Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-04-22 15:31:00 →

1972 April 22: "Let every Temple President work according to his own capacity to improve the Krishna Consciousness of his center. Management is required but not that we should become too much absorbed in fancy organization. Our business is spiritual life, so whatever organization needs to be done, the Temple Presidents may handle and take advice and from their zonal secretary if necessary."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

Why is prana-pratistha not performed for the utsava-murtis though they ave their own names?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

Answer Summary:

The very word pratistha means lay in a solid foundation, that is, fix firmly on the ground.
So prana-pratisthita Deities are by definition non-movable except for emergencies - so Deities that are to be moved can't have prana-pratistha done for them.
Prana-pratistha is not the only way to invoke divine presence eg. Naimittika Deity worship with Arohana and Tirobhava as in 10 day Ganesh puja or 9 day Durga puja
The essential thing for invoking the Lord's presence as the Deity is not the prana-pratistha, but the request of the pure devotee - that's done for the utsav murtis

Why is the edited BBT Gita different from Prabhupada’s unedited original Gita?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

This is a very old and unnecessary controversy, all the points of which have been thoroughly dealt with on the site bbtedit.com

Specifically for the Gita changes, these three links painstakingly explain the hundreds of editing changes done and respond to the critic's points.
The basic problem is that the critic assumes the unedited book to be a gospel truth, but that unedited first print was based on the manuscript of Srla Prabhupada and that print had some errors.
So the edited book differs from the unedited book not because it distorts Prabhupada's message but because it returns to that  message as it was originally given in his manuscript.
Pl see the example below.
2.8: Consult Krsna through the bona fide representative
PUBLISHED EDITIONS ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT
[Purport (last line of paragraph 4)]...they can achieve real happiness only if they consult Krsna, or the Bhagavad-gita andSrimad-Bhagavatam—which constitute the science of Krsna—or through the bona fide representative of Krsna, the man in Krsna consciousness. . . . they can achieve real happiness if they prefee to consult Krsna or the Bhaga vat Geeta or Srimad Bhagwatam which are science of Krsna from the bonafide representative of Krsna or the man in Krsna consciousness.
COMMENT
BY A CRITIC:It’s only one word changed, but what a difference! In Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita we can understand Krsna by reading the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, after all the books are not different from Krsna!! But Jayadvaita has adjusted everything for us...[The critic ends here.]
COMMENT
BY JAYADVAITA SWAMI:The critic is right: That one word does make a difference.

In Srila Prabhupada’s original manuscript, one is advised to consult Krsna or the scripturesfrom Krsna’s representative—that is, through him, or with his help. As Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport to Chapter One, text 1, “one should read Bhagavad-gita very scrutinizingly with the help of a person who is a devotee of Sri Krsna. . . “

In the First Edition one is advised to consult Krsna and the scriptures or Krsna’s representative—an either/or proposition.

I leave it to you decide which advice better matches Srila Prabhupada’s original manuscript and better gets across his intended meaning.

 

Sunday, April 20th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Durban, South Africa

Katha Dance

African born Jambulani, affectionately known as Jabs, accepted a new name today through diksa initiation.  His new name is Jambavan.  In the ceremony held in the temple tent to local monks, Bhakti Chaitanya and Kadambha Kanana Swamis and I, initiated several candidates.  It simply means that the spiritual family is growing in South Africa.

On the schedule and in demand was more of the Dance Master stuff at the Bhakti Cloud tent.  With the presentation of “Little Big Ramayan” the night before, the details of avatar, Ram, and His pastimes, are fresh in the mind.  So, the djembe drums triggered some creative juices which lead to my rapping out the story.  This compelled participants to dance it out.  If you didn’t drum the site, you ended up standing and clapping, if not dancing and repeating the rap. 

This approach attracts major attention as on goers outside the marquee stood in delight and awe.  Many of the dancers were relatively new to the story of Ram’s great heroism, of love, of devotion, loyalty and dharma.  This technique, dancing out the story, is a remarkable learning curve and great substitute for mundane dance. 

I’m hoping that this katha dance (story dancing) will really take off and become mainstream one day, because it is wholesome and takes the practitioner to a metaphysical level beyond this world of maya (illusion). 

