Films on a Farm Shri Deepak Suchde | Gargey Trivedi

Films on a Farm’ is designed to be a unique collaborative learning experience between a ‘Farmer’, ‘Filmmaker’ and the ‘participants’. It is a 1st in a series of workshops which will seek to contextualize the role of Natueco farming in contemporary society.

Natueco farming follows the principles of eco-system networking of nature. It is different from organic or natural farming both in philosophy and practice. The focus is on energy conservation and energy generation in the form of better agricultural yields. It emphasizes optimal and efficient use of sunlight, soil, water and labour. It questions many of the traditional methods used in agriculture and yet is scientific and experimental in its approach. Natueco Farming emphasizes `Neighborhood Resource Enrichment’ by ̀ Additive Regeneration’ rather than through dependence on external, commercial inputs. The four relevant aspects of Natueco farming are SOIL, ROOTS, CANOPY AND EXTERNAL NEIGHBOURHOOD RESOURCES.

The choice of films curated for the workshop aims to provoke a debate around Agriculture’s relationship to Politics, Economics, Culture, Sustainability, Environment, Nutrition, Medicine and Education. In the process the participants are also made aware of the craft that is brought to bear upon the exposition of each film. The participants will also pick up basic photography, video documentation skills on the go.Having imparted a theoretical and practical knowledge of Natueco farming to the participants, the workshop aims to harness the participants’ potential to create a design/plan of creating a mini farm in his or her immediate urban environment. The holistic understanding of the necessity and potentialities of Natueco farming through post screening discussions will allow the participants to base their designs on the model of social entrepreneurship within an urban context.

COURSE NUMBERW15FP019

CREDIT5

FEESRs. 27,500/-

DATES1st December to 20th December

DURATION20 Days

NO.OF STUDENTS25

OPEN FOR PROFESSIONALSYes

PREREQUISITES FOR PROFESSIONALSShould have interest in gardening

urban farming, films and photographs

FEES FOR PROFESSIONALSRs. 34,375/-

PREREQUISITES FOR STUDENTSShould have interest in gardening

urban farming, films and photographs

LOCATIONSruj Sanskruty Campus, Bajwada Village,

Dewas (MP)

EXPENSEApprox. Rs. 10,000/-( Includes stay +

gardening/ farming tools)+ travel

STUDENTS DELIVERABLESPresentation, Reports

FACULTY OF PLANNING

Shri Deepak Suchde is an energetic 65 year old farmer and an agricultural researcher. He is a practitioner and proponent of Natueco system of farming that is based on the principles of eco-system networking. Mr. Suchde has been Adviser to task force on organic farming for Madhya Pradesh.

Gargey Trivedi is a formally trained filmmaker from the Film and Television Insitute of India. He is a practicing cinematographer whose work spans diverse forms - feature films, short films, documentaries and also collaborations with Visual Artists. In the current workshop his role is that of the provocateur who will be using documentary films as a portal to initiate a dialogue on the role of farming - rural, urban, small scale, large scale - and its place in the neo development paradigm.

FILMS ON FARMS WORKPLAN

Daily Schedule Session Methodology Deliverable

05:45 - 06:15

am

Meditation – Yogasan

Instruction and

learning by

doing

Helping participants enjoy a new physical discipline

that induces extra energy for the rigors of the day

that follows

06:15 -07:00 Shramdaan – At campus

and at various other local

farms for practical

application

Action

discipline

Imbibing the values of Shramdaan, practical

learning and reinforced values of cleanliness

08:00 – 08:30 Breakfast

08:30 – 09:00 Recap last days learning

09:00 – 11:00 Session

11:00 - 11:15 Session tea

11:15 - 12:30 Session

12:30 – 14:00 Lunch

14:00 – 16:00 Rest

16:00 – 16:15 Session tea

16:15 – 18:00 Session

18:00 – 19:30 Recreation/ Physical Activities/ Library

19:31 – 20:30 Dinner

20:31 – 21:15 Circle time - Informal

sharing of learning that

day, assessment

Group

discussions

Reinforced learning, interactive learning and clarity

on doubts

21:16 – 22:15 Film screening/

music/Personal Study

22:16 Lights Off

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The content wise daily schedule for the training is as following:

Session Methodology, material required

Deliverable

DAY 1 NATUECO FARMING

Welcome/Group photo session Do’s & Don’ts of this Training

1. Introduction 2. Present problems of farming 3. What is Natueco Science? 4. Human interventions in enriching,

enhancing the plant/tree, ecosystem and symbiotic increase in the prosperity for the marginal farmers

1. Participatory discussions

2. Interactive lecture

3. Educational walk around the farm and instructions

4. Slideshow

Participants will settle into the campus and the philosophy of the way of life here, and learn what is to be expected of them over the days. Will be ready reference for doing the practical

