ISKCON GLOBAL MINISTRY OF COW PROTECTION AND AGRICULTURE (IMCPA)
FEED THE EARTH
EDUCATION PROJECT
FEED THE EARTH – A new educational platform
Unpacking Srila Prabhupada’s motto:
simple living and high thinking
IMCPA is working on a foundational course series on the importance of food for the Vaishnava Community. This is a foundational course centered on the importance of pure food production, utilizing regenerative agriculture and cow protection within the context of an intentional, spiritually focused community.
“Cow Protection means feeding the Brahminical culture, which leads towards God Consciousness, and thus perfection of human civilization is achieved.”
[Srila Prabhupada, SB, 1.19.3, Purport]
The series of courses comprises of four dimensions: a) Sustainable Cow Care, b) Systems of Abundance (this covers regenerative practices for agriculture), c) Ecological Buildings and Solutions & d) Intentional Community Dynamics.
TAKING CARE OF
KRISHNA’S COWS
Register Now
IMCPA Courses Website
Ideal Attendees
This course is particularly meant for those who are already engaged in cow protection, those who are considering starting a cow protection project, and those with a strong desire to understand and perhaps take-up a practical cow protection program in the future. Managers of existing ISKCON cow protection programs are strongly encouraged to participate in this course. Those who desire to start a new ISKCON cow protection project are required to take this course prior to applying for an IMCPA Certificate of Readiness from the Ministry of Cow Protection and Agriculture.
OUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS
- HH Krishna Ksetra Swami
- HH Varsana Swami
- HG Kalakantha das
- HG Shyamasundara das
- HG Antardhi das
- HG Parijata dasi
- HG Simhesvara das
- HG Sanak Sanatana das
- HG Dama Gopal das
PURPOSES OF THE COURSE
This course will equip students with practical knowledge useful for ethically managing a productive herd of protected cows, oxen and bulls in an ecologically sound, regenerative farm environment. Students and current regenerative farmers seeking to incorporate cow protection methodologies, will have access to a group of experienced consultants to initiate their own cow protection program, or to help manage and improve existing goshalas. We will focus on the minimum ISKCON standards required to manage a goshala, including practical advice to properly and successfully run a cow protection program.
“Where there is agriculture there must be cows. That is our mission: Cow protection and agriculture and if there is excess, trade. This is a no-profit scheme. For agriculture, we want to produce our own food and we want to keep cows for our own milk.”
The cow and bull play an intrinsic role in a society centered around religious principles. Without their proper care and lifetime protection, a society cannot prosper either materially or spiritually. Bhagavad Gita 18.44 describes the mood we should cultivate toward cows with the Sanskrit words ‘Go-raksya’, meaning cow protection. Protecting cows ideally means ensuring they enjoy a peaceful, happy environment where they are satisfied. Srila Prabhupada repeatedly stressed the importance of consuming milk for the development of our intelligence and Brahminical culture, including offering pure ghee in Deity worship. Therefore, the main topics will be:
- Cow Protection – to describe in detail the mood and the facilities needed to ensure the herd’s well-being and proper maintenance for generations to come.
- Sustainability – to discuss how a goshala can sustain itself by engaging both the cow and oxen/bull in their natural propensities as team members in a balanced farm ecosystem that focuses on enhancing both nutrition and spiritual consciousness.
PRACTICAL TOPICS COVERED:
1. ISKCON Shelter
- Students will be able to evaluate the importance and benefits of sustainable cow protection projects working under the umbrella of ISKCON.
2. Feeding; Land; Grazing Methods
- Students will be able to understand what is a suitable diet for the cows that prioritizes grazing, homegrown fodder, hay, silage and supplements fed in troughs.
- Students will identify different possible land uses in a cow protection project and discuss the differences between owned and rented land.
- Students will identify the requirements for different types of grazing methods.
3. Cow Breeds; Bulls and Oxen; Breeding
- Students will identify some types of cows and will be able to choose the best breeds for their locations.
- Students will analyse the requirements for keeping bulls and will be able to prioritise safety and security.
- Students will identify the need & importance of engaging the oxen as well as some of the equipment in use.
- Students will evaluate the different areas that need to be considered when putting a breeding plan together.
4. Milk Plan; Financial Plan; Income Generation Methods and Fundraising
- Students will be able to identify the requirements of producing milk and to plan ahead in a sustainable way.
- Students will be able to apply logical methods in developing a business plan that includes detailed budgeting for up to 15 years.
- Students will be able to identify the different possibilities of produce for generating income from the farm that can support cow protection.
- Students will be able to identify sources of financial support and the typical methods that have been working in ISKCON.
5. Staff and Volunteers; Staff Training
- Students will analyze the needs of the staff & volunteers and the workload required for a goshala.
- Students will evaluate the importance of training the staff and the required areas and frequency of training.
6. Barn Layout; Fencing; Certificate of Readiness; Concluding Class; Feedback and Certificates.
- Students will identify all the different spaces needed to house cows, calves, bulls and oxen and understand the barn size and models for a project.
- Students will identify different types of fencing on the farm as well as their advantages and uses.
- Students will identify the different parts of the business plan that are part of the Certificate of Readiness (CoR).
COURSE FORMAT
We would like to make this material readily accessible to all interested individuals, so, initially, this course will be offered online. Ideally, later, it will be available in an online or onsite classroom setting, combined with practical field activities at an established ISKCON farm. For those seriously considering starting a farm project we highly recommend also attending an on-site mentoring program at one of our already registered farms.
The course is formatted in six sessions delivered via Zoom, and will meet every other Saturday. After each session, videos are provided and assignments are given for the student to complete.
The course is scheduled to start on April 30th, 2025 – most probably morning in the Americas, afternoon in Europe, and evening in Asia. The exact timing is to be announced.
ZOOM SESSION DATES:
- April 30th 2025
- May 17th and 31st 2025
- June 14th and 28th 2025
- July 12th 2025
RECIPROCATION
There is a fee of US $108 for the 3-month course, to cover the costs of producing the course and an offering of Dakshin for the presenters.
There will be a number of scholarships available for those who meet the criteria, if you would like to be considered for a scholarship, please complete this form and write to: imcpacourses@gmail.com
REGISTRATION PROCESS
- Everyone interested in taking the course should fill out this application form up to April 15th, 2025 (midnight IST).
- From the applications received, students will be selected according to priority and interest and will receive a confirmation e-mail up to April 21st, 2025. This e-mail will inform about payment methods for their zone.