Sustainable Economic Initiatives at Manor Farm: A Model for Cow Protection Milk Production

1. Economic Initiatives and alternatives Presentation for ELM 2010 Sustainability at Bhaktivedanta Manor farm

2. Present assets in terms of preaching • Walking our talk (to some degree). Providing milk, vegetables, flowers for deity and temple use. • Goshalla attracts much interest and appreciation • Many newspapers have run articles about manor farm and goshalla • Documentary and film presentation have been made about farm and shown on national television • Radio interviews are done regularly by local radio and by national radio when topic is more important (Gangotri campaign - On our farm • A place to show VIPS (ISKCON and Outside) • Flagship of non-violent milk production • An alternative example for vegan sympathisers • Understanding the costs of cow protection milk production • Goshalla visited by 45,000 persons annually

3. Continued…… • Service opportunity for hundreds in goseva and vegetable production • Ox wagon transport for visiting schools, wedding couples, Sunday ox tours • Growing interest by potential customers of purchasing cow protection milk at sustainable pricing • Important for ISKCON communication that we are doing something • Training others in ox dependent farming • Providing produce grown from own farm to temples and congregation • Growing food for visitors to feed the cows • Great interest (100+) persons wanting to come and do voluntary farming (WWOOF)

4. Present assets in terms of sustainability • Have been producing milk since 1973 • Milk used by deities – Temple management committed to having all deity milk products from own cows • Strong and growing financial support from congregation and sympathisers • Goshalla working from own financial budget. • Maintained mainly by 1. milk sales to departments 2. Donations • Key goshalla services done by persons receiving livelihoods • Project has invested £2.5 million in new goshalla. Management demonstrating commitment

5. continued • Built dairy • Built ox mill • Key horticultural manager receives livelihood • Have been growing 70% of deity garland flowers for at least 30 years. With flower production since 1973 • Have been growing 30% of deity vase flowers for at least 30 years. With flower production since 1973

6. Plans to increase project sustainability • Develop dairy to stage of small business • Develop ox mill to stage of small business • Develop sales of cow protection milk products at sustainable prices • Expand outlets taking our vegetables • Expand flower production to provide for central London temple • Develop donor base further • Gradual increase in pricing to temple departments of milk and vegetables

7. Obstacles • Price differentiation between cost of production and price departments willing to pay (Market price addiction) • Milk capacity. May not have enough milk • Insufficient accommodation • Complacency of own milk production when milk is available in market place • UK cost of living so high