1. Preparing notes on work done in the morning

2. Practical collection of biomass & segregating them.

3. Preparing Amrut Jal (Liquid Microbial catalyst for enhanced rate of decomposing local biomass used for promoting growth of feeder roots in a plant)

4. Soaking the biomass 5. Chopping biomass

Video on Sruj Sanskruty

1. Pen and paper 2. Instruction and learning by doing 3. Learning by doing

Video presentation

Use of locally available microbes (Cow dung and urine) to prepare a catalyst in-situ to enhance the decomposition process of biomass. Over the days, the students will do chopping and Amrut Jal/Mitti preparation, which will give them a clearer and more practical insight into the day to day rhythms and meditations of a Natueco farm

Get preparatory information on work to be done the next day.

DAY 2 HEAP MAKING AND MULCHING

1. Preparation of heaps 1’ x 1’ x 1’; OR 2'x2'x1', OR 3'x10'x1'.

(tea break) 2. Concept of Put-Put (Self

communication while working) 3. Broadcasting of seeds. 4. Dry leaf, live and stone mulching 5. Pruning on 21, 42, 63 day old

plants from the heap for nutrition and structuring.

6. Different Methods of Organic Farming

Video on Water

1. Hands on working with local material

2. Self conversation 3. Lecture

Video

a. Get process based skills and confidence along with acquaintance with the following concepts. All elements for developing plant productivity can be build locally.

b. Joy of manifesting what we have visualized c. Shud Rus (the 6 rus as defined in Ayurveda) can be

managed to develop more vital energy d. Evaporation can be reduced and life of microbes can

be maintained e. Different elements are developing at different

stages of the plants, and by strategic pruning we can maximize their presence in the final soil

f. Judging the proper method of farming

Water as a media to spread your message

DAY 3 PLANTATION ON HEAPS

1. Sowing seeds every seven days. 1. Hands on 1. Giving confidence that cultivation can be done

2

Session Methodology, material required

Deliverable

2. Planting nursery plants grafted

plants 3. Providing Amrut Mitti (form of

humus having all micro-nutrients and elements required for growth of all plants) for their nutrition according to the canopy

4. Preparation of Humidity Chamber for nursery

Video on Nursery dome

working in farm

Video

without tilling. We can see all the stages at the same time and get confidence at what stage human intervention will be necessary.

2. To develop own nursery for farming and selling to earn cash

3. We can provide all nutrition for better growth of canopy.

4. In a small area we can earn a good amount of

money to maintain a marginal farmer Compare between Natueco science method and

chemical

DAY 4 PRUNING

1. Purpose of pruning 2. Different pruning methods and

practices to be adopted on • Long life trees • Middle life plants • Short term life plants

Tutor on Pruning

1. Lecture and practical pruning sessions with scissors

Video

1. To increase the quality and quantity of produce for the farmer and the market.

2. Can make a fifty year old tree act like a five year old

To get confidence that pruning can yield more and higher quality product

DAY 5 STUDY OF ROOT

1. Finding the position of roots 2. Selecting active feeder roots zone 3. Providing nutrition to feeder roots,

Pruning of roots 4. Treatment to the roots with Ash

and Amrut Jal Tutor on roots management

Hands on practical using hoe and spade

Video

We can control the roots and provide Amrut Mitti to increase roots so as to promote the canopy and increase photosynthesis, leading to more storage of food, thus providing more fruits.

Understanding of best practices in root management.

DAY 6 PLANTATION OF ROOT- SUCKER CROPS

1. Five stages of plants 2. Understanding different root crops 3. Bamboo, Banana, Sweet potato,

Potato, Elephant foot, Tapioca, Turmeric, Ginger.

4. Practical planting and maintaining with minimum effort but proper care

Subhash Sharma’s Farm

Practical using hoe and spade

Video

Root crop has different method of production and growth, to harvest more yield without exploiting the ecosystem, we should follow the physiology of crop root plants.

30 acre farm can be developed organically and Rs. 6000 net income can be earned daily, without increasing the crop price.

DAY 7

GANGAMA MANDAL (A proven model of Permaculture – a technical term used for sustainable organic agriculture globally)

3

Session Methodology, material required

Deliverable

1. Man made productive rain forest 2. Principals of Permaculture 3. Aim and object of Gangama

Mandal 4. Providing Nutrition to the family 5. Providing nutrition to children 6. Self help to Women 7. Need of Herbal Medicine 8. Preparation of Gangama Mandal

Gangama and True Story

Practical using hoe, spade, measure tape, rope, seed, plant from nursery

Two videos

A Gangama mandal provides for nutrition and some saving of money for a family of five people and can save the life of children under one year due to malnutrition. The participants will be able to plan and implement simple yet effective similar interventions confidently in their respective areas of work.

Sustainable agriculture.

