Wwoof- india (Willing Workers on Organic Farms)

Suggested length of stay for volunteers - Minimum one week, extendable up-to one year by mutual agreement·Accommodations (number and type) - Guest room with attached bath, electricity, wi-fi etc within the residence.·Non-farming opportunities/ activities (alternative construction/ restoration project, alternative energy, etc.) - fencing, retaining wall construction, assistance in processing, marketing fresh / processed fruits and vegetables. ·Expectations of work for volunteers - The variety of work at the farm is endless; he / she can choose PROVIDED there is a willingness to learn alongside Dr Arun Sud who does everything from digging earth to pruning trees and minor masonry work ·Is transportation available? Public transport to town is frequent·Languages spoken - English, Hindi, Punjabi and the on-farm workers speak Bhojpuri and Nepali·Can you host children or pets? – Yes·Special diets – No ·And any other specifics for your farm - It is an action-research project in motion that is as much geared to transform the neighbouring farmers as to itself get on to a profit making curve. Innovativeness in all we do is the driving force. I would love to have an experienced WWOOFER as much as a fresher with a commitment to the cause – ORGANIC.

IND 156 Farm name: Farm LifeContact name: Shrinidhi TakleLocation : 2 hours away from Mumbai and accessible by public transport. We want to have a food forest to grow our own vegetables.A brief description of organic activities (crops, projects, goals, etc.) Visitors should be proactive in planning activities on the farm and about promoting sustainable agricultural techniques. We want to implement permaculture & have a food forest in 2 acres. This is extreme farm living experience and I hope you are ready for it.How long you have been doing Organic Farming: 8 yearsWhether the farm is certified (if yes) name of certification agency: NoSuggested length of stay for volunteers: You are required to stay for long term like 2-6 months to see the fruits of your work. You may stay for a week as trial.Accommodations (number and type): On site accommodation in a shared room or private house if required. There is a small wooden house if you are a couple. You can build your own temporary accommodation.Non-farming opportunities/ activities (alternative construction/ restoration project, alternative energy, etc.) You can visit nearby village school to give them language lessons or do some sports with them. We are looking for a cultural exchange.Expectations of work for volunteers: Visitors must be nature loving and passionate about living a self sufficient life on a farm. Simple farm work like growing kitchen garden, watering plants, weeding , feeding chickens, planting trees and taking care of the farm activities in general.Is transportation available? YesLanguages spoken: English, Hindi, MarathiCan you host children or pets? YesSpecial diets: Indian Village style Meals are served in a open dining area. Veg, Non-veg all OK. Feel free to help in cooking or to make your own.. And any other specifics for your farm: Farm Life is promoted as a holiday spot. There is a seasonal river and swimming pool. Currently we are 5 people working together on the farm, some people living in local village.

• 
  IND 157 Farm nameCherukunnelLocation, Kottayam, Kerala, India A brief description of organic activities (crops, projects, goals, etc.)  Rubber planting and tapping, Banana cultivation, Coconut tree planting, tapioca How long you have been doing Organic Farming    Since young age Whether the farm is certified (if yes) name of certification agency Yes, Rubber Board Suggested length of stay for volunteers From one week to - 1 year Accommodations (number and type) 2-4 Guest room Non-farming opportunities/ activities (alternative construction/ restoration project, alternative energy, etc.) Language teaching, Painting, Cooking Expectations of work for volunteers You will be getting all the assistance from me in doing the farm related work Is transportation available   Yes Languages spoken  English, Hindi, Malayalam, and a little bit of Italian Can you host children or pets?    Children is ok for me Special diets  Kerala traditional food And any other specifics for your farm This farm is located near to town...It is less than 5 acre
  

IND 158Farm name:  Popanwadi  horticulture farming ocation (address and description of land) Popanwadi Horticultural Farm  (hilly area)  Karwar District.   Karnataka State  / South India A brief description of organic activities (crops, projects, goals, etc.) Growing of different kind of local southindian fruits as mango, coconut, lemon, Areacanut, bananas...... Size of area 16 acres How long you have been doing Organic Farming :22 Years already Whether the farm is certified (if yes) name of certification agency Not certified – but european biological standard Suggested length of stay for volunteers   2-12 weeks Accommodations (number and type)  Tent or room for one or two people Non-farming opportunities/ activities (alternative construction/ restoration project, alternative energy, etc.) Construction work for housing and water supply Expectations of work for volunteers Up to 2 people Is transportation available? Yes – Motorbike and Jeep Languages spoken German / English / Hindi Can you host children or pets?  No Special diets  Indian vegetarian nutrition And any other specifics for your farm Situated in the western ghats in the middle of the forest.   No electricity available – limited solar power. Close to Dandeli and Anshi Tiger Reservation as well as Dudhsagar Waterfall. Very good for nature lovers.

