CONSTRUCTING A PROTECTIVE FENCE FOR OUR FARM.

Why are we crowdfunding?

My name is Pankaj and along with my wife we have been full time volunteers at the Himalayan Farm Project.

I am asking for your help as we are in an urgent need to construct a protective metal fence to stop herds of chital and sambar deers - as well as wild boars and porcupines -  from getting into the farm throughout the night, destroying the farm’s crops (seasonal vegetables, beans, dal, millet, rice, and grains). The deer also tread into the raised soil beds and pull the smaller trees off from the ground. Days and hours of work by us and our volunteers get destroyed in a few minutes. This affects the overall performance at the farm and drains our resources.

In addition, we are woken up every night, in the middle of the night, trying to save what we could. This affects our health and energy the next day. For months now we are desperate for a single night of uninterrupted sleep. We are crowdfunding because we need your help to keep the Himalayan Farm Project running.

Why do we want to keep the HFP running?

1. The Himalayan Farm Project is a community which aims to assist smaller neighboring farms with the necessary knowledge needed for their projects to nourish and become more sustainable.

2. We offer workshops and courses on natural farming and healthier ways of living. We also offer a 14-day Permaculture Design Course consisting of 72 hours of practice and theory combined. 

3. Through our volunteering program, we connect national and global youth where new knowledge is created and diverse experiences are shared.  https://youtu.be/EgsuymIP-ak

4. HFP is also an educational project for us, the locals, the volunteers, and our guests. The farm acts as a sustainable model for the neighboring farms, villages, and communities and builds awareness on several issues: 

• Natural farming and sustainable ways of living.

• Creating stronger connections with the natural environment, gaining first-hand experience of working with nature which allows people to learn more about themselves.  

• Becoming grateful for the natural resources which we already have.

• Teaching independence to the younger generations, encouraging them to grow their food and not leave their lands.

5. Life and work at HPF helps us – and other volunteers - feel more grounded. It provides an alternative perspective on life and helps the mind and body to relax. Experiencing life at the farm can:
   

• Reduce feelings of anxiety and stress.

• Improve mood and self-esteem.

• Increase one’s ability to adapt to stressful situations or crises.

How?

• Doing more physical activity is known to have many physical and mental health benefits.

• Being surrounded by nature can boost your overall mood and sense of well-being.

• Being in nature restores attention, which stimulates creativity and problem-solving skills.

What does the farm consist of? 

• 6 Planting terraces – to become forest gardens which is a more sustainable, requiring less maintenance. 

• 6 organic gardens. 

• Parts of wildlife (untouched).

• A community hall for meetings workshops that includes a library of 500+ books and a 100-year-old mud house with 2 rooms to accommodate volunteers.

• A small local temple. 

• An open fire kitchen and a toilet complex.

Impact of the project would be:

• We will be able to grow a wider range of vegetables to sustain the farm needs and to provide for the neighbouring communities (right now we have to buy it from 15km away).

• We will become a learning model for locals who stopped farming and now buying chemical treated foods from the markets.  

• We will share our organic seeds with the neighboring farms (right now they are buying hybrid seeds). Hybrid seeds are more expensive, less nutritious, and not self-sustaining: they do not produce the same plant the following year. 

• Crops, soil, and smaller trees will not be destroyed.

• Each stage of the work will be done once. We will have much more energy and more time to contribute to the surrounding environment. One example is to put efforts in saving the adjacent forests from fires. These fires destroy the biodiversity of the land, animals get killed, and birds leave their habitat.  

• We will have more time for non-farming related projects and workshops for the community – such as: yoga, meditation, self-healing techniques, natural soap making, arts, and music. 

• Last but not the least, we will sleep well at night to boost our energy for work the next day.  

Detailed Costs 

Cost of 165 units of iron fence: Rs 808,500

Cost of transportation from Haldwani to DoGaon (3 trucks): Rs 7,500

Cost of transportation from from DoGaon to the farm (4 horses doing 2 trips per day for 18 days) : Rs 72,000

Cost of a workforce of 6 people working for 21 days, including accommodation and meals: Rs 126,000

Total cost: Rs 1,014,000

How can you be part of this campaign?

• You can contribute financially. 

• You can spread the word among your family, friends and acquaintances on social media, by email or any other way. 

• Providing the fencing materials through a trusted company or supplier

• Provide the transportation of fencing materials from the source to the farm 

• Share this campaign with others through different platforms of social media

: Days of work gets destroyed in a few minutes by the raiding animals and this might stop our farm project.

: Because for two years now, we are here by choice as long term volunteers to keep this project running for others