CanadaHelps charges a fee when receiving funds on our behalf.  
​For donations over $500, please contact us to discuss options....
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Find out about what we've been working on and what's ahead by visiting our blog  - click HERE!
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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!




OSTGANE was created in response to a meeting of small tea growers, their supporters, FAO, IFOAM  and Tea Board of India, that was organized in 2012 by Pompy Ghosh, former coordinator  of Adarsh Seuj Prakalpa in Digboi, Assam.
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
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Thanks to Sarah Kerr for capturing some of the highlights from our 2016 AGM!
- stories, images, Indian chai and snacks - and special guest, dance diva Cathy Stoyko! -
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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! 
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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 100+ 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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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!

....a few highlights from past AGM's

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! 
Want to help out?    
Donate online or write to us at Box 179, Merville, BC  V0R 2M0
Tax receipts available for donations of $25 or more.
Fertile Ground Coordinator, Peggy Carswell, at a meeting with tea growers, the Tea Board of India, IFOAM and FAO's Intergovernmental Committee on Tea, requesting more support for independent, small-scale producers
       Just a few of the terrific volunteers who've traveled to Assam to work with us !  
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Clockwise from upper left:  Michelle Hua, Taiwan, Niels vonMeyenfeldt, British Columbia., Megan Lickley, Nova Scotia, Samantha Parlour, Ontario, Sundar Sekarmathi, Tamil Nadu, and Hillary Barter, Nova Scotia


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Mitch Brost, a recent graduate of Camosun College's Environmental Technology program, volunteered with Fertile Ground's projects in Assam.
“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.”
Great fun at "Get Growing" - a workshop held at Lake Trail Neighbourhood Connections!
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 new blog!
                                                                                                                          ...more photos on Facebook