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Address: Govardhan Eco Village, Galtare, Post Hamrapur, Taluka Wada, District Thane, Maharastra, India 421303. Email: contactus@ecovillage.org.in, Contact No: +91 91672 04666, +91 99307 58996

Dedicated to His Divine Grace, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness

GOVARDHAN ECO VILLAGE

NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2012
Vol 3, Issue 2

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How to Make ORGANIC JAGGERY

Jaggery holds a very special place in Indian cuisines. The distinctive salty-sweet taste of Jaggery has made it suitable for preparing many sweets that have formed the cultural identity of many festivals in India. 'Tilgud' a special delicacy prepared from Jaggery, and is generally consumed in the winter, is one such popular preparation made in certain parts of India. Considered healthier than the popularly used white sugar, Jaggery is also used in many Ayurvedic medicines. But Jaggery is best when consumed organic. Organic Jaggery retains not only all the sucrose but all the other natural nutrients like calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and potassium. The commercially available Jaggery is made by adding certain chemicals to regulate the hardness and color of Jaggery, but it
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The purpose of food is to increase the duration of life, purify the mind and aid bodily strength. This is its only purpose. In the past, great authorities selected those foods that best aid health and increase life's duration, such as milk products, sugar, rice, wheat, fruits and vegetables. These foods are very dear to those in the mode of goodness. Some other foods, such as baked corn and molasses, while not very palatable in themselves, can be made pleasant when mixed with milk or other foods. They are then in the mode of goodness. All these foods are pure by nature.

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How to Make Organic Jaggery Holy Tulsi to protect against Nuclear Radiation Heath Benefits of Watermelon

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GEV Newsletter

Vol 3, Issue 2

How to Make ORGANIC JAGGERY

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is very harmful for the health. The chemical contamination in Jaggery comes not only in its preparation stage, but right from the beginning when the sugarcane is grown. Being a very profitable cash crop, sugarcane plantations are often grown with lots of chemical fertilizers to ensure quality harvest. So good quality organic Jaggery essentially requires not only chemical free manufacturing but also chemical free sugarcane produce. At Govardhan Eco Village we follow a strict zero chemical policy, so that we ensure that even the sugarcane juice that goes into the preparation of Organic Jaggery is pure and chemical free. Last January we planted our first sugarcane plantation in an area little over half an acre. The land is first tilled with oxen and then natural organic fertilizers like cow dung 2

is applied. Cow dung manure contains different types of microbes that enrich the soil with essential nutrients. Usually 5 Tons of cow dung manure is used in 1 acre of land. The land is again tilled and then the sugar cane is planted. While planting the sugarcane cuttings care should be taken to ensure that the entire cutting is under the soil. Sugarcane requires good amount of water and it is supplied once in every 15

days. To protect the sugarcane from pests Cow urine diluted to 5% can be sprayed if required. Usually it takes about 9-11 months for the sugarcane to be ready for harvesting. This year GEV harvested about 16.5 Tons of sugarcane. Once harvested the pure organic sugarcane is now ready to be converted to Jaggery. Read more in our next article.

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GEV Newsletter

Vol 2, Issue 4

Holy Tulsi to protect against Nuclear Radiation

Does the word Ocimum tenuiflorum ring a bell? In case you are scratching your head, that's what Tulsi is called in Botanical terminology. Popularly called as the Holy Basil, this aromatic plant is revered through out India as a sacred plant. It is quite common to find a tulsi plant in the courtyard of every Hindu household, as a symbol of protection and well-being. The very Sanskrit word tula-asi means "incomparable". And the significance of this name has reached a newer dimension with the latest discovery of Tulsi's antiradiation properties. The Indian top defence research organization DRDO, has recently revealed this startling find. Scientists at the DRDOs Institute of Nuclear Medicines and Allied Sciences, and the Department of Radiobiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, have successfully tested Tulsi extracts on mice for its anti-radiation and anti-cancer properties. Observations have shown that inspite of exposure to radiation, the mice ingested with Tulsi preparation had no damage to the bone marrow. Presenting a research paper on the anti-radiation impact of Tulsi extract at the 99th Indian Science Congress, Dr W Selvamurthy, the chief controller of research and development, DRDO, said, "Scientists are working on that property of the plant to develop medicine to protect against radiation poisoning." Tulsi gains its anti radiation properties from a chemical called www.ecovillage.org.in glutathione, that is found in it. The DRDO has undertaken a Rs 70 million project to develop an anti-cancer drug facilitating radiation therapy. They are in testing stages. Tulsibased medicine is already in phase-II clinical trials. It will undergo some more trials before the technology is finalized and it goes for commercial production. Animal trials have also been conducted and their results were quite encouraging, said Dr.Selvamurthy.

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GEV Newsletter

Vol 3, Issue 2

After the winter, woes have faded you would be jaded by the thought of impending dry season which brings out the need for fruits with rehydrating juices. What better choice we can have other than the big and bulky watermelon. Yes this tropical fruit is mostly water, around 90%, and is best suited to charge your body with electrolytes and minerals for summer. This popular tropical fruit is known mostly in dry and arid countries like India. This watery and succulent fruit can be sugary or otherwise, depending on the type. Although you may feel it just a big ball of water, a second thought about its health benefits will certainly go a long way in ensuring good health. Watermelon is packed with antioxidants especially lycopene which prevents the production of free radicals in the body. Also, the red pulp of watermelon can be attributed to lycopene. Lycopene content is maximum in watermelon as compared to other fruits, which in a way, helps to reduce the risk of heart disease and prostate cancer. So we can be safe to say that people with have included them in their diet have a lesser chance of getting a heart attack. Watermelon as we know when bitten fills our mouth with watery juice, which shows that, it is mostly water. But actually the large amount of water is attributed to its abundance of electrolytes. This makes them the perfect choice for preventing dehydration. Besides this, they provide the vital fluids for cells processes and for smooth skin.

Moreover watermelon rejuvenates our energy. We will feel stronger and revitalized after eating this fruit. This is due to the presence of rich vitamin B, especially the variants such as vitamin B1 and B6. It also contains Vitamin B6 that is essential to deal in conditions of panic and anxiety in a better way besides helping in the functioning of the brain. Magnesium and potassium are also found in good amounts in watermelon, which helps in nervous functions. Last but not the least watermelon is a rich source of vitamin C. As we know vitamin C is essential ingredient in boosting the immune system, so the diseases like the flu and cold will be kept at bay. Nevertheless vitamin C contributes in the antiaging process by giving you a great and healthy skin besides averting cell damage and healing wounds. So this summer do not forget to include this wonder fruit in your diet. May be you will have no reasons to not do so.

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