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

Tag, you’re it!
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

swans

In the time honored traditions of ISKCON days gone by, Malati Prabhu was set on finding a suitable mate for Sriman Hamsaraj. As swans mate for life This new mate’s qualities must be just so; good breeding, young but experienced, attractive, loyal to a fault and above all a good swimmer.

So why, you may ask, is Srila Prabhupada’s dearest daughter, a respected leader with responsibilities that stretch from one side of the globe to the other, trying to hook up a lonely male resident of the Dhama? I’m glad you asked!

Sriman Hamsaraj is a swan. He’s been in New Vrindaban for many years now and was one of a group that graced the ponds below Sri-Sri Gaura Nitai. Unfortunately his friends left a number of years ago and his mate died so poor Hamsaraj has been holding a solitary vigil for the pleasure of Their Lordships and guests. The peacocks are always dancing around and crying to one another but none venture into the water. Occasionally an errant goose or mallard duck will drop in for a short visit but they are too soon on their way and Hamsaraj is once again alone.

It is the gentle heart that is most susceptible to the beautiful strains of Krsna’s flute and such a heart knows when someone needs a friend. This, then, was the motivation that put Malati Prabhu on a mission to find a partner for Hamsaraj.

The exotic animal auction in Ohio was coming up fast and the time was right. Ok, just a few typical New Vrindaban issues to take care of first…

Need a van to transport…got a van…battery’s dead…may need a new battery…get someone to charge the battery…got a charger…can’t find extension cords…got cords…need a key for the cabin to plug in the charger…got the key…outlet doesn’t work…find breaker box…turn on breaker…run cords…hook up charger…and wait…

Well, this is completely out of character for the Dhama! The battery actually took a charge, the van starts and now Malati’s back with a beautiful female swan she names Sri Devi. Sri Devi even has a red mark on her forehead like kum-kum. Ok Krsna, what’s up? I know something’s coming, it’s never THAT easy.

With the assistance of the always kind and helpful Murti, Malati introduces Sri Devi to her new home (and husband). But wait, I’m sure something is amiss, something just doesn’t feel right…buy swan…bring swan back…let swan out of van…swan goes into water and immediately joins her new mate…oh no…

In a move that would make Minnie Pearl proud, (Minnie who? never mind) Sri Devi was launched into her new life with her auction tag still securely attached to her leg. The calls start coming…Raghu tells of a previous swan this happened with that nearly lost her leg after only five days…the toes, however were not so lucky. Jaya Krsna Prabhu looks across the table and smiles, ”I’m SO happy you are taking care of this!” “I am?” “Yes, thank you VERY much!” I am…

The next several days are rainy and cold. The swans are swimming around in matrimonial bliss, oblivious to the machinations happening on shore.

“We need a net”.
“I have a net.”
“Where is it?”
“I don’t know…try my trailer under the mind numbing pile of clutter that I used to have organized before someone got in there and turned it upside down.”
“I looked, no net.”

A trip to Washington, PA for some flooring material yields the benefit of hitting Dick’s Sporting Goods for a net…of course there’s no one in that department to help. The nets are finally located and the biggest one is pulled off the rack. The holes in the netting are too big. Sri Devi would probably get her head caught in it and that would create a whole new bag off Dhama delights! Gander Mountain? Nope. Cabelas…ok, now we’re on to something. Holes are small enough, hoop is fairly large but the handle is kinda short. It’ll have to do. Seventy dollars?? Really? Plus tax. Oy vea! “You know the label is a little messed up…could you knock some off? “ The joke about needing a net to pick up a date seems to be working. A call to the manager and sixty dollars (plus tax) later and away we go.

So now what? Well let’s see…they’re eating some grain off the rocks by the steps… if I can just slowly sneak up on them, maybe get a little lucky… closer…. closer… almost there… just a few more feet…

“Hey, who’s the strange looking human with the funny thing in his hands?”
“I don’t think so!” “Time for a little swim to less congested waters.”

Ok, new plan…Use the kayak to chase the swans to shore, corral Sri Devi and distract Sriman Hamsaraj. Just so happens that male swans are VERY aggressive, especially when it comes to their mates. Far from running off, they’ll go after you like Gopisa on a gulab jamin.

Kalindi says that the swans like to steal the bread from the fish when she feeds them on Sunday. Ok Krsna, I’m beginning to see Your plan.