IND 159 Farm name –“ Ishana” in Gopathi Farms Contact name - Sangita SharmaLocation (address and description of land) Ishana, Gopathi Farms, Post Vidyaranyapura, Bangalore -560097 - Description – A 5 acre oasis in the heart of a concrete jungle. Diversity of trees ranging from coconuts, mangoes, cherries, wild flower, forest trees to open fields for vegetable, cereal for both seed and food production. We have chicken, guinea fowls, rabbits and cattle with fields for fodder production. A brief description of organic activities (crops, projects, goals, etc.) – A self contained organic knowledge farm with its focus on Integrated organic practices – Soil health management, Seed Production, multiplication of heritage open pollinated seeds, Seed Bank activities - seed saving & storage techniques, low cost applications such as bio- digestor, bio-gas, vermi wash and more. In short - We grow what we eat from a community kitchen and hence a bunch of 18 energised bunch of farmers. Our farmers children along with children from surrounding villages go to our sister concern Parmanand Education Trust (unaided) which educates 350 underprivileged children. Goal – Educate farmers, policymakers, scientists, students that community driven farming is replicable and sustainable. We the farmers are the custodians of heritage seeds and can take charge of our food which in turn safeguards our health. How long you have been doing Organic Farming – 12 yearsWhether the farm is certified (if yes) name of certification agency – Yes, Eco-Agri Research group certification by IMO Suggested length of stay for volunteers – 1 week to 6 monthsAccommodations (number and type) Pitch tents, we have work station zones which are safe and clean toilets available. Pristine rooms are available in proximity to the farm at very affordable rates. Non-farming opportunities/ activities – We have office and administration space with Internet available. If the whoofers have laptops even better. Extend support in photography, documentation and filming, website design & construction, promote our agro ecology knowledge farm via trails themed ‘From Soil to Seed to Plate’ to schools, media, ethical corporates, visitors from all walks, make the best use social media sites, writing fund proposals for grants. Lend a educational hand at Parmamand Education trust as well to create a vocation training center for school drop outs in the fields of electrical, plumbing, farming and carpentry . Support required in alternative innovative construction of cow shed/ restoration project, alternative renewable energy source for seed bank– construction of knowledge centre, Expectations of work for volunteers – Knowledge exchange transfer – To apply their core strengths to help strengthen the safe food movementIs transportation available? – Yes. Buses available arms distance from the farm. Auto richaws also available at cost price should they decide to stay in the rooms as suggested aboveLanguages spoken – English, Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, Can you host children or pets? – No Special diets – holistic And any other specifics for your farm- Respect must be extended to team of farmers who are the backbone of Ishana,. Maintain code of conduct - no indulging in drugs, alcohol and gossip

IND 160 Farm name Shakti Agro Farm Contact name Anand K / Balachandran Location (address and description of land) Mysore - KRS road. 6 kms from Railway stationnear shadanahalli village A brief description of organic activities (crops, projects, goals, etc.) The intent is to demonstrate the viability of an Integrated farm in allaspects. Vegetable farming and pulses are grown currently. With 6 cows and a daily milk distribution taking place, a small diary farm is growing there. Intent is to have a few chickens and some fish too shortly. One of the driving factor for this initiative is to bring good food to the common man. To this effect, good healthy vegetables and milk are made available for the local rural community on a regular basis. How long you have been doing Organic Farming 4 years Whether the farm is certified (if yes) name of certification agency It’s in the process of getting certified by Eco Agri (ISCKON group) Suggested length of stay for volunteers Long term relationships are preferred as it can blossom into a beautifulflower. So the longer the stay the better. Accommodations (number and type) 3-4 people can comfortable stay in the cement block construction building at the farm Non-farming opportunities/ activities (alternative construction/ restoration project,alternative energy, etc.) We want to try alternative construction. So anyone who has expertise in it is welcome. We also have a small organic shop in Mysore. Some amount of volunteering in the shop should also help (like milk packing & distribution etc) Expectations of work for volunteers It’s flexible. As long as the intent and purposes are aligned, the work willhappen. Is transportation available? A cycle can be provided. It has easy main road access Languages spoken English, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi Can you host children or pets? Yes Special diets Its a vegetarian organic farm - no alcohol, no smoking

