Rocket Stove

Dear Readers;

  Here is a few pics of the room that we will be renovating in a few days. One of our big motivations is the cold is seeping in very quickly...now that the temp has plummeted. I mentioned before that the walls of this house have no insulation..at all. Winter temperatures can dip down to -30.

Our plan for this space in the pics below  is to build a "Rocket Stove" to heat the front part of the house. The house is so big that we do need 2 wood burning stoves....BUT...we don't want to use twice the amount of wood..so we thought that this type of stove is a better idea because it can burn all the twigs that we have stacked in piles around the farm. What is a rocket stove you may wonder. A video is worth a thousand words.

  If times get tough,you live in the city ...in an apartment and you need some heat...for keeping warm or cooking..here is a great little rocket stove made out of cans of soup.

  We have an insanely crazy day ahead....baking bread for the monks and doing a craft fair for the next 2 days. Take care.

Hare Krsna.
Kokum Lal

Shearing Bala Alpaca(video)

Dear Readers;

  This past summer we had a couple of ladies who own an alpaca farm come down to shear our alpacas. Unfortunately the machine broke right before they finished shearing the wool off his body but not his legs. Poor Bala has spent the rest of the year looking kind of goofy:)

  Alpaca fiber has amazing qualities...number 1...it does not itch! It is soft and can be worn next to the skin and ...number 2....it does not smell funny...even when it is wet!!!

  Alpacas are great because they are easy to handle...even for ladies. They also don't generally challenge the fences and if they happen to nibble the grass and find themselves on the other side of the electric fence..they won't stray far from the herd.

  We are big fans of alpacas and hope to grow our herd to include all the various kinds. Simple living couldn't be warmer or fuzzier:)

Hare Krsna.
Kokum Lal

Black Bala and Rama...and Rosemary:)

November and Craving Color!

Dear Readers;

  Well... we have had our first killer frost and all the flowers and leaves are gone for another year.

This is about the time that I start to crave color. I've noticed that most cultures are very colorful as opposed to modern day  jeans/t-shirt combo.( Here are a few pics of American Walmart people who are attempting to add color to their wardrobe.......Hey......I'm not judging..............:)

I decided to redirect myself...instead of uninspiring pictures.....I'm posting colourful pictures of items here on the farm that fall into our requirements of functional,upcycled and pretty.
Have a great day.
Hare Krsna.
Kokum Lal

Hand hooked rug featuring Expo 1967 Canadas Centennial. Yard sale $15.

Hand hooked rug bought at a yard sale for $15.

1940's salt and pepper shakers ..Fleamarket $3.

Needlepoint cushion cover $1..Yard sale

Teapot $5..Flea Market

Krsna ...Govinda...Value Village $5.

 

"Dances With Cows" (video)

Dear Readers;

Traditionally the young Indians men would stomp the grass down so that we could erect our tipis or for the arena where we perform our Pow Wows.

  I was a "Pow-wow baby"...which means that I was born 9 months after the pow-wow:) My father was an excellent dancer, so hopefully the apple does not fall far from the tree;)  I thought that we are always stomping grass at the Farm so why not add a little music to it.

I hope that you enjoy this...little bit of silliness.

Hare Krsna.
Kokum Lal

Slow Money (Another video attempt)

Dear Readers;

  Our guru Srila Prabhupada told us that we did not have to work..work..work for money, neither is it healthy to meditate on how to make money all the time because if you are preaching then money will come to you.

  Here at Govindas Farm we are attempting to practice making "slow money". You see all of my husbands life he has been working so hard to provide for his family. He  built and sold real estate for years. We developed businesses such as  a Bakery,Restaurant,Inn,Building Company,Car Sales....but...it was very hard work. So instead of running around ..like some mad things...we thought that making soap is something that every body needs and wants. We keep our prices low ...but quality high...and sell..3 bars for 10 dollars. We go to local Farmers Markets and craft shows. Slowly ..word of mouth is getting us known and people are making their way to the farm to pick the soap up here.

  I remember reading this story about some Monks in France who make wine? or beer...can't remember but what I do remember was that they did no advertising at all! Once a year they opened the doors to sell their high quality product. They were not interested in "branching out" to make more money. People stood in line for hours and hours just hoping that they would be lucky enough to be able to buy the product. When the monks were asked why they didn't sell more often..the head Monk replied that they produce and sell the beer so that they can be Monks....they aren't Monks so that they can make beer. That is the philosophy behind Om-Made Soap....we make soap so we can stay on the farm and look after cows...grow food...and live simple lives. We aren't interested in becoming a "Big Business" and compete with other soap businesses...big business=big problems as well. So we do need some money to pay bills but the goal is not to get caught up with the idea.