Paddles for the kayak? Check.
Half loaf of cheap white bread? Check.
Net? Check.
Scissors? Check.
Wire cutters? Check.

As I head out the door, Kalindi gives me a sympathetic look and says, “Good luck!”

It’s Saturday, 70 degrees, the sky is clear, winds light and everyone is fully engaged with a hundred and twenty something guests.

A stop by the Palace where Tejo and Gopal are fixing up the bathrooms to see how it’s going and solicit some help.

“Hey Tejo, wanna help catch the new swan?”
“Sure! Gopal, shut the door, no need to pack up. Hey, I’ll meet you down there.”
“Hey Gintras, wanna help catch a swan?”
“Sure, why not.”

A couple of Gosh’s workers are fixing up the area around the lodge for planting mint.

“Hey guys, can you help us catch a swan?”
“Yea, sure.” One looks over at the other, “You don’t swim do you?”
“Nope” “And I don’t want to get pecked to death either.”
Tejo: “Don’t worry, they have really small teeth.”

As Krsna would have it, both swans are on shore near the boat house. I throw some bread for them and they make their way farther on shore.

“Ok guys, move in behind them to keep ‘em from getting back into the water.”
“They’re starting to turn back, move fast!”

A well coordinated effort indeed! Hamsaraj took one look at Gopal and headed straight for the water. Sri Devi was corralled, netted and lay there passively while the band was clipped off. The band was not tight and the leg looks fine.

After she joined back up with her paramour, we heard a strange grunting sound. Not sure if that was Sri Devi saying thanks or Hamsaraj expressing his outrage over her treatment and offing a few choice comments of his own in a vain attempt to salvage some of his lost dignity.

Skeptical Origins
→ Servant of the Servant


Not sure what to make of this but surely science is less convincing in answering the fundamental aspects of life such as origin of life on earth, creation of planetary systems, evolution etc. In Vedic scriptures such as Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, there is in-depth explanation of life and its origins. Granted, we cannot prove those theories via modern science or by collecting physical evidence. So in one sense, even theories from the Gita and Bhagavatam are highly skeptical from a modern scientific perspective. However, the reason Gita and Bhagavatam will score higher than science for me at least is because it was presented by great saints such as Mahamuni Vysa, Sukadev Goswami and Bhagavan Sri Krishna Himself. Our validation of the subject is based on the speaker and not so much based on return of evidence. Modern science gives no credence to the character of the scientists per se, it is all about the ability to collect, and interpret data. 

Unless we transcend sensual science, it is very difficult to understand the concept of life, creation and the value of saintly speakers such as Sukadev Goswami.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON appreciations
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Appreciation of ISKCON

The Hare Krishna movement arose out of next to nothing in less than twenty years and has become known all over the West. This is an important fact in the history of the Western world ... for the first time since the days of the Roman Empire, an Asian religion is being openly practiced by people of western origin in the streets of western cities.
- Dr. A.L. Basham; Eminent scholar of Hinduism, Author of A Cultural History of India

The ISKCON movement has few parallels in the world in terms of its rapid global spread, its trans-national, trans-ethnic, and trans-professional appeal, its outward simplicity, and the devotional energy of its followers. In the less than three and a half decades since its inception it has established temples in practically all parts of the world, and many of them are marvels of beauty, such as the one that is being opened in New Delhi today.
The maha-mantra of Hare Krishna Hare Rama reverberates to the dancing feet of ISKCON devotees each morning and evening in temples from Stockholm to Sao Paulo and from Miami to Mäyäpur. What ISKCON has achieved is indeed globalization of the Gita appeal.

-  Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Former Prime Minister of India

Guess again if you think Bollywood, or Indian writing in English, is the country's biggest cultural export. You may not come across any of these if you visit Cochabamba in Bolivia or Gaborone in Botswana, what you will find instead is a centre of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) ...  It is easy to see where the Krishna movement's global appeal lies. In the midst of today's impersonal institutions and vast bureaucratic collectivities, it promises an intimate relationship with a personal god.

