Time to update

Hi

I kinda disappeared for coupla months from my blog so back now with a fully loaded version of me going Organic all the way!

Visit to the Organic Farms:

Let me start with my first farm visit to this little Village near Ooty that grows Organic Veggies.



The valley is about 52 acres that has been converted into Organic. They grow all kinds of English Vegetables including exotic ones like Broccoli and Zucchini. They are a group of farmers each owning about 2-5 acres of the land. They have an excellent crop rotation system and vermi composting pits. The farmers also use Effective Micro-organism and convrert all the waste matter into manure.

My next visit was Bangalore were I met two sisters-in-law who are continually supporting me and teaching me how to sell, stock and handle the grains like moong, rice, channa and chillies.

I have visited various groups who converted into Organic in Tamil Nadu like Kumbakonam, Gobichettipalayam, Udumalpet, Sathyamangalam and my next destination is the beautiful hill called Yercaud, near Salem.

My first Show:

My first step towards maketing was a stall in a local Consumer Exhibition called SHE. Ironically, I found more men than women at the expo!


Ours was unique with my hand painted charts, thermacol stickers, pictures and products displayed. I designed a brochure in such a way that anyone who took away information from us gave in return their contact number and name.

It thrilled me when mom gave me a hug and congratulated me of being the youngest person in the whole exhibition to take up an affair of this sort.

My First Sale:

With 250 registrations, 100 phone calls as follow up, adding friends and relatives, I expected a turn out of atleast 50 people. Too much! Too much of expextation, too much of vegetables ordered, too much of rice stocked and too less a turn out. It was a good show but I realised that I made my first mistake and I needed to act. I had 250 kg of perishables that would all rot if I dint do something. After trying out different ideas I finally called 1098 - the toll free number for a children's orphanage. The kids made my loss worth its price.

Now I've learnt to order less and my family continues to be my biggest consumer. Thanks to me we eat almost 80% of Organic at home.

My first Seminar:

A close family friend took over as President of his club in Rotary. He invited me to speak in the Anne's monthly meeting for awareness on Organic. I prepared a presentation, speech and stock for display. I was in for a big surprise. They made me Chief Guest of the day! Embarrassing or what?!!! I mean this was an honour normally given to my parents and at 22 I was dumbstruck in front of uncles and aunties, I've known since birth.

It did go well. I had a presentation that covered all the knowledge I acquired over the months and also invited a Converted Farmer to talk on his experiences. It was well received and appreciated. I came to my colleague beaming about how fast I was while talking, how less prepared, and how over-informative, nevertheless I loved every minute of it. Now all I wanted to do was get invited more, to spread the good word.

Living Organic:

We bought a car and chose a Wagon R that has a gas tank, built-in. According to dad, we save on fuel cost @ 40%, emits 50% less carbon dioxide and 0% hazardous gases. As for the driving comfort, its as smooth as petrol.

Thats for mom and longer drives, as for me I got something tiny, quick and the only energy it burns is human fat - my Bicycle!




This lil thing is so convenient to ride to work and around the locality. Its smart, fun and I enjoy the wind in my hair.

I gave the company a Caption saying "House of Organics" and got this cute board designed from one of the charts I painted and put it up.


Saturday Fever:

Things are slow and small but I am not losing out to hopelessness and love my work. Every Saturday we have a vegetable sale for starters and am up by 6 a.m to open the office at 7 to early customers.

I've some basic vegetables, pulses, grains and few varieties of rice, in a spare room in the office. Every Friday evening, all of us get together and change the display creatively.







Issues:

My family and friends support me a great deal and people are responsive. The price is the biggest issue and the reason is mostly because of lower yields during conversion period and farmers who have been corrupted with a fact that Organic goes at a premium price. Its funny how one government gives subsidy for chemical fertilizers nearer to 45000 crores this year so that food can be cheap to consumers and another who supports the organic farmers levies 25% tax on Organic Produce shooting prices sky high.

Some people assume organic means poor quality. Well the pics I've put up here serve as testimony to the colour, shape and size. They are not over sized with hormone injections or modified in their genetic codes. They are as nature designed them to be. They have high levels of energy so people actually consumes less.

Its lovely summarising all this for over 3 hrs now.

More to come... as the journey continues.

Love,
Poornima Ravi