Life With the Cows and Land

Planting Berry Bushes 101

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:55:00 +0000

Springtime brings planting in the cow dung fertilized earth of ISCOWP farm. This year, besides vegetables, we are planting perennials of rose bushes, lilac bushes, berry bushes, lavender and even an almond tree. These plants are for the use of the ISCOWP staff but also to make products for our members and for sale to support ISCOWP's cow protection activities.

A little elementary instruction for a 4 year old and anyone who does not know much about planting is in this video.

Letting The Cows Out

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:33:00 +0000

The ISCOWP herd is always enthusiastic to graze the spring grasses after a long winter. The artik and treats showed in this video are offered to the cows in honor of any ISCOWP donor who gives $1000 or more to the cows.

ISCOWP March Update

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 01:29:00 +0000

Students from Wheeling Jesuit University came to see Nara and Narayana in action. Balabhadra is explaining and then demonstrating how oxen are trained.

One of the guests tries his hand at ox training.

Check out this news and more from the ISCOWP farm in the latest 'ISCOWP Update' e-newsletter.

The Milk Issue Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 06:30:00 +0000

Discussion about the milk issue with Balabhadra das and members of the Hawaii ISKCON temple Part 2.

The Milk Issue Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 17:36:00 +0000

Discussions on the Milk Issue with Balabhadra das and members of the Hawaii ISKCON temple.

Training Nara & Narayana in a Yoke

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 01:41:00 +0000

Nara and Narayana, who were saved from the slaughterhouse, are doing very well with their preliminary training in the yoke. In this video, Balabhadra das gives a few pointers on how to train a young team to the yoke.

Sad and Happy News

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 23:42:00 +0000

Check out ISCOWP December e-newsletter

Nara and Narayana get A+

Yamuna Has Left Us

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 17:33:00 +0000

Yamuna gets a hug from Jahnava in 2009

Yamuna has left this world listening to Srila Prabhupada singing sweet bhajans of Lord Krsna, the eternal cowherd boy. This morning Balabhadra went to check on her. She seemed to be peacefully sleeping with her head tucked next to her side. Balabhadra called her name and she didn't move. Again he called her name and again there was no reply. It was then he was close enough to touch her and there was no response. On closer examination he found she was not breathing anymore.

She had been successfully and easily moved by tractor and sling from the lower pasture to the safety of the barn, about a mile away, on Friday before the bad weather started. We were also very concerned about the ever increasing wild coyote population living in the woods. On our Facebook page there is an album, with captions of this event that you can view at: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151172300584471.471659.138008309470&type=3.

She was far more comfortable and happy in the barn. However she kept trying to move and yesterday Balabhadra found her with her back legs split and her head crunched against the water tank even though he had offered her water several times a day along with hay. She was in such a tight situation and we again had to call for the tractor and sling to move her into a comfortable situation in the barn. She was quite happy in her new spot but appeared to be quite exhausted. Again she was offered fresh hay and water but declined both. Just before dark when Balabhadra was doing the evening herd check he again offered hay and water and she declined again.

Yamuna was a wonderful sweet cow who grew up as a protected cow under the care of ISCOWP farm. She was friends with all the other cows in the herd and she very much liked her sweet treats whenever we brought them to the herd. She will be missed by all the cowherds and cows. Like the other 23 lifetime protected cows that have passed away on the ISCOWP farm, she will be buried on the farm.

Thank you for praying for Yamuna. It is most fortunate that she left her body peacefully.

Your servant,
Chayadevi
ISCOWP Co-Managing Director

Please Pray for Yamuna

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 01:30:00 +0000

Yamuna just a week ago

Just yesterday Yamuna, one of the older cows, went down. Please pray for her and us that we may be blessed to take the best care of her that is possible in her time of need.

Yamuna is a sweet cow. She loves sweets. Sometimes she is friendly and sometimes she likes to be alone.

Here is an account of what has happened as written to her adopters.

