Garden Bounty

Hare Krishna!

Due to your contributions, the construction of the shelter for old cows is completed! Thank you so much! Read more details about this success story in the article Old Cows Sheltered.

We were recently sponsored by the ISKCON Alachua temple to go there as counsels to the beginning of their eco/village cow protection program. The Alachua devotee community is the largest in the USA. It was inspiring to hear of the plan to include cow protection in the educational development of the children there. Find out more at: Cow Protection in Alachua.

When we came back from our trip to Alachua, we found our garden in full swing. Due to the ever changing weather patterns we did not begin the main harvest in July as usual. Now the harvest is happening all at once. Read more at: Garden Bounty.

Last year we asked for your help to get an ATV with a brush hog attachment to mow the pastures. Due to your donations we were able to purchase it but we never got back to you about how it worked. Check out the video at: Clearing Pastures for the Cows.

May Lord Krsna bless you for your support of cow protection. Thank you for all your help.

Your servant,
Chayadevi
ISCOWP Co-Managing Director

Old Cows Sheltered

The best price on lumber for us is to go directly to the sawmill where we can get rough cut lumber right off the blade. It is wet so it is heavy, but when it is dry it is very strong. On this building we used poplar. We had the option to use oak, but it was more expensive and the poplar would be just fine for our needs. All of the beams were fastened with lag bolts which gave added strength.

Like all of our other buildings we used a tin roof with a painted enamel finish. We also get a very good deal on this from our neighbor who is a metal roof dealer.

https://youtu.be/ce2XDb5gSKk

Cow Protection in Alachua

Keshihanta and Devaki have been taking care of the cows at ISKCON Alachua for 25 years. They have a program Save the Cow for the remaining seven cows.They are exemplary cowherds and an inspiration to all with their steadfast dedication to cow protection. With their extensive experience, they will help guide the ISKCON Alachua temple’s proposed new endeavor to create an eco/village cow protection project.

ISCOWP was sponsored by the ISKCON Alachua temple to go to Alachua to counsel the beginning development of their eco/village cow protection project. It was enlivening to hear of the concept of teaching the practical as well as the cultural and spiritual benefits of cow protection to the youth in the community which is the largest Hare Krsna community in the USA. All our best wishes to Chitralekha dasi who will be the project’s main cowherd.

Krsna Bhakta and family bought a 30 acre farm close to Alachua temple. A herd of Black Angus cows were already on the farm. If Krsna Bhakta and family did not buy the herd, the owner would sell all the cows for slaughter. Compelled to save the cows, Krsna Bhakta and family bought the herd and are now caring for 22 cows!

Garden Bounty

It has been a good growing season for watermelon. Last year all our melons were killed by some disease. Broccoli is also growing well whereas in previous years it would be ruined by bugs. Although a late harvest due to the weather patterns this growing season, our harvest is bountiful.

Clearing Pastures for the Cows

At the end of last year and the beginning of this year we had a campaign to help us purchase an ATV and brush hog attachment for the purpose of mowing the pastures regularly to keep the maximum grass growing for the cows by cutting the weeds before seed germination. Much of our land is hilly and rough. By rough we mean rocky and with holes from groundhogs and other critters. Balabhadra did not want to risk utilizing a team of oxen on this terrain.

Now we have found out that the equipment works really well and seems to cut all weeds down. It is a rough ride and we found that hills can not be mowed horizontally but mowed vertically and gone around in a circle formation. Even then there are some spots that have to be let alone as the ATV and brush hog almost tipped over when nearing them.