IND 161 Farm nameKshatra in the Himalaya Contact nameB.S. Location (address and description of land)Distt Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India 175123Description of land: 2 acres of mountain terraces at the elevation of 1,800 meter in the Himalaya MountainsA brief description of organic activities (crops, projects, goals, etc.)Fruit trees including pear, pomegranate, plum, peach and apple trees, heirloom grains including wheat, barley, rice, corn, finger millet, and amaranth, beans including soybeans, and kidney beans, and vegetables including cabbage, cauliflower, radish, chilies, bell peppers, cucumbers, garlic, mustard greens, potatoes, pumpkins, carrots, tomatoes, beets, zucchini, eggplant and coriander . We have a cow and hope in the future to make cheese, we also want to start a bee colony and start the production of honey, there is also the opportunity to make pickles and jams.How long you have been doing Organic FarmingWe have been farming organically for the past 10 years.Whether the farm is certified (if yes) name of certification agencyThe farm is not certified but you do have my word on it that no chemical fertilizers or pesticides have been used for the last 10 years and use prior to ten years ago was minimal.Suggested length of stay for volunteersLength of stay depends entirely on the individual. But minimum recommended time is one week.Accommodations (number and type)3 shared rooms November through April with bathroom with hot and cold running water, May through October 5 tents for accommodation with common bathroom with hot and cold running water.Non-farming opportunities/ activities (alternative construction/ restoration project, alternative energy, etc.)Carrying wood, collecting pine needles for the animals, cooking, cleaning, stone work, building maintenance, building work, painting work, office work and more!Expectations of work for volunteersWe expect volunteers to live up to the agreement that is agreed upon before arrival. We also expect volunteers to be motivated and work enthusiastically for 5 hours each day.Is transportation available?Volunteers can take a local bus or hire a taxi to Kshatra in the Himalaya for approx 900. RupeesLanguages spokenEnglish, Hindi, Dutch, a little Japanese and local dialectCan you host children or pets?This can be evaluated on a case by case basis.Special dietsAgain this can be evaluated on a case by case basis, we are mostly vegetarian but occasionally meat is served.And any other specifics for your farmOur farm is also a guesthouse, restaurant, facility for retreats and groups, and therefore has backpackers and holiday makers coming to spend time in the mountains, go trekking and enjoy mountains sports such as repelling, rock climbing, skiing and snowboarding in the wnter and much more

IND 162 Farm name    Binsar Valley Resort Contact name  RAJANDR SINGH NEGI Location (address and description of land) Mangalatha, District Almora, Uttrakhand In the beginning of Mangalatha village when coming from Daulcchina, Munisiyari road, by Binsar river.A brief description of organic activities (crops, projects, goals, etc.) The land is as big as 2,5 a 3 acres. Climate is good, as well as in summer and wintertime. For vegetables there is gobi, alloo, tomato, palak, broccoli, muli, carrot, turnipes (golden muli), fenugreek, pumpkin, beans, lentils, chili, kapha. For fruits there is banana, mango, amla, almonds (baram), guava, papaya, lemon (nubi), abricot, pommegranade, lychee. For the herbs i want to make expiriment to enlarge the cultivation; as far as today there is lemongrass, tulsi, basil, aloe vera, cinnamon, germanium. Many other herbs are growing wild in the surroundings. There is also cultivation of wheats, wallnuts and mustard. I have many projects in mind: experimenting in cultivation of herbs (with the aim to create a beautiful herbal garden), fruits and vegetables (all kind of berries, cherries, framboise,), trees, flowers and miscelenious things (input of all kinds of seeds, which people always can bring), all on a natural, organic and ecological base. In fact, to create a small piece of heaven. There is also a sustainable building project for building ecological huts and rooms (in nature stone, with roof of grass, a mud floor and bamboo), and a camping side for tents. I plan to make a nice path towards the area and to install a place in bamboo and dried mud for meditation, There is also a fish project; not for capturing them but with a plan to make extension of it in the river. There is a fish pont where I keep 250 fish, such as grass karp, silber karp and golden karp. Ideas for alternative energy experiment and compost making are more than welcome! How long you have been doing Organic Farming Sice 3 years i cultivate this ground. I am in posession of a farmer card, from Mangalatha village. Whether the farm is certified (if yes) name of certification agency Not yet Suggested length of stay for volunteers Wwoofers can stay for 1 month, but there is some flexibility of course. Stays can be with a minimum of 2 weeks and extensions can be made for sure! This may be, according to the capacity of volunteers involved. Accommodations (number and type) For accomodation there are 2 rooms (in 1 month they will be finished), 2 big tents with matrasses (sleeping bags are available, but bring one with you if possible) and there is more facility for tent settling. Non-farming opportunities/ activities (alternative construction/ restoration project, alternative energy, etc.) Other activities beyond the farming are large in facility: trekking in the hills, by the river and to the waterfall, to Binsar, Jageshwar, ), swimming (Binsar river, this is a clean river, perfect for meditations, yoga and hydro therapy, and there are many sources of good and healthy drinking water!), cooking (with a nice setting to eat, i want to learn Wwoofers also how to do it in a hygienical way), bird watching (in the jungle and by the riverside), teachings in herbal wisdom (use and knowledge, keeping old traditions in honour), bonfire in the duna, to build an ecological, sustainable, nice place for living), possibility for rafting( 10km further) and hiking. Creativity forms the base for this all, so other ideas are welcome! Feng Shui and awareness in consciousness are doing a good deal. Expectations of work for volunteers Wwoofers can do a good job in weeding, preparing the grounds before planting, compost making, harvesting in seasontimes, bamboo fence making, plastic spotting and removing, help in building natural places for living, wood collecting and cutting, all according to capacities of volunteers of course! Is transportation available? Transportation is easy to regulate: there are taxis -private or shared ones- in Munisiyari, Berinag, Almora or Haldwani. A bus can be taken from Berinag or Haldwani. A train is going to Kathgodam and Haldwani, from there on there are busses. A taxi can be arranged, but this will be on charge of the driver himself. Languages spoken Hindi, Nepali and a little English are the languages that are spoken here. Can you host children or pets? Children and pets form no problem for having a stay too. Special diets For food there is a vegetarian and full organic diet. Local food or cooking yourself and herbal chai drinking.And any other specifics for your farm Everybody can do something! Creativity in thinking and many more ideas are valuable and very welcome. People can bring seeds and plants to see what may develop this heavenly place. My message is to show people (local and visitors) that selfsufficiency and a natural way of living, which is good and healthy, can be possible, here in this place but also elsewhere. According to the herbs for example, i want to bring back the old and forgotten traditions. Contact can be made by phone, which is better then email because connection is not always available here. The closest internetpoint with fast and good connection can be found in Daulcchina, Kasar Devi, Almora.

