saturday what a day

Kelly, our friend from Penn State, and her sister, McKenzie came to The Yoga Farm today for a visit. While here, they visited the farm animals, did some weeding and harvested herbs for drying. Then we all went canoeing. On the way inland, we brushed past a large low branch of din din na...POISON IVY folks! I held it in my hand for a moment to study the leaves of three to be sure it was poison ivy and it was! So after pulling the canoe up the bank and driving the kids and
our young adult visitors half way to the canoe drop off point, I excused myself and ran home to shower with TECNU. This white and red bottle says it is the only product that will bind to the urushiol in poison ivy and wash it away if you wash within 2 hours. Cross your fingers please! We need to find another spot on the river to pull ashore.

cutting edge herbal medicinal products from Gita Nagari Yoga Farm

To the left you see the distillation of gita nagari protected cow urine being infused with organic fennel. Cow urine is a super tonic which has been scientifically proven to kill germs and offer disease resistance. It has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic cures to treat both common and "incurable"diseases. In India, there is cow urine soda product, eye drops, soap, cow urine tablets and so on--- needless to say this cure all is well known and popular. Gita Nagari Yoga Farm is the first to offer cow urine product from protected cows to the United States.

We are offering cerfied organic herb infused cow urine in two ways: sun distilled and wood stove distilled. To the left you see counterclockwise lemon balm, comfrey, fennel, and mint. These herbs will be singly distilled in the urine over our wood burning stove.

We have 3 oz bottles of the distilled miracle cure available now. Bulk quantities are also available. 717 527 4101

guests!

It's retreat season and the Yoga Farm is busy! We are hosting so many guests this week and happy to do so -- we love guests! We are busy turning over and preparing rooms for a trio who will arrive tonight and a family from Toronto who will arrive this weekend. At the same time we are sorry to say goodbye to Mitravinda and her two lovely children who just bid us adieu after visiting for a few days during the children's spring break. Thank you for helping out in the green house Mitravinda! Please come back soon.

and the herd cut loose

The herd cut loose on Prestayaha and I right after we took these pictures. We were marveling over how perfect the weather was and the landscape...and then I took my smart phone out (he hee) and started taking pictures...well, the herd must've sensed our diverted attentions and they began to wander off-- slowly at first. Well, it was my first time herding and I made the mistake of running after them to get ahead and guess what? Ding, ding, ding! You guessed right, folks! They moved away from us even faster! Down the hill they went and took their jolly old time coming back to pasture. Still, it was pleasant herding and I learned not to run behind them unless I am trying to move them in that direction.

Gita Nagari Yoga Farm in Philly

We arrived at the Philly Temple today around 5pm and set our tables up. With us we brought informational brochures and all kindsa ppprrroduct!

Among our rainbow of yummilicious goodies were flavoured hung yogurt (saffron orange is superb), ghee both spiced and plain, raw honey*, sweet potato flax bread, pesto, raw milk, curd, and 2 wildcrafted herbs- stinging nettle and catnip mint.

The strawberry carob chip and saffron orange hung yogurt samples (pronounced shree-con) were a big hit with the Philly crowd and as usual the pesto and bread lit up many faces. Surpisingly many devotees both young and old reached for the the wildcrafted steamed fresh nettles and nettle and catnip mint tea as well. Children even asked for seconds!

heaven on earth

This morning my plan was to take photos of Prestayaha feeding the cows a healthy spring diet, upload pics and info to blog, create CSA brochures, and work the rest of the day in the greenhouse. This morning...bright and early... that was the plan--- and I set out to do it. But as I was taking the first photo of a pretty grey milker accepting a strand of brocoliette with her adept curling tongue, the light flashed on the camera screen and warned me: insuficcient battery and-- that was that. God's plan is always the right plan. So rather than photo the cows enjoying a healthy meal, I made calls, seeded n organinzed the greenhouse, and identified flora. Now perhaps the aformentioned topics will be covered in tomorrows blog, however, tonight I must express this shining yet simple fact that comes to me daily now that spring has arrived: GITA NAGARI IS HEAVEN ON EARTH and all who have the pleasure of knowing GITA NAGARI are most blessed. Gods abundant blessings are everywhere here in the face of every flower unfurling, every peacock prancing, every protected cow, in every drop of milk, every warm breeze is God's sweet breath. I mean you don't even have to look for it here; when you set foot on Gita Nagari ground, you are surrounded by God in Nature. So when you come for a visit wether its your first visit or your 100th, please stop, breathe in the air, touch the earth with your skin-- bare feet, bare hands whatever- somehow make the connection, greet the flowers, brush the oxen, feed the cows, befriend the donkey and mini horses, and offer your unique service to God. Please come to GITA NAGARI humbly, enjoy God's bounty with us, and offer your service- we are truly blessed.