Here is a video of the Murray Harbor craft fair that we attended yesterday. I bought some of Inas'  Crab Apple Jam and it was wonderful! I was also lusting over the necklaces....especially one that would have gone beautifully with my natural themed outfit. I looked at it...felt it...watched it ...and thought..."Do I need it?....No...but I want it.....it's soooo pretty....and I should look pretty for my husband...right?...that's Vedic!...ahhh...I already have so much "stuff"". I watched as another lady bought it and thought to myself..."Good...it will look good on her." I felt good. I walked away feeling virtuous. Simple living is making decisions  every day......to get closer to the goal.

Hare Krsna.
Kokum Lal

Sunday Update.

Dear Readers;

  The weather is still warmish here at Govindas Farm......windy...but warm. Here is a few pics of the $40 greenhouse that has withstood gales and has helped keep us in tomatoes and salad from April all the way through to November. It is saving us huge amounts of money. What to speak of the food being right at your fingertips and organic. We also keep Rosemary in the greenhouse and her droppings help to keep the soil fertilized. She also feels like she is safe because she gets to watch us through the window as we work on the computer. Win..win..yes?

  We are off to sell soap at the local craft fair.

Have a great Sunday.

Hare Krsna.
Kokum Lal

BEFORE:(

AFTER:)

Childhood Memory (Video)

Dear Readers;

  While inspecting the woods just past our North field a feeling of happiness and complete security came over me.

  I have found that many people who have not visited the modern day North American Indian Reservation or as we call it" The Rez" have a very romantic notion of ,"The Noble Savage".

 

 I am from the Cree Tribe of the Canadian Plains and my ancestors did ride horses,hunt buffalo and live in tipis. We did possess a very spiritual view on Mother Earth and we were strong...brave...healthy and noble. Unfortunately due to the greed of the white man and their need for grazing their beef cows our way of life was destroyed. Our buffalo which was our main source for our food,clothing,shelter were slaughtered to near extinction. As all invaders know ,the way to destroy a people is to destroy their food. When the buffalo were destroyed  we were starving and homeless. The American and Canadian Governments  relocated  all the aboriginal tribes to the worst pieces of land and that is what is called a Reservation.

 

 The Queen Elizabeth calls us her "children" and "takes care of us". According to the government in order to assimilate us into the "white" culture they needed to reeducate the children by stealing them from the parents and placing them in "schools" called residential schools. Little was learned by the children except what it was like to be sexually abused...overworked and physically beaten. Those same children were then sent back to the "Rez" to marry and raise children. It is no wonder that our grandparents and our parents lacked the skills required to raise healthy children.

  I hold no grudges to our parents who abandoned us when their welfare checks came in and they partied until the money ran out. They did the best that they could ...with what they had.

 While my older brothers and sisters were forced to attend Residential School, I was placed in a foster home at the age of five. Here I share a little memory of freedom...neglect then true freedom.

  There is always a bigger plan that what our eyes can see.The white man murdered our buffalo and destroyed our culture. Now that has happened, how do we rebuild our future?

 Hopefully not by following the greed of a co-operate culture!

Hare Krsna.
Kokum (Cree for Grandmother) Lal

Junk Food=Junk Brain (pics)

Dear Readers;

  My husband and I love to take our morning chanting walk. Unfortunately what we see every day is people not respecting Mother Earth by throwing out litter. I've been taking note of what types of garbage gets tossed out. Every piece that we see tells a story.....and that story is "I'm in such a hurry...I'm starving so I'll just pick up some fried chicken...then I'll go through the drive-thru at my church of Tim Hortons....then I'll smoke a few cigarettes because I'm feeling a little nervous...while I drink my third can of beer...darn if I didn't go through that six pack to fast...luckily I stashed a bottle of wine under the seat....awww ..shut up kids drink your fruit ... Kool Aid and eat your Reeses Pieces....damn it ...SIT DOWN!!! WHY ....can't you just sit still??? Sit still or so help me God ...I'm going to stop this car and give you what for!!!;)

 Anyways ..you get the idea. Huge corporations are selling us garbage and calling it food.

 I've never seen an organic bar wrapper or a samosa or an apple on our morning walks. So my conclusion is you are what you eat and if you eat junk food you will have a junk brain that tells you that it is just fine to throw your garbage out of the car window because at least your car is clean. You're still a good person right?.... Right?
Hare Krsna.
Kokum Lal

We are a mere shadow of our former selves:)

Smokers say,"Hey..gimme the eyeball pack!"

