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This November, at Fertile Ground's online Annual General Meeting,
we shared highlights of work underway in Assam, and confirmed funding for the
construction of a new seed storage facility, library and classroom at Meleng Gaon village!
The building will be used to safely store over 300 varieties of Assam's traditional seeds - primarily rice -
host training sessions and help ensure these seeds remain in the hands of farmers, not corporations.
host training sessions and help ensure these seeds remain in the hands of farmers, not corporations.
Mahan Borah, founder of Annapurna Seed Library, with some of the varieties of rice/paddy he's collected.
Many of these seeds have important medicinal and cultural values, and possess
characteristics that enable them to grow in a wide range of soil, climatic and environmental conditions.
to Strathcona Sunrise and Cumberland Centennial Rotary Clubs, the Mid-Island Group and District 5020
for their support for this project - as well as to World Community Development Education Society,
Edible Island Whole Foods Market and individual donors - just like you!
To renew your membership or make a donation, contact fertile_ground2003@yahoo.com
or visit www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/fertile-ground-eastwest-sustainability-network
....and remember, when you purchase The Small Tea Cooperative's flavorful, naturally-grown teas
you'll enjoy teas produced by independent growers in Assam, AND help us
continue to encourage use of traditional and sustainable farming practices in northeast India!
Teas are available at Edible Island Whole Foods in Courtenay, BC or online at www.smallteacoop.com
for their support for this project - as well as to World Community Development Education Society,
Edible Island Whole Foods Market and individual donors - just like you!
To renew your membership or make a donation, contact fertile_ground2003@yahoo.com
or visit www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/fertile-ground-eastwest-sustainability-network
....and remember, when you purchase The Small Tea Cooperative's flavorful, naturally-grown teas
you'll enjoy teas produced by independent growers in Assam, AND help us
continue to encourage use of traditional and sustainable farming practices in northeast India!
Teas are available at Edible Island Whole Foods in Courtenay, BC or online at www.smallteacoop.com
In October of 2020, Fertile Ground board member Sarah Michelle Kerr passed away at home,
surrounded by family and friends. Sarah was a gifted photographer, dancer, potter and free spirit
- a friend to many people around the world, including hundreds of students, teachers, farmers and tea growers
she connected with while travelling and working in Assam. A supporter of Fertile Ground for 12 years,
Sarah's joy, laughter and open heart will be remembered and celebrated by everyone who knew her.
surrounded by family and friends. Sarah was a gifted photographer, dancer, potter and free spirit
- a friend to many people around the world, including hundreds of students, teachers, farmers and tea growers
she connected with while travelling and working in Assam. A supporter of Fertile Ground for 12 years,
Sarah's joy, laughter and open heart will be remembered and celebrated by everyone who knew her.
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Click on the images below to view short videos about some of the
amazing people who are leading the organic farming movement in Assam and northeast India!
Mahan Borah
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Neelam Dutta
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Tenzing Bodosa
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Samir Bordoloi
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Basamlu Krisikro
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Gobin Hazarika
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Abhijit Das
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Pompy Ghosh
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....a few more of the inspiring people we've had the opportunity to work with over the past 17 years!
To read about our partners, donors and the initiatives we've worked on, click on What We Do on the toolbar above
To visit our blog - click HERE!
To visit our blog - click HERE!
Thanks to ALL our members, friends and guests who took part in this year's AGM via Zoom
as well as those who've attended previous gatherings at Creekside Commons. It's always wonderful to
share stories, videos and photos of some of the change-makers in Assam's organic farming movement
- and celebrate the work done by Fertile Ground and our partners - here and in India!
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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 the field....
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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 5 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, former coordinator of Adarsh Seuj Prakalpa in Digboi, Assam,
with the support of Rotary Club of Digboi and the Indian Oil Corporation (Assam Oil Division).
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 approach combines important elements of India's traditional knowledge with simple organic practices that make use of locally available materials.
Along with a growing number of local tea growers, farmers and resource people, we're helping people grow healthy food and explore opportunities for creating profitable small-scale business ventures.
Along with a growing number of local tea growers, farmers and resource people, we're helping people grow healthy food and explore opportunities for creating profitable small-scale business ventures.
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?
Sadly, we're not able to place volunteers at the current time, but we will keep you posted!
Contact us for more details!
“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 visited a number of towns and villages in Assam 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 was able to build a temporary building to store some of the varieties of indigenous paddy (rice) that he'd collected and is continuing to grow out.
Mahan also collects seeds of traditionally-grown vegetables,such as 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
A great turnout at our 2018 AGM!
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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