Excess land - can it be true

[Guest guest]

On 23 Nov 1999, Syamasundara das wrote:

 

Dear Balabhadra Prabhu

Ø It is remarkable reading to see that a number of devotees have

expressed

frustration at not being able to farm land, and on the other side we hear

there is excess land.

 

Ø Firstly is it true that there are tracts of spare land within our

ISKCON

communities and if so where exactly are they.

 

Comment:

Although not an ISKCON farm, Saranagati (1700 acres) is one that comes to

mind. In New Talavan we have 1280 acres, which has been sold in various size

parcels according to the desire of the buyer. Now we are a little more

organized - soon I think you will see us actively offering land for sale to

those devotees who do not reside here at present. We have 26 families here all

living on their own land except 4 who live on temple land (all of who are

looking at purchasing).

 

Our head cowherd, has exchanged temple service for a period of one year for

four acres of land - so it can be seen that there is not a strict sales ethic.

 

Ø >Could there not be a proposal by this conference in a similar way as

the

minimum standards were set up, to make policies, to make this land (if indeed

there is such land) available to agriculturists.

 

Comment:

That is a nice idea, but from experience I know many communities would say

that it smacks of outside control and here in America this ideology is very

strong.

>

Ø Such land would have to be farmed according to strict ISKCON standards.

Some

of those standards could be (acknowledging the minimum cow standards): -All

farm land worked by oxen - No machinery used that can be reasonably done by

oxen - All land farmed organically - No herbicides nor pesticides -

10%(perhaps) of products/profits given to temple as land rent.

 

Comment:

Personally I like these ideas, but in the management group there is a strong

feeling that is not a practical possibility in this advanced time - we can't

take a step backward, is how they see it.

 

There is one family here who owns land adjacent to the temple land and he is

leasing some adjacent land from the temple in exchange for 50% of the annual

production of that land, his lease is a life time lease.

 

Ø A family could go onto the land relatively easily with a policy like

this.

No need to buy the land. Housing or caravaning of course would be the

responsibility of the farmer. Perhaps even the communities could give a home

for ox farmers as an incentive to get them onto the land and work the oxen.

 

Comment:

In essence this has happened here, as I mentioned before our head cowherd has

acquired a deed to his property where he will move once he builds his house

and with him will go his two oxen.

 

However, most devotees want legal rights to their own land and no ties to the

temple except on a spiritual basis. They want a suburban setting with all the

modern amenities - of course these are the non-agriculturalists. We have some

like this that own 15 acres or so, keep it like a park and have no intention

of engaging in agriculture.

 

I think the best method is to purchase one acre or perhaps a little more (this

should fulfill the need for 'ones castle') and then take out a lifetime lease

from the temple farm land with a fixed percentage of the annual produce as the

means of payment. In that way you are providing for the deities - recognizing

that Krsna is the proprietor. While not having the burden of huge taxes or the

initial expense of the purchase of a large track of land leaving no funds for

development.

 

Ø A good policy for the use of farmland with easy access would be a great

step

forward for ox power.

 

Comment:

Yes, it definitely would. I have envisioned those devotees with carpentry

skills, accompanied by youth with the desire to learn the trade, building a

home and engaging ox teamsters to haul logs out of the woods and transport

finished wood to the building sites. Then once they are situated, building

homes for others in exchange for cash and various commodities grown by the

farmers. Then come the doctor, teacher, cartwright and other trades as the

need arises in the community. Of course this all requires devotees who are

willing to set aside the conveneances of the modern world, put on the hat of a

pioneer and sweat a little.

 

Ø Would it be possible to have another proposal ready for the GBC by

Gaura

Purnima 2000?

 

Comment:

The cow standards took two years, four months is definitely too short a time.

Ys, Rohita dasa