- Times of India editorial, Jan 6, 2006

Appreciation of Srila Prabhupada:

He was a genuine holy person with enormous integrity and compassion, and he had a powerful impact on those who met him. He never claimed authority and respect for himself; what he said and did was always in the name of Krishna... It (Srila Prabhupada's life-story) is an astonishing story. If someone told you a story like this, you wouldn’t believe it. Here’s this person, he’s seventy years old, he’s going to a country where he’s never been before, he doesn’t know anybody there, he has no money, has no contacts. He has none of the things, you would say, that make for success. He’s going to recruit people not on any systematic basis, but just picking up whomever he comes across and he’s going to give them responsibility for organizing a worldwide movement. You’d say, ‘What kind of program is that?’ There are precedents perhaps. Jesus of Nazareth went around saying, ‘Come follow me. Drop your nets, or leave your tax collecting, and come with me and be my disciple.’ But in his case, he wasn’t an old man in a strange society dealing with people whose backgrounds were totally different from his own. He was dealing with his own community. Bhaktivedanta Swami’s achievement, then, must be seen as unique”

 - Dr. Thomas J. Hopkins,  Chairman, Department of Religious Studies at Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Appreciation of ISKCON's global Food for Life program:

Here they [the Hare Krishnas] have a reputation like the one Mother Teresa has in Calcutta: it’s not hard finding someone to swear they are saints...

 

- The New York Times, “Grozny Journal”

Appreciation of ISKCON Food Relief Foundation: 

Your program has became the single largest feeding program in the world. Your example of using advanced technologies in the central kitchen to reach such a huge number of school or children is an imaginative approach that has the potential to serve as a model for other nations.

— Barack Obama, President of the United States[4]

This is a very important and great mission.

— A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Former President of India, at ISKCON Bengaluru[4]

 

 

Out of control
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 10 October 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.14)

This movement of Caitanya Mahaprabhu is a mercy movement but we have to take it seriously; we have to take responsibility. A devotee has to take responsibility for what he does wrong and then correct it. We can’t just say, ‘Oh, these things are just happening to me, what can I do? I mean, I am trying so much but it’s just not working, it’s out of control!’

KKS_Dbn_RY_2014No, IT is not out of control – YOU are out of control! We say, ‘My mind is out of control!’ No, it’s not your mind that is out of control, you are out of control – you see the point? But we tend to just shift responsibility away from ourselves, ‘My mind is out of control, kali-yuga is out of control, everything is out of control – what can I do? There is nothing I can do, it’s all out of control. If things were more in control then I will chant Hare Krsna! I would… I want to be a devotee, I really want to.’ No, nothing is out of control, except you!

So begin to get yourself under control – maybe you cannot conquer everything within one day, but do something. Start to do the things that you can do. Some people lament about what they cannot do, ‘I really want to chant sixteen rounds but I cannot!!’

Bengali_potsNo problem, do what you can first. What can you do? Can you do some service, can you clean? Okay, then clean! Can you wash pots? Yes, come and wash pots, wash sixteen pots! After washing sixteen pots for a while, then try it again – maybe you would be able to chant sixteen rounds.

It works like this, while doing the things you can do, you get purified and after a while you can start doing things you could not do before. Take responsibility for what you are not doing right and correct it step-by-step. Don’t do it again, stop it and correct it. For example, ‘How can I stop smoking?’ By stopping! When you drive a car you simply push the brakes and stop.

But we are not used to taking responsibility and we have excuses – millions of excuses. ‘It’s my mom, it’s my dad, it’s my big brother – because of them I am not doing these things. Because of what they did to me, now I am doing all this nonsense.’ Endless excuses to justify and to shift our responsibility away.

But we must take responsibility because Hari-katha is not just some automatic thing. Sometimes in India, people consider it to be. Some of these pandits give very dry lectures; they sound like a door squeaking and everyone is in deep sleep but they go anyway because sat-sanga is considered a religious thing. Even if it is very painful, still we must do it. They take it that you just do these things and then you get the blessings – some automatic ritual and you get the blessing.

No! It is not like that! Through hearing we get knowledge and then WE have to make arrangements to change. We, us! We have to do it, change ourselves. But we say, ‘Oh, but I cannot change.’ Who says you cannot change? You changed a lot so far but now you have to change in a certain direction, in the direction of Krsna rather than change in the direction of maya. So one has to take responsibility – with intelligence.

