Testimonials - Cornelia Linse (Germany)

Mouja Ecological Organic Farm
At Mouja, we were warmly welcomed by Mr Gurung and were fortunate to experience the great hospitality of him and the worker family living on the farm. The coffee plantation which is planned to be established had not yet been started, so the only thing we could help with was the millet harvest which was a beautiful experience, standing in a little ocean of millet and seeing those colourfully dressed women near us also harvesting, against the green hills backdrop.
The first half of the days we were shown around the village and met more interesting people and experienced more hospitality.. The Mouja farm itself is located in a wonderful scenery and would be a great place for volunteers to come, especially when the coffee project will be set up. ..and that sky full of stars at night is just marvellous..

Mount View Organic & Permaculture Farm
The location itself was unfortunately not yet developed into a farm. But the land, which covers a hilltop and a slope, has an interesting profile and is situated in a beautiful setting with a view of the Annapurna range and Pokhara (if the weather is clear..). So there is a good foundation for the establishment of a varied farming business and opportunity for volunteers. As on the farm itself cultivation had not yet been started, I lived with a family in the village of Mattikhan who only had a few plots that were to be used for cauliflower growing, and a vegetable garden next to the house. ..I guess they would not have allowed me to do anything else but enjoy their delicious food and the scenery around the house and village, unless I had explained to them that I am there as a volunteer in organic farming to help them with work. So, actually there was not a lot of hard work to do, but in the end I could help planting some caulis, carrying water (the village’s water supply is the spring which is situated a few minutes downhill from that family’s house), cutting grass, carrying twigs for the cattle, beating millet.. But they were always worried about my hands getting wounded..so sweet. So, it became a great friendship with the family and I was so grateful for every little thing they taught me (about Nepali culture, language and more..). They also thanked me for helping them.. Hmm..I think in case they are going to house more volunteers until the actual farming has been set up, they should also know that those people are there to help! ..and especially in this place I felt a bit strange about that money issue. Before, I heard from other volunteers that the family felt offended by their money offer for food and lodge, and I also felt that they would not be happy about me paying them money for their kindness and friendship. It think this should be made clear beforehand, especially with the family – or sometimes the volunteers might also find other ways to contribute to the family’s life.

Lwang Ghalel Tea Estate
This was, I have to say, the most impressive environment I have worked in! While I was shown around the tea garden and nursery, and while I watched the workers being educated in how to correctly prune a tea bush, I saw Machhapuchhare and the two neighbouring Annapurnas towering above the green hills.. And those beautiful tea gardens!
Well, but sadly the tea season was over when I came to work there.. So I was explained the processes in the tea factory only theoretically and was present during those pruning instructions. Then I went to work with another farmer and his wife..two really sweet people again, and communication was so nice, even though they did not speak a word of English. What I did was a lot of weeding, a bit of building beds and putting composts for planting of cauli. One thing to criticise was that I never knew when I could start working, because I was living with another family and had to wait for the wife of the farmer.. But I ended up spending some time with the wonderful small children and their supervisors in the Child Daycare Center near the tea factory, which was a lovely experience.

Setivalley Integrated Organic Farm
Arriving at this farm, there was indeed some „real“ work to do! I finally learned a bit about the practical work on a farm, always working with one strong and lovely elderly woman, sometimes with some more women and girls. The Magar family living on the farm was lovely also – the children always smiling, caring for each other, and the elder ones also confidently caring for the goats and dogs! And all this, the work and being with those interesting people, again in such an amazing setting.. A good place to get a picture of what organic agriculture is! Unfortunately, I could not stay long enough to gain some more insights into the backgrounds.
 

Conny Linse, flower60@gmx.de