -- for miscellaneous announcements (including workshops/activities offered); and to facilitate collective self-organising and sharing of work responsibilities, including food preparation, serving, cleaning, etc.
After dinner, there is usually singing and music around a bonfire, ending by 11 pm. (So bring along your music instruments and song books!)
Van Utsav theme for October, 2014
Following the 'Back to the Land' gathering at Pune some months ago, this year's Van Utsav at Vanvadi will focus on 'Land Care and Community'. We expect there will be several workshops and discussions related to soil building, water harvesting, forest and biodiversity regeneration, organic farming/gardening, permaculture, SRI, composting, seed saving, live hedges, renewable energy, ecological habitats, sustainable land-based livelihoods, non-formal learning, community building, conflict resolution, etc.
In the past, we have also had varied workshops/activities like swimming, rope-walking, yoga, meditation, natural healing, massage, jewellery-making and other crafts, star-gazing, bird/night-life watching, etc. All these and such like are permitted too!
Suggested Voluntary Contributions
In order to meet various costs, including food – and to support the work at Vanvadi – we request a voluntary contribution of Rs 450 per person per day, and Rs 300 per day for each child within 12 years. Less or more would be equally welcome! (Work volunteers can give themselves a concession.)
Basic Responsibilities
In view of the potential hazards of a forest environment, all participants need to take full individual and collective responsibility to look after themselves, and especially any children accompanying them.
The rock pool is over 18 feet deep, and strictly for swimmers only; but a few shallower, waist-deep water-bodies are also available for non-swimmers and learners.
Keeping the Vanvadi space free of plastics and city litter; respect for the place, the local people and fellow participants; and sharing of common work, are other basic responsibilities.
Registration
To register, please fill up the Google Registration form
http://goo.gl/vFRRPZ (Ignore the bit about bringing a tent)
Alternatively, send a brief email to vanuts...@gmail.com, informing how many of you are coming for which dates. Or just land up!
We have shared sleeping arrangement for 80 people: 35 in two dwellings, and 45 more in a large, temporary shamiana.
Sleeping under the open moonlit/starlit sky would also be quite pleasant this time of the year. If you like, you are welcome to bring a tent (optional). But please do bring along a sleeping bag or at least 2 sheets, as the October nights are getting a little cold. A mosquito net may be handy if you are susceptible to bites.
For correspondence
Please email vanuts...@gmail.com
Contacts:
Vinita 022-23542420 & 09769291586, Neesha 09833865076, Sanjiv 09892212133 or Rishi 09322727415.
For local directions/assistance, you can also call Daulat (Vanvadi) on 08975369853.
We look forward to see you!
With love,
Van Utsav 2014
Van Utsav 2014: Sessions offered (upto 5th Oct, 2014)
Thursday, 9th October,
11 am to 11.30 am: Introduction to Vanvadi and the Van Utsav – Bharat Mansata (founder-member of Vanvadi)
11.30 am to 1 pm: Hands-on workshop on ‘Making screen partitions of teak leaves and bamboo strips’ -- led by Ram (Vanvadi adivasi worker)
3 pm to 5.30 pm: Hands-on workshop on ‘Machaan building’ – led by Daulat (Vanvadi adivasi worker); continued on following days too
Friday, 10th October
10.30 am to 1 pm: Workshop on ‘Soil and Water Conservation’ – led by Vasant Futane, organic farmer with over 30 years experience
3pm to 5.30 pm: Forest Foods walk – led by Mahadu Bua and Ambibai (Senior adivasi caretaker couple at Vanvadi)
3 pm to 5.30 pm: Hands-on workshop on bamboo tokri (basket) making – led by (local adivasi workers)
Saturday, 11th October:
10.30 am to 1 pm: Workshop on Traditional Seeds – led by Vasant Futane
3 pm to 5.30 pm: Workshop on ‘Converting Organic Wastes (including human excreta) into Biogas Energy’ – led by Dr Emmanuelle D’Silva, environmental scientist
3 pm to 5.30 pm: Workshop on traditional (local) adivasi food culture, including cultivated millets, etc and uncultivated forest foods; also recipes – led by Ambibai
Sunday, 12th October:
11 am to 1 pm: Talk & Discussion on ‘Adivasi Forest and Farming Culture and Current Threats’ – led by Mahadu Bua and Kashi Bua (local adivasis)
3 pm to 5.00 pm: Talk and discussion on creating an ecological forest village community – led by Bharat (Vanvadi)
Monday, 13th October & Tuesday, 14th October: No sessions offered yet
PS: Many slots (including parallel sessions) are still open; so please do offer any workshop/activity/discussion you like!
Date: Tue, Oct 7, 2014 at 12:40 AM
Subject: Vanvadi Van Utsav beckons! Oct 9 to 14
To:
Cc: "vanuts...@gmail.com" <vanuts...@gmail.com>
There are 2 major changes in the following invitation to the Van Utsav at Vanvadi, Oct 9 to 14:
One, you don't now need to bring a tent!
Two, you don't have to register in advance.
And of course, you can come for just a day or two, or longer if you like.
But do read through the following invite and update; and peek at the photos too (taken on July 27, 2014).
Hope to see you there, and trust you will have a lovely time; it's a glorious season on the land!
Warmly,
Bharat
One, you don't now need to bring a tent!
Two, you don't have to register in advance.
And of course, you can come for just a day or two, or longer if you like.
But do read through the following invite and update; and peek at the photos too (taken on July 27, 2014).
Hope to see you there, and trust you will have a lovely time; it's a glorious season on the land!
Warmly,
Bharat
09967371183
PS: The directions to Vanvadi are attached.
