Thanks to friends - new & old - who attended this year's AGM!
It was a great opportunity to celebrate work Fertile Ground has been doing in Assam,
and to introduce some of the awesome "changemakers" in Assam's organic farming movement
- featured in the slide show below!
It was a great opportunity to celebrate work Fertile Ground has been doing in Assam,
and to introduce some of the awesome "changemakers" in Assam's organic farming movement
- featured in the slide show below!
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Click on What We Do on the toolbar above to read about initiatives we've worked on over the past 14 years!
To visit our blog - click HERE!
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In northeast India, many farmers and growers are looking for information and training that will enable them to follow more sustainable farming practices. There's still a need for greater access to information about composting, mulching, improving soil fertility, and natural pest control.
Since 2003, Fertile Ground has provided encouragement, training and resources to farmers, small-scale tea growers, extension staff, teachers, students and families living in the state of Assam. Our projects support people to grow healthy food by combining important elements of India's traditional knowledge with simple organic practices that make use of locally available materials.
An important part of our work is providing opportunities for volunteers to take part in outreach activities in towns and villages throughout the state - to share their skills and enthusiasm and exchange information about the cultures and values of our two countries
Since 2003, Fertile Ground has provided encouragement, training and resources to farmers, small-scale tea growers, extension staff, teachers, students and families living in the state of Assam. Our projects support people to grow healthy food by combining important elements of India's traditional knowledge with simple organic practices that make use of locally available materials.
An important part of our work is providing opportunities for volunteers to take part in outreach activities in towns and villages throughout the state - to share their skills and enthusiasm and exchange information about the cultures and values of our two countries
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CanadaHelps charges a fee when receiving funds on our behalf.
For donations over $500, please contact us to discuss options.... 
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A few highlights from 2017......
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A beautiful new 12 bed farmers' hostel - a joint venture of Indian Oil Corporation, Digboi Rotary Club and Fertile Ground - was inaugurated in March 2017 at the Adarsh Seuj Prakalpa organic farming centre in Digboi, Assam.
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We're continuing to increase our library of videos in Assamese, English and other local languages. Many are available for viewing and download on www.assam-organic.network.org or organicsmallteagrowers.weebly.com
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Fertile Ground provides opportunities for training, and discussion, and helps build connections with people from all walks of life and many parts of the world. Our commitment to following more sustainable farming practices brings us together!
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Strengthening connections with small-scale organic tea growers!
For the past 4 years, growers from Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Bhutan and Meghalaya have taken part in meetings organized by OSTGANE, the Organic Small Tea Growers Association of North East (India). Click here to visit OSTGANE's website and follow exciting new developments that will bring much-needed support to independent, family-run tea gardens! Click here to download resource materials in Assamese language from Fertile Ground's website! Additional resource materials and videos are available for downloading and viewing at www.assam-organic-network.org |
OSTGANE was created in response to a meeting of small tea growers, their supporters, FAO, IFOAM and Tea Board of Indiia.
The meeting was organized in 2012 by Pompy Ghosh, then-coordinator of Adarsh Seuj Prakalpa in Digboi, Assam,
with the support of Rotary Club of Digboi and the Indian Oil Corporation (Assam Oil Division).
Fertile Ground and our partners in Assam will be offering opportunities for volunteers again in 2017.
Do you love organic farming? Know how to make compost or use a digital camera to produce simple videos?
Interested in learning about the people and cultures of north east India? Contact us for more details!
Do you love organic farming? Know how to make compost or use a digital camera to produce simple videos?
Interested in learning about the people and cultures of north east India? Contact us for more details!
Just a few of the terrific volunteers who've traveled to Assam to work with us !
“I found my experience in Ambikapur to be incredibly eye-opening. I had an amazing time there, and found the work to be very fulfilling.
I'm so grateful for having had the opportunity to participate with this project.
I'm not overstating it when I say this trip to India has changed the direction I'm taking in my life and the work I want to do.”
Mitch Brost spent time working with Fertile Ground while studying
Environmental Studies at Camosun College in Victoria, BC.
Thanks to a donation from The Salt Spring Seed Sanctuary, farmer and seed saver Mahan Borah now has a secure place to store some of the 200+ varieties of indigenous paddy (rice) that he has collected and is growing out.
Mahan has also collected seed of many traditionally-grown vegetables, including brinjal (eggplant, chili and bean.) Follow Mahan's work on Facebook! |
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Fertile Ground Coordinator, Peggy Carswell, at a meeting with tea growers, the Tea Board of India,
International Federation of Oorganic Agriculture Movements and United Nations FAO's Intergovernmental Committee on Tea.
Speakers at the meeting successfully lobbied for more support for independent, small-scale growers and producers.
International Federation of Oorganic Agriculture Movements and United Nations FAO's Intergovernmental Committee on Tea.
Speakers at the meeting successfully lobbied for more support for independent, small-scale growers and producers.
....a few highlights from past AGM's
Thanks to Sarah Kerr for creating this slide show and capturing a few highlights from 2016.
- stories, images, Indian chai and snacks - and special guest, dance diva Cathy Stoyko!
Thanks to Sarah Kerr for creating this slide show and capturing a few highlights from 2016.
- stories, images, Indian chai and snacks - and special guest, dance diva Cathy Stoyko!
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Many thanks for all the good wishes, for coming out to celebrate with us,
and to our friends and supporters who've taken part in fundraising events and AGM's
- the food, the chai, the sweets, the set-up and the clean-up!
November 2015
and to our friends and supporters who've taken part in fundraising events and AGM's
- the food, the chai, the sweets, the set-up and the clean-up!
November 2015
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Congratulations to Jennifer Pickford and Judy Goldschmidt -
winners of the insulated bags full of organic sprouts, oils and other goodies
generously donated by our friends at Eatmore Sprouts!
winners of the insulated bags full of organic sprouts, oils and other goodies
generously donated by our friends at Eatmore Sprouts!
HIGHLIGHTS OF FERTILE GROUND'S 10TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING!
"10 YEARS OF FAIR TRADE TEA" - CELEBRATING THE ASSAM TEA PROJECT !
with World Community, Edible Island and Fertile Ground
Read more about last October's event by clicking here or visiting our blog!
...more photos on Facebook
with World Community, Edible Island and Fertile Ground
Read more about last October's event by clicking here or visiting our blog!
...more photos on Facebook
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