Setivalley
Integrated Organic Farm
SADP has a great vision for
developing organic agriculture in Pokhara and Nepal,
and is involved in various projects, from those in
full throe to new ventures currently being set up.
I spent my time at the Seti Valley farm where tasks
involve on the one hand looking after the cows,
buffalo
and goats, and on the other hand, tending to the
vegetable crops. I worked alongside local paid
workers, who are being trained in organic
agriculture by the farm managers, so it is certainly
an authentic experience. Here you can see a blend of
local traditional and modern techniques of organic
farming, such as the worm compost made using cow
dung. Some of the time I had to work on my own
initiative, just seeing what the workers were doing
and joining in. The location of the farm is stunning
- on a headland between two rivers, eagles flying
overhead and snow-peaked mountains looming in the
background.
The other part of volunteering
for SADP is in experiencing traditional village
life. I found the people to be very warm and
friendly, everyone knowing each other and sharing in
life together. There are always people passing
through the house courtyard, as most of the village
pathways cross though people's land and courtyards –
there is not the separation that happens in urban
life. I had the opportunity to take part in some
local festivities (music and dance at a puja for a
newly built house, and getting covered in paint on
Holi). My home stay was in a stone and earth house,
I happily bathed in the river each day, and ate the
tastiest Nepalese food I have been treated to while
in the country. The neighbors mostly had buffalo,
haystacks, beehives and vegetable plots alongside
their houses. In the West, the village might be
described as an eco-village, but here it is simply
traditional life.
For me volunteering for SADP
was and large a more holistic living and working
experience than I have had in other wwoofing places
(not intended as any criticism of the other places I
have stayed!). My only regret is that I did not work
harder at learning Nepali – I think this would have
made my experience much richer.
Talking to Ramesh about the
projects certainly is inspiring. Organic agriculture
is gradually starting to catch people's interest in
Nepal, and SADP is also trying to help move that
momentum forward to support its member farmers by
getting local people interested in buying their
produce - if you have the time and resources to
spend a prolonged period here and get involved on
more levels, it could be an exciting venture...
jjackmills@hotmail.com