Jai mother nature. Jai!

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Photo: Coltsfoot

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first barefoot gardenin day of spring

today was lovely. the sun was shining and the breeze soft and warm. i had my wildflower ID books out and i decided to lay on the grass belly down observing ground ivy, chickweed, veronica and other flora friends. i noticed the cool grass felt super inviting what with the sun heating me up inside my black sweatshirt. I pressed my cheek to the grass and my palms down to soak up some of her cooling energy. my feet sent the message to my brain then that they wanted to be free and sure enough within the hour my sweatshirt was hanging on a nail in the greenhouse and my shoes and "smartwool" socks were chilling near medbed one's nettle patch. yup, i went barefoot today n it was heaven feeling the cool earth yield and mold to my feet as i moved across grass and soil. wriggling my long, white toes- we're free again! they seem to say. ha and ah. ah and ha! what a joy to be barefoot in the garden. sms+

The final moments of the smith shop

Dhruva, Ameena and Bali got down to cleaning up the dilapidated smith shop and removing the old fencing. They tried to recover some parts of the structure that were not rotten and could be reused. A lot of work! But fits in with the sustainability mood. Bali got the best part - lighting em up!  Oh, you guys should have seen that smile on his face :-)

And here is our new farm recruit!

 Meet Bhakta and his courteous hand shake with Omar :-)

Renovation work @ BA

The BA is seeing considerable overhaul and some transformation is expected over the coming few weeks. There is a new common bathroom being set up next to the existing one. That way there'll be one for the men and another for the ladies. The flooring is being redone, new efficient windows being installed, general cleanup,painting, etc. Every day is a new project here! As always, everyone's welcome to visit the farm and check out things.

Spring is here!

FARM ANIMALS

This just in::: GITA NAGARI is going to be home to a pig and a miniature donkey. The duo arrives tomorrow. We are also considering being home to sheep, goats, and perhaps even llama. What do you think? Which animals would YOU like to see at GITA NAGARI and why?

MOO BEDDING

The cows are sleeping so comfy and clean tonight because Dhruva, Omar, and Amina cleaned the entire barn and put sweet new hay down for their bedding. Sweet dreams, cows. Enjoy the moo (new) bedding! (Forgive the silly joke) Good night friends!

Blooms and Sprouts

A few of us here started a lemon juice cleanse today::: we are flushing our system of built up toxins accumulated over the sedentary winter by drinking a mix of fresh squeezed lemons, cayenne powder, and maple syrup and drinking water and teas as needed (I had a little food as well ahem chocolate covered walnuts and trail mix but SHHH- is ok im still reducing!).

Omar tranplanted daffodils he pulled from around the cabin- there are so many back there every where and he wants people to enjoy their pretty yellow faces- so he pulled up a dozen or so, hooked the wagon to his bike, loaded them on, and transplanted them in the landscaped area next to the rose bushes.

AND Our first greenhouse veggie sprouts of the season poked their little green heads up out of the soil in the seedling trays today!

hand harvesting stinging nettle- tingly!

I bare hand harvested stinging nettle today --the sting is said to be good for muscle tension and arthritis. Kpdd and I brought the fresh harvest to the kitchen and juiced it. Mother jagganath and we drank the through the roof good for you calcium n chlorophyll rich elixir. We three all agree it is tastier than store bought green drinks and we plan to experiment with nettle recipes all season. My hand still tingles and I like it!

Stop by and try some friends...stinging nettle is not stingy and she is a potent spring tonic!

APRIL 1, 2011 -

The greenhouse area along with the medicinal herb beds are really starting to take shape. Today, the scrap wood and metal pile was rebirthed into a border for medicinal herb bed 1 and a partial border for medbed 2. I also dug the old fencing out and organized the grow area a bit.

Omar seeded 4 trays of Butternut Squash. KPDD and Amina continued working diligently on the Gift Shop which is really taking shape.

Mother Jagganath planted 3 types of rose bushes that were gifted from her friend from the garden club in large pots and called an impromptu farewell luncheon for Stava Priya, Dhanya, and Dasaratha . We will miss you. Travel safely!