Fall ...Sunny...Happy:)

Dear Readers;

  What a glorious fall day here at Govindas Farm. The sun is shining and ...no wind:)  So today we were suppose to be selling soap in Charlottetown but the venue ran out of space. Oh well...next year. Besides I completely forgot that I had to bake bread tomorrow. In the end all is well and I believe that what ever wealth we are suppose to have will make it's way to us in due course. No stress...no worries...work at a comfortable pace....be grateful...always remember Krsna and never...ever forget about Krsna. Surely a recipe for success.

  Gaura Nitai is cutting wood and I will be cleaning out the greenhouse. Here are a few pics of the Farm on this bright and happy day. I even spotted a dandelion on our morning walk!
Hare Krsna,
Kokum Lal

Facing South overlooking the Northumberland Straight.

Add caption

Rosehips..that we pick huge amounts of for our Vit.c winter tea.

A little shabby chicness...I thought all trees needed pink chandeliers? No?

Happy to see Rosemary drinking from the pond.

Gold Hot Water Tank!

Dear Readers;

At Govindas Farm we like to have functional art. Check out our gold hot water storage unit.(pics below....).
  When we moved into this shambles called a house two winters ago...it was c..o..l..d...COLD. The house had been abandoned by humans for 1 year but happily housed a raccoon. We moved in Dec.16th...just before the worst winter snow storms hit the Province. The house was damp and did not begin to radiate heat for three entire months. We only had one stove that came with the house but the house had NO insulation at all and it is over 140 years old....unbelievable. We had spent all our money on paying cash for the farm so we had very little money left over for repairing the house and we also had to start a new business with under $600.

As the saying goes..necessity is the mother of invention. We managed to scrape enough money together and with my husband and sons manpower they blew insulation into the attic. That made a huge difference in keeping the house warmer. Although one night...I was sitting with my back to the wood burning stove (a chimney company had just installed the new chimney but kept one angle piece)...anyways I was sitting and sewing and feeling the welcome heat on my back.....shortly it felt a little hotter...a little hotter....only when I started to cough to I turn around to see that the angle of the chimney was red hot!!!! Chimney fire!!! I had no clue what to do except jump around..pointing..."Ahhhhhh...chimney fire...chimney fire!" So glad I have a husband. He dampened the fire by throwing ash onto it and let the chimney fire burn itself out. No damage done but a great,big,fat lesson learned. Make sure the chimney is clean. (We clean the chimney 4 times a year now because we use the wood stove to cook meals and to make soap year round.)

This year we bought a better stove with a bigger wood box. He also installed a metal loop inside the wall of the firebox to heat our water. The hot water is then stored in a recycled insulated hot water tank at the back of the stove. We have so much hot water that we all have to take 2 hot showers each a day just to use the hot water up. Love it! Especially after having lived in Panama for 8 years with no hot water at all.

Gaura Nitai used a green plastic milk crate to raise the rusty white tank to the correct height. He then attached a used olive oil can to catch the tap water drips. Useful...yes...ugly to boot...oh yeah! He promised to build a housing around the entire contraption to hide it but I knew that would be on his list of 100 things to do ...that would be...number 99! So being an artist...I spray painted it my favorite color....gold!

Oh...most importantly this wood stove and contraption saves us about $1000.00 a month on heating the house..people here use oil to heat their homes....hot water was costing us $10 a day...so $300.00 a month. That is just nuts. This system costs us the stove $1,400.00,tank $0,pipes $20, wood $1000.00 a year. But the best thing is the complete feeling of freedom from the oil company. Simplify...simplify..it's a fantastic way to live. I'll be selling soap for the next 4 days so I'll let you know how things went next week. Take care.
Hare Krsna.
Kokum Lal

Empty Nest At Govindas' Farm? Never!

Dear Readers;

It's just not possible so suffer from empty nest syndrome when we have so many cows,alpacas and a guinea fowl to take care of. This morning was quite the challenge to go for our usual morning japa walk. As we walked past the cows they all mooed as though we we're leaving them forever. Then Rosemary(guinea fowl) kept following us but since we have to walk on the road it is dangerous for her. I ended up having to run after her, using my scarf to pretend that I had wings,flapping after her (passing vehicles must have thought that I was nuts!!) but it did work...she gave an..eeep! then flew back to graze with the cows:) Here are some pics of the farm this morning.
Have a great day.
Hare Krsna.
Kokum Lal

Empty nest.

Empty nest.

Full nest;)

Empty nest.

Rosemary

Local cowherder:)

Cute Bull Pita

Mukta..pregnant?

Radha Kunda.