10/24/12
While checking the cows every day, Balabhadra noticed that Yamuna has been having difficulty keeping up with the herd in the last week and a half. She is 17 years old and a lot of our older cows of the same age have this trouble but keep going often for a few years more. But just today, Balabhadra found her down in the pasture. With some help, he was able to get Yamuna to stand, but when she started to walk; her legs would not support her. This is usually the result of severe arthritis and/or some joint degeneration caused by old age.

Balabhadra said Yamuna is weak. She is sitting in a very nice spot that she chose. Balabhadra was finding her sitting in different spots in the pasture away from the other cows. Cows are social animals and usually stay with the herd. Often the cows and other animals will look for an isolated spot to leave their bodies when they feel it is time. So, the spot that she is in is one she has chosen. The weather right now is beautiful, a warm breeze and crisp.

She drank and ate today and Balabhadra chanted the Maha Mantra to her. However, Balabhadra feels she doesn't have long to live.

10/25/12
Balabhadra went to visit her this morning and she had not moved. It appeared to him that her back legs/hips were paralyzed. We called the vet for his professional analysis. He was able to come immediately as he was in the area. He examined her and said she had cancer, Lymphoma. He thinks that it has gone to her spine and that is what is immobilizing her. Dr. Moore, the vet, said to give her steroid injections. The hope is that we will be able to get her to stand up and therefore move her to the barns where we have more facility to take care of her. The diagnosis is terminal, it is just a matter of time. She presently looks healthy as you can see in the video. Please pray for her and for us so that we may take care of her in the best way possible and to keep her as comfortable as possible.

10/25/12 evening
We went to visit her and gave her water and hay. We left her with a recorder of Srila Prabhupada chanting.

Hawaii Ox Training Part 1, 2 & 3

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 02:57:00 +0000

Balabhadra and Candrakanta with Muni

Check out the 'latest ISCOWP e-newsletter' with more videos of ox training.

Ox Training Workshop, Hilo Hawaii.

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 12:13:00 +0000

ISCOWP was sponsored by LEAF Hawaii (Daiva das) to teach an ox training course through a federal government sponsored educational program of which Balabhadra was a chief curriculum contributor. The highlight of this course was an ox training workshop with Candrakanta dasi in the Hilo area of the Big Island, Hawaii. This video is the very beginning of the workshop.

Happily Running For the First Time.

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 02:55:00 +0000

Nara and Narayana did not have the opportunity to run and jump while in their pens. Once they got to the ISCOWP barn they ran all about in joy.

Rescued Calves Arrive Home!

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 12:03:00 +0000

Nara and Narayana were saved from the slaughterhouse. They were each living in a small pen.Here they are coming to their new home, ISCOWP farm.One of the first things they do is to run for the first time in their lives.

Wow! Success!

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 19:23:00 +0000

Madhava, the kirtan singer, meets Madhava the ox.

Check out our latest iscowp e-newsletter

Contents:
Ganda Needs Your Help Campaign a Success
The Garden is Flourishing
Ox Training
Guests

Good News!

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:53:00 +0000

Check out the latest ISCOWP e-newsletter

Tulasi Rani dd from Krishna House in Gainesville Florida brought some of her friends to visit the cows. Sri gave them the opportunity to give him a massage.

Ganda Needs YOUR Help!

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:35:00 +0000

A few days ago Ganda slipped trying to get up one of the two ramps leading to the barn. The ramp is two feet from the ground due to erosion and when it rains there is boot sucking mud at the end of the ramp. It is just too much for Ganda due to his arthritic back legs to get through the mud and step up two feet. In this photo Ganda is getting some loving attention from the ISCOWP staff and one of his favorite treas.

To get more details and help Ganda go to Ganda Needs Your Help!

Thank you so much!

Ox Training at ISCOWP Farm

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:53:00 +0000

Madhava is practicing his commands with the help of ox teamster in training Dhananjaya.