 

 

New Vrindaban Daily darsan @ April 21, 2014
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

01

Within the boundless, all-pervading effulgence of the brahmajyoti is the extremely blissful and effulgent realm of Lord Visnu. Within that realm of Lord Visnu is an other effulgent realm of immeasurable transcendental bliss. Within that place is this forest of Vrindavana.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, Sataka-2, Text-19, Translation.] 

Please click here for more photos

I Became Determined To Reform
→ Japa Group

"I became determined to reform, to chant my japa pronouncing each word and syllable. My japa improved immediately. I then understood the chanting was most important and could not be neglected. I felt I was learning a crucial, confidential secret, although Srila Prabhupada was constantly repeating it, "Chant sixteen rounds and avoid the offenses in chanting." It is a practice. It takes practice. Whatever you practice, the body can learn to do it. Chant, chant, chant!"

From Japa Reform Notebook
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Lotus Room Asrama
→ Ramai Swami

IMG_0638IMG_0634

Friday night kirtana at Lotus Room Asrama in Darlinghurst is always looked forward to by guests and devotees. The evening starts with a bhajan sit down style of chanting then by the end everyone is up swaying and dancing.

After the kirtan finishes a big feast, which is brought over from our Govinda’s restaurant, is served to the delight of all. Yasodeva das has been organising functions at the asrama for the last couple of years.
IMG_0636IMG_0635

Dhaneswara Prabhu on Harinam in central London
→ simple thoughts

Share

Dear Maharaj/Prabhus,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Dhaneswara prabhu (acbsp) author of ‘Spiritual Economics’ joins the Saturday Night Harinam in London.
The Harinam started at 1pm and continued till 10pm, with a prasad break at 6pm.
Everybody who came on that Harinam felt surcharged, walking on air.
This would have been an average length Harinam in the seventies.
Hundreds of books went out and hundreds of prasad sweets.

Dhaneswara Prabhu has a new book coming out called “Change the Karma”, aimed at helping protesters worldwide to understand the root cause of our global problems.
Enjoy the movie,
your servant
Parasuram Das

Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-04-21 18:46:00 →

1968 April 21: "In his past life he must have cultivated this science of Krishna Consciousness and therefore he has automatically been attracted with this movement and who knows if all the boys and girls joining me were not born by the Supreme Will of Krishna just to help me in this great task of distributing Krishna Consciousness in the Western World specifically."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

an alternative to "just do it!"
→ everyday gita

Verse 4.33: O chastiser of the enemy, the sacrifice performed in knowledge is better than the mere sacrifice of material possessions. After all, O son of Pṛthā, all sacrifices of work culminate in transcendental knowledge.

I read a beautiful blog post by a teacher today. He was speaking about how important school is, but not for the reasons a student might think. He spoke of how every mundane activity such as going to class, studying for an exam or listening to a teacher's advice actually has a much deeper meaning. In particular, when it came to discussing the need to study, he emphasized how it isn't the mark you get that's the "win". It's about taking advantage of of an opportunity to practice a life skill - that of sacrificing time and effort to master something that may seem impossible without succumbing to distractions, or worse yet the feeling of "I can't do it".

How fitting that it ties in so well with today's subject where Krsna is telling Arjuna that sacrifice performed in knowledge is a much better way to act! Or in other words:

Doing something with understanding is much better than just doing it

This may seem ridiculously intuitive to some, but I'll be the first to admit, I struggle with this for a couple of reasons. For one thing, society doesn't really encourage us to question and look deeper than what meets the eye. Secondly, if one does attempt to look deeper, in some cases that understanding may not come right away and could require an investment of time and effort and who wants to do that! In a world where we want things immediately, it doesn't satisfy persons such as myself.

That said, in those instances where I've sought to understand why I'm doing something before doing it, I've noticed that I get a much more holistic picture of life. No longer does that simple action stand separated from everything else, but instead I gain insight into how my actions in one area of my life can be reflective of those in another.

When I started writing, I didn't just start writing. I sat down and clearly figured out what I wanted to accomplish which was pretty simple - I wanted to share my own love and appreciation for the Gita in a way that made it practical and relevant to everyday life. Now, whatever I write, I filter through that lens and if it doesn't meet that intention, I don't publish it. This theme of practical and relevant has now seeped into all other spheres of my life. Whoever I speak to, whether it's giving a workshop or offering advice to a friend, practical and relevant has become my motto.