DAY 8 MAPPING OF 10 GUNTHA

(Guntha is a local unit of land. An acre of land is equal to 40 Guntha. The 10 Guntha or “Quarter acre” model is a successful model for ensuring food security for a family of 5 by practicing Natueco science) 1. Philosophy and Scientific reason 2. None exploitative system,

providing equality, independency, and prosperity

3. A marginal family’s needs 4. Improving Ten Guntha farm

Video on Ten Guntha

Lectures and practical using hoe, spade, measure tape, rope, seed, lime, plants from the nursery

Video

This provides for all the needs of the family of five people, it also gives self-sufficiency and allows for the provision of a life-style equivalent to that of higher-middle class society.

Gives clarity that we can generate learning, living, livelihood, love and laughter from the same work at the same place.

DAY 9 NATURAL RESOURCES MAPPING

Recognizing the importance and use of following resources: a. Our own time b. Sunlight/Moonlight c. Air d. Natural source of Water e. Rain water f. Ground Water g. Biomass with the tree of the farm

and neighborhood h. Slope of the plot i. Force of gravity j. Magnetic Forces of nature k. Quality of the Soil l. Birds, Bees and Butterfly m. Humidity n. Weather KEEPING THE RECORDS Observation and Documentation HARVESTING FRUITS Upgrading & enriching the crops WATERING How, Where, When & How much

The Secret

Lecture and observing nature Practical Practical Practical

Video

This gives confidence to the participant that the farmer can produce all crops by using just natural neighborhood resources. It provides the awareness for farmers for his own costing of the product, allowing him to compare previous crop with present, and minimise mistakes. Water is a life and a source of energy to be used very precisely as if one were spending money.

That what we think, becomes.

4

Session Methodology, material required

Deliverable

DAY 10 PREPARING THE NURSERY

1. In polybags with green leaves at the bottom.

2. Without polybags 3. For root crops - for sticks 4. For germinating seeds early 5. For crops to be planted according

to the rainfall (less or irregular) FOREST PLANTATION 1. Concept of canopy 2. Ulp Jivi, Madhya Jivi, Dirgh Jivi

(short, medium and long life)

Life Behind the Door

1. Practical with green leaves, plastic bags and Amrut Mitti

Video

1. We can develop our farm with minimum labour, water and space.

2. We can develop maximum feeder roots area in childhood.

3. We can develop the nursery plant even in unfavorable climate

1. Canopy size is directly proportional to the growth of

the feeder roots 2. It is not the mono-culture but a wide variety of

plants, plant life-span and fauna that are essential for a better farm

A life without pills

DAY 11 VISITING SURROUNDING PLACES

1. Visit of farms in surrounding the area (on actual sharing of traveling cost and mutual understanding)

2. Discussion with farmers 3. Observations and Remarks

Video on Bhaskar Save – an exceptional personality in Indian sustainable agriculture

Interaction with farmers practicing Natueco

Video

Confidence on the newly acquired skills and knowledge

Learn about Indian Fukuoka (Fukuoka was a Japanese farmer and philosopher who dedicated his life time for studying and establishing high productivity of crops in natural conditions. He was the first person to write on the subject of organic/natural farming philosophy)

DAY 12 DIFFREANT METHODS OF FARMING

DAY 13 STUDYING THE PLANT PHYSIOLOGY PROGRAM OF PLANT

1. Study of plant physiology program of select few crops

2. Observations in field for understanding the concept

Interactive program on computer, lecture, question and answer

Any farmer can produce a record yield in a sustainable manner by knowing the DNA of a plant

5

Session Methodology, material required

Deliverable

PLANNING OF OUR FARM

1. Live fencing 2. Concept of agro forestry 3. Multi-tier farming 4. Family needs 5. Multi-crop farming involving

• Cotton • Mug • Bajra • Chauli • Guvar • Maize • Tur

Film on Watershed, Auroville

1. Practical and theory

Video

A marginal farmer can have a content and prosperous life earned from his existing limited sources. Participants will be able to plan ones own farm as well as practically guide farmers for a viable plan

Confidence building by looking at ravine getting converted to fertile land in 5-6 years

DAY 14 BEEJ SANSKAR (Seed treatment)

MAKING PEBBLES TO MAKE ANY LAND FERTILE 1. From zero biomass 2. Having dry biomass 3. With green and dry biomass 4. Having forest surrounding 5. Plantation and seed sowing with

minimal digging and till 6. Plant physiology of a banana

Video of Pabal, Dist Pune

Lecture and hands on practice

Video

A new technical input to improve productivity

One person’s devotion can change the life of an entire village

DAY 15

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

1. Evaluation 2. Summing up session

1. Training module for training on the new skills and knowledge

2. Questions & answer session

3. Evaluation chart

1. Objective assessment of each participant 2. Clarity of field action 3. Forward path and follow-up planning

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