How Close Have YOU Been to an Ox?

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:05:00 +0000

A quiet moment with Madhava, a 2000 pound ox.

Spring 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:05:00 +0000

The first day the cows at ISCOWP farm were let out on pasture. What Joy!

Sri spring 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 00:10:00 +0000

Sri is a Brahman that lives on the ISCOWP farm. He loves to have his dulap rubbed. Not only does Sri love the experience but so does Balabhadra love to give him that pleasure.

Sweet Shyama has Passed Away

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:06:00 +0000

Sweet Shyam has Passed Away

Madhavi, Ox Training, Spreading Cow Protection

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:46:00 +0000

Not only are the oxen learning how to weave in and out of obstacles but the teamster is learning how to maneuver through an obstacle course. Madhava is watching from a distance.

Take look at the January ISCOWP e-newsletter

Maddy (Madhavi) Comes Home

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:33:00 +0000

Maddy's (Madhavi) first step on ISCOWP ground.

Maddy (Madhavi) has finally come home! She arrived Saturday, December 17. Thanks to Judy Gross for initiating the rescue of Madhavi and all her work in finalizing the needed tests to cross the border and arranging for transport. Also, thanks to the Champaka Mala and Ananda Subramanian for naming her and all the ISCOWP members that gave to saving Madhavi and providing for her continued care.

Upon meeting Madhavi, we could understand what Judy was saying when she wrote that Madhavi needed a break. Her milk bag was huge and her hips bony, her tail was cut off and she walked gingerly as if she didn't get much exercise. Judy was telling me that one of the three cows she saved was a milking cow too. Her hips filled out and her bag shrunk when she was dried up. So, we have hopes for Madhavi to become strong and healthy and happy. Unlike our cows, she has no winter coat yet from being inside all the time. We are keeping the barn doors closed so she doesn't get cold. Next year she should have a winter coat as she will be outside a lot and will have time to acclimate to the winter weather.

Madhavi came from a kinder dairy than most and still one can see the suffering for the cow in the business of commercial milk. If you haven't already, please read the current issue of the ISCOWP News in pdf file online whose articles address the issue of "Blood Milk vs Ahimsa Milk" and" Is Your Milk Ahimsa Milk?

You can see a photo album of Madhavi coming home HERE.

You can see a short video of Madhavi entering the barn HERE.

Another short video of Madhavi heading for the feed aisle HERE.

Judy helping Madhavi settle in.

"Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for opening your home (well, barn - LOL) to Maddy! I was thrilled to see how wonderfully your cows are cared for. I knew I was leaving her in very good hands - the BEST! Love to you all.' Judy

Dhananjaya performing artik to Madhavi to officiate her name changing and to honor those ISCOWP members who gave to save and maintain Madhavi.

"To me the position of Mother Cow is so beautiful and merciful. Maddy/Madhavi has come from a very intense and thankless life of a commercial dairy cow. She was not really seen as anything but a serial number to be measured in gallons of milk and dollars and cents. It is so nice to see her have the life she deserves as a wonderful Krsna Dasi. Because she is so merciful she naturally takes to her service of reminding us of Krsna and His pastimes with His lovely cows. Thank you Madhavi!" Dhananjaya

We pray this letter find you well.

Yours, Chayadevi

ISCOWP Co-Managing Director

Saving Cows

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:23:00 +0000

Maddy the Cow is Saved
Save the Cows in Krsna Valley(sign the petition)
Read the latest ISCOWP News articles:
Is Your Milk Really Ahimsa Milk? Blood Milk vs Ahimsa Milk

This can all be found in the
latest ISCOWP e-newsletter

Or you can read the
ISCOWP News in PDF file online

ISCOWP Ox Training Again!

noreply@blogger.com (Balabhadra das) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:50:00 +0000

Teamster in training Dhananjaya with teacher Balabhadra suoervising.

Read more about it here