All of us do things on a regular, if not daily basis. But have you ever really asked yourself why you do it? If you haven't, I extend the invitation to you to ask. You might be surprised by what you find if you understand first and then act with that understanding.

(If you'd like to read the article I alluded to in the beginning, please find it here: http://affectiveliving.wordpress.com/2014/03/08/what-students-really-need-to-hear/)

Just doing Good work is not enough, it will also bind one to this Material world like Bad work
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Ordinary men wish to perform good work in order to be recognized and achieve some higher status of life in this world or in heaven, but more advanced men want to be free altogether from the actions and reactions of work. Intelligent men well know that both good and bad work equally bind one to the material miseries. Consequently they seek that work which will free them from the reactions of both good and bad work. Such liberating work is described here in the pages of Sri Isopanisad.

- Srila Prabhupada, Sri Isopanishad Mantra 2

Constant Change
→ Tattva - See inside out

Constant change has become the underlying theme of the age – update your fashion, contrast your scenery, evolve your goals and upgrade your gadgets. After all, variety is the mother of enjoyment. If someone maintains the same job for over ten years they may well be viewed as dull, unambitious and dysfunctional. Stability and steadiness just isn’t valued in the same way. Being ‘original’ no longer relates to doing something authentic – it means to do something new! But does this constant adjustment improve the quality of life? Is the age of mass distraction leaving us perpetually restless? Have we developed an artificial culture that diverts us from the real source of satisfaction?

The phenomenon of constant change exposes the inability of external adjustments to satisfy our internal yearning. Looking for a ‘secret solution’ in material variety will never succeed in addressing our spiritual vacuum, since deep satisfaction goes beyond the immediate titillation of the mind and senses. Real fulfillment is born from the state of our consciousness, and excessive focus on the externals can distract us from this cardinal principle. Next time we feel the need to change our ‘externals’, we may want to stop and consider whether it’s really necessary.

There is something beautiful about simplicity and sameness. With the proper attitude, it can help one become more conscious, more aware and more reflective. When activities and surroundings remain consistent, it opens up unique opportunities to invest energy into the quality, purpose and consciousness with which one functions. Simple living high thinking. Having practiced an identical spiritual discipline and lifestyle for quite some years now, I’m beginning to appreciate how much depth it can create. Spiritual technology is timeless and limitless. Eternally perfect. No need for upgrades, add-ons or adjustments – just more attention and conscientious application on my part.


From the New Vrindaban Gardens 4-21-2014 — Volunteers Welcome
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

 

New Vrindaban teaching garden 4-21-2014

James and Kacey working in the Apothecary Teaching Garden

Spring is in full swing this week in the gardens. The Apothecary Teaching Garden across from the temple is getting a beautiful make-over. Marty Wach a volunteer from Wheeling has designed the garden and already has 15 of the beds cultivated and ready for planting. The Apothecary Teaching Garden will be the home to many medicinal herbs, flowers both perennial and annual, as well has greens for the temple and restaurant. A new fence will also be installed in the next few weeks.

In the Garden of Seven Gates we are preparing beds for new asparagus plants and awaiting the first delicious shoots to break through the ground from the previous year’s plantings. Lots of spring clean up and weeding is being completed as well. Rhubarb will be planted this week along the fence line near the asparagus. Both plants are hardy perennial vegetables that grow well in our climate. The long term goal for the Garden of Seven Gates is to line the lower fence line with perennial vegetables. This will give us a ample spring vegetable harvest in a few years.

There are many volunteer opportunities in both of the gardens for either groups or individuals. On the weekends volunteers are welcome anytime during the day and we are also available through the week. My office is the first door on the right as you entire the far side of the temple (closest to the road). I am in the office each day from 9-9:30, if you would like to come later just come join us in the garden. I can also be contacted by email at Korr.ecov@gmail.com. Volunteer hours can also be tailored to individual interests such as: flowers, vegetables, greenhouse, landscaping, organic methods, agro-foresty, fruits, and many more. We are also open to groups coming to work and enjoy the gardens. May-July we will be planting regularly and can always use the extra help, no experience necessary. Robert Rodale once said, “The best crop of a garden, year after year, is hope.” We hope to see many new faces in the garden this season.