Dear All,
You, your family and friends are warmly invited to the Van Utsav at Vanvadi from Oct 9 to 14, 2014. A central theme this year is: 'Land Care and Community'.
Vanvadi is a collectively owned organic forest farm (more forest than farm) in the foothills of the Sahyadris, between Mumbai and Pune, about 100 km from Mumbai, and 12 km from Neral station. It aspires to evolve into an ecological forest village community. Presently, it offers only rustic accommodation (roof and mud floor!) in a lovely natural environment, without grid electricity or piped water.
You can view some recent photographs, taken during a Vanvadi forest foods walk and rice transplant on 27-7-14, at the following flickr album:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rishigangoly/sets/72157645985354325/
The Van Utsav is a multi-generational, open-agenda, self-organised gathering in a forest setting – to celebrate nature and community, with responsibility. In a spirit of voluntary sharing, the participants themselves offer to conduct specific activities, workshops or discussions. These are announced on a common billboard, stating the time and place of each. People join what they like.
Some time every day is reserved for joint gatherings -- for miscellaneous announcements (including workshops/activities offered); and to facilitate collective self-organising and sharing of work responsibilities, including food preparation, serving, cleaning, etc.
After dinner, there is usually singing and music around a bonfire, ending by 11 pm. (So bring along your music instruments and song books!)
Van Utsav theme for October, 2014
Following the 'Back to the Land' gathering at Pune some months ago, this year's Van Utsav at Vanvadi will focus on 'Land Care and Community'. We expect there will be several workshops and discussions related to soil building, water harvesting, forest and biodiversity regeneration, organic farming/gardening, permaculture, SRI, composting, seed saving, live hedges, renewable energy, ecological habitats, sustainable land-based livelihoods, non-formal learning, community building, conflict resolution, etc.
In the past, we have also had varied workshops/activities like swimming, rope-walking, yoga, meditation, natural healing, massage, jewellery-making and other crafts, star-gazing, bird/night-life watching, etc. All these and such like are permitted too!
Suggested Voluntary Contributions
In order to meet various costs, including food – and to support the work at Vanvadi – we request a voluntary contribution of Rs 450 per person per day, and Rs 300 per day for each child within 12 years. Less or more would be equally welcome! (Work volunteers can give themselves a concession.)
Basic Responsibilities
In view of the potential hazards of a forest environment, all participants need to take full individual and collective responsibility to look after themselves, and especially any children accompanying them.
The rock pool is over 18 feet deep, and strictly for swimmers only; but a few shallower, waist-deep water-bodies are also available for non-swimmers and learners.
Keeping the Vanvadi space free of plastics and city litter; respect for the place, the local people and fellow participants; and sharing of common work, are other basic responsibilities.
Registration
To register, please fill up the Google Registration form
http://goo.gl/vFRRPZ (Ignore the bit about bringing a tent)
Alternatively, send a brief email to vanuts...@gmail.com, informing how many of you are coming for which dates. Or just land up!
We have shared sleeping arrangement for 80 people: 35 in two dwellings, and 45 more in a large, temporary shamiana.
Sleeping under the open moonlit/starlit sky would also be quite pleasant this time of the year. If you like, you are welcome to bring a tent (optional). But please do bring along a sleeping bag or at least 2 sheets, as the October nights are getting a little cold. A mosquito net may be handy if you are susceptible to bites.
For correspondence
Please email vanuts...@gmail.com
Contacts:
Vinita 022-23542420 & 09769291586, Neesha 09833865076, Sanjiv 09892212133 or Rishi 09322727415.
For local directions/assistance, you can also call Daulat (Vanvadi) on 08975369853.
We look forward to see you!
With love,
Van Utsav 2014
Van Utsav 2014: Sessions offered (upto 5th Oct, 2014)
Thursday, 9th October,
11 am to 11.30 am: Introduction to Vanvadi and the Van Utsav – Bharat Mansata (founder-member of Vanvadi)
11.30 am to 1 pm: Hands-on workshop on ‘Making screen partitions of teak leaves and bamboo strips’ -- led by Ram (Vanvadi adivasi worker)
3 pm to 5.30 pm: Hands-on workshop on ‘Machaan building’ – led by Daulat (Vanvadi adivasi worker); continued on following days too
Friday, 10th October
10.30 am to 1 pm: Workshop on ‘Soil and Water Conservation’ – led by Vasant Futane, organic farmer with over 30 years experience
3pm to 5.30 pm: Forest Foods walk – led by Mahadu Bua and Ambibai (Senior adivasi caretaker couple at Vanvadi)
3 pm to 5.30 pm: Hands-on workshop on bamboo tokri (basket) making – led by (local adivasi workers)
Saturday, 11th October:
10.30 am to 1 pm: Workshop on Traditional Seeds – led by Vasant Futane
3 pm to 5.30 pm: Workshop on ‘Converting Organic Wastes (including human excreta) into Biogas Energy’ – led by Dr Emmanuelle D’Silva, environmental scientist
3 pm to 5.30 pm: Workshop on traditional (local) adivasi food culture, including cultivated millets, etc and uncultivated forest foods; also recipes – led by Ambibai
Sunday, 12th October:
11 am to 1 pm: Talk & Discussion on ‘Adivasi Forest and Farming Culture and Current Threats’ – led by Mahadu Bua and Kashi Bua (local adivasis)
3 pm to 5.00 pm: Talk and discussion on creating an ecological forest village community – led by Bharat (Vanvadi)
Monday, 13th October & Tuesday, 14th October: No sessions offered yet
PS: Many slots (including parallel sessions) are still open; so please do offer any workshop/activity/discussion you like!
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