163 Farm name  Kolwa Eco Farm Contact name Piotr DorocinskiLocation (address and description of land) It is near Kolwa village about 60 km from Jaipur A brief description of organic activities (crops, projects, goals, etc.) There is a totally organic lemons plantation. Is is organic since the beginning of that “lemon field” (6 years). This spring we are starting a organic veg garden, 30x35m. For this project we need a people to help, to bring their ideas and experiences. How long you have been doing Organic Farming The lemons are organic since 6 years. Now it is the time for veg. Whether the farm is certified (if yes) name of certification agency Not yet Suggested length of stay for volunteers Long term, 2 weeks or more (but short terms are also welcomed) Accommodations (number and type) 4 Mud huts with double bed for long term volunteers. There are coming tourists from time to time (very rare), so then the tourists have priority. Also a shelter with mattresses will be provided for at least 10 persons. Non-farming opportunities/ activities (alternative construction/ restoration project, alternative energy, etc.) There is a plan to construct a tree houses and a pond. there is a plan to provide bicycles and a motorbike for volunteers, so then there is a lot of opportunities. Expectations of work for volunteers 5-6 hours a day. 5 days a week. Farm work, management/ office work, promoting of the farm etc. Is transportation available? Yes Languages spoken Hindi, English, Spanish, Polish, Norwegian, Can you host children or pets? Yes Special diets Veg and non veg cousine

IND 164 Farm name Brahma Homestay Contact name George Location (address and description of land) Kalga, Himachal Pradesh A brief description of organic activities (crops, projects, goals, etc.) Small hold farming and gardening community in its initial stages organised along permaculture design principles. Activities include composting, preparation, sowing and maintenance of garden areas to produce organic food – rajma, quinoa, zucchini, broccoli, mint and other herbs, tomato, nasturtium, roots and more. We also make homebrewed beer and cider, and intend to expand our facilities to include medicinal herb gardens and hothouses. We wish to organize to promote organic farming in Parvati as beneficial and economically viable. How long you have been doing Organic Farming We are a new operation, looking for long and short term involvement to develop our capacity Whether the farm is certified (if yes) name of certification agency No Suggested length of stay for volunteers We are ideally looking for people to stay for a trial period of one to two weeks, with potential to extend to one to six months between March and October 2013 Accommodations (number and type) The gardens and farm are around a large, traditionally built two story guesthouse with capacity for up to 22 people. WWOOFERs would have a dedicated twin bedroom, or can share in the dorm (4-8 people). Non-farming opportunities/ activities (alternative construction/ restoration project, alternative energy, etc.) Brahma also functions as a guesthouse, so there is always opportunity to help maintain the space and interact with paying guests. We are very into DIY culture and skills-sharing, so there is often opportunity to learn and exchange ideas and crafts, such as crochet, knitting, jewelry making and wood-carving. Also, our neighbor is a trained ayurvedic herbalist and keen to teach others about medicinal plants and treatments. We also provide cookery courses Expectations of work for volunteers Volunteers would be expected to work four to five hours a day, five days a week, most likely weeding, digging, composting, etc, in exchange for accommodation and food. We are keen to attract respectful people who have their own initiative, are able to live communally and are willing to share. We are open to ideas and suggestions for project direction, and most activities will be group-decided. There is opportunity for sustainable building around the site.