Dear Friends of Fertile Ground,

Thank you for supporting our work in Assam. You’ve made it possible for Fertile Ground to carry out projects that have inspired hundreds of farming families, tea growers and individuals to grow safe, healthy crops – and to say NO to expensive chemical fertilizers and toxic pesticides. This is good for the families and the environment, and it’s helping preserve traditional practices and the unique culture of this region.

This fall, we’re beginning an important new initiative that will benefit 250 flood-affected families living in the remote northeast corner of Assam.

Fertile Ground needs your help NOW to achieve these major goals in the coming year:1) develop community gardens and children’s playgrounds in the Sadiya area2) maintain and promote the demonstration garden and training centre in Digboi3) offer educational support to groups and individuals from other parts of Assam

People of all ages – from Canada and from India - will be taking part in the creation of community gardens situated close to village schools in Sadiya, Assam. As these new learning centres develop, participants will learn ways to improve soil fertility and control insect pests, and about the importance of protecting local seed varieties. Families will receive the information they need to make good decisions about crop production, and avoid taking on debt and loans that they can’t manage.

We’ll be collaborating with NEADS (North East Area Affected Development Society), an Assamese NGO established in 1987 that promotes community development, women’s rights, and children’s education. After nearly a decade of work in Assam, Fertile Ground is recognized as an authority on sustainable agriculture and we’re pleased to have been asked to work with them on this initiative.

Girin Chetia, founder of NEADS, explains

“We want to set up organic gardens where people can learn how to use compost, mulch and other techniques to convert sandy soil to loamy, more productive soil.

Sadly, many traditional growers are now working as day labourers far from their families, instead of farming, even though they have sufficient access to land and livestock.”

Here’s how your support has already helped make a difference!

Between 2006 and 2008, Fertile Ground’s volunteers worked with people from the town of Digboi to transform an empty lot littered with garbage and building debris into a beautiful demonstration garden. Donors contributions helped develop a well-equipped training centre and library.

To date, more than 60 workshops, seminars and special events have been held at “Adarsh Seuj Prakalpa.” The site been visited by hundreds of people who want to know how to grow cash crops and healthy food for their families naturally - without relying on expensive, often harmful, chemical inputs. ASP Staff members Pompy, Iqbal and Babu have also visited villages in the surrounding area to offer training and encouragement to interested farmers, tea growers, self-help groups and school children.

Farmer’s training at atAdarsh Seuj Prakalpa site

Women’s Kitchen Garden Project at Makumkila village

Vermicompost workshop at Borjan village

This kind of assistance just isn’t available to people living in most parts in Assam. Requests for help come to us on a regular basis – and we can’t do it all on our own.

Please - consider making a donation to Fertile Ground.Your support is what’s making these important connections possible.

This year, we’re encouraging donors to take a minute or two to send a short message that we can take to Assam to share with the staff at Adarsh Seuj Prakalpa and the children and families we work with.

Got a favorite photo of you, your family or your garden? Send it along! And - if you’re interested in the possibility of visiting this very special corner of the world, let us know. We’d love to have you join us.

Box 179, Merville, B.C. V0R 2M0 Phone: (250) 337-8348 info@fertile-ground.org www.fertile-ground.orgFertile Ground is a registered non-profit society and was granted federal charitable status in 2004.