The Farm Project

Immersion in a Traditional Culture

Introduction

As part of its work in Ladakh, ISEC has organized a month-long experiential education program which includes a four-week farm-stay with a Ladakhi family and five days of group workshops — two at the beginning, one in the middle, and two at the end of the month.

Living and working with a Ladakhi family for a month gives participants an opportunity to experience daily life, learn about Ladakhi tradition, and witness firsthand the pressures from the consumer monoculture. Ladakh is an exceptionally good place in which to see the effects of these pressures. Throughout most of the world, and even in the ‘developing’ countries of the South, the shift from traditional to modern has been relatively gradual. In Ladakh, however, these changes have been much more rapid, having really started only in the 1970s. Therefore, processes that are difficult to see in many parts of the world are quite visible in Ladakh, and the underlying causes much more easily understood.

The benefits of a farm-stay in Ladakh are many:

1) Despite enormous changes, much of traditional Ladakhi culture is still based on community and daily contact with nature. The region therefore provides an unusual opportunity to experience a way of life that is finely tuned to its local environment. You will also gain an experiential understanding of the significance of human-scale political and economic structures.

2) An equally important part of the program is experiencing the tension between local communities and the global consumer monoculture. In Ladakh, one can clearly see the tension between old and new, and witness how it plays itself out in everyday life — from the negative impact on people’s self-confidence and cultural self-esteem, to the effects of new technologies, to changes in people’s diet, work patterns and forms of entertainment. By directly witnessing this tension, you will gain a much better understanding of the ways in which diverse cultures are systematically undermined by the spread of the consumer monoculture.

3) Finally, the presence of a Westerner who chooses to live as Ladakhis do helps to maintain Ladakhi cultural self-respect. When young Ladakhis see Westerners eagerly doing physical work, wanting to learn about farming and Ladakhi culture, and even preferring more traditional forms of entertainment, such as storytelling and live music, many start to take more pride in their own knowledge and skills. When Ladakhi children find themselves teaching adult Westerners how to milk a cow or repair an irrigation canal, this gives them instantaneous pride in their own traditional knowledge. Also, the additional labor you provide can be quite helpful for the Ladakhis. There is often a shortage of farm labor during the agricultural season, as most Ladakhi youth are at school during this time, and many young men are away seeking employment in Leh, the army or outside Ladakh. The extra pair of hands is very much appreciated by the host family. Finally, you can help to counter the strong lure of the modern, fast-paced consumer lifestyle, simply by providing a more realistic picture of the West over the course of your stay.

We would like to stress, however, that although these positive effects for Ladakhis are significant, they tend to be long-term, and are usually not immediately visible — certainly not during the short time period of a typical farm-stay. It is likely that, during your stay, the ways in which you benefit from the experience will be much more evident than the benefits for Ladakhis.

The Farm-Stay

The year 2006 Farm Project will operate from July 1st through to the end of August. The duration of the farm-stays is one month — with one group starting on July 1st and the second group on August 1st. Including travel and acclimatization time, you should plan for a minimum of five weeks in total. An orientation begins each session, and you are expected to attend. Placements occur in the two days following the orientation. This means that you should plan to arrive in Ladakh around the 26th or 27th of the previous month, in order to give yourself time to adjust to the altitude. Also, you should be aware that travel to Ladakh, and in India in general, can be fraught with delays (especially in the busy summer season when flights are extremely full and sometimes cancelled). Therefore, in addition to acclimatization time, it is a good idea to give yourself several extra days (on either end of your stay) for the unexpected.

The work ranges from helping with agricultural tasks to lending a hand in maintaining the household (for example, cooking, cleaning, and fetching water). Depending upon which month you participate, and what altitude your house is situated at, the work can take up anywhere between 10 to 40 hours each week. The amount of work varies significantly from July to late August, from family to family, and from village to village. The general trend is that there is not much farm or fieldwork to do in July, when the only crops that may be ready for harvest are garden vegetables. Mid-August is when the alfalfa harvest, and barley harvest in some villages, or picking apricots, begins in earnest. The hardest fieldwork is generally in early September. The pace of work (except at peak harvest time), whether in the fields or in the household is usually very leisurely, with frequent breaks throughout the day. No farm experience is necessary, although you should be flexible, willing to learn, and in good health. You don’t have to be particularly strong, but you need to have stamina: at 12,000 feet or more, even routine tasks can seem strenuous.

Participating in the Farm Project is a rich and rewarding experience, but it is not always easy. Part of the challenge will be attempting to communicate across cultural and linguistic divides that can be quite wide! In some cases, there will be English speakers in the household, while in other cases, only Ladakhi will be spoken. Some participants have reported feeling isolated and lonely, although there will always be other Farm Project participants in your village. In any case, Ladakhis are renowned for their good humor and easy-going nature, so don’t worry too much about making ‘mistakes'.

The Farm Project experience is different for each participant, even for those people who stay with the same host family. Try not to have any idealized expectations about the experience — keep in mind that this is a threatened and changing culture, not an idyllic and untouched area. You will be faced with some difficult realities, such as pervasive commercialism, and young people’s disinterest in, and even disdain for, agriculture. Without sounding too discouraging, we do want to stress that there is no way that we can fully prepare you for the Farm Project — in the end, the most important thing you can bring is an open heart, an open mind, an attitude of acceptance and a willingness to adapt to the Ladakhi way of life.

Seasonality — choosing your starting date

As described above, the amount of work on a farm varies enormously throughout the growing season. In order to fit in with academic curricula around the world, the Farm Project runs in July and August. if you wish to have the time to experience a broad range of Ladakhi culture (for instance, visiting the village monastery, helping in the local school, walking up the mountain to the high pastures) then July in the better option. This disadvantage is that the main jobs available are weeding the garden and household chores. For most families, the harvest starts in mid-August, so if you want to work hard in the fields, you should come for this month. The field work continues into September (especially in the higher villages), so, if you have the time, you may wish to return to help your family after the official end of the Farm Project. This is the best way to experience Ladakhi farm work: there is no additional fee for this, and your family is likely to be grateful for another pair of hands.

Please note that much of your workload may depend on your initiative to work. Some families are still reluctant to ask participants to work, while with other families you may be asked to work very frequently - maybe so much that you'll maybe so much that you'll need to ask for a rest! Don't worry, however, as points such as these will be covered by the ISEC staff during the orientation sessions.

Farm Project Workshops

The farm-stay is interspersed with three group workshops, which provide a forum for participants to:

1. Learn more about the global economic forces which are affecting Ladakh and other indigenous cultures, and explore how these same forces are affecting participants’ lives and communities back home;

2. Discuss the various local alternatives to economic globalization, as well as the ways in which participants can work in their own communities to implement and strengthen such alternatives;

3. Share their experiences and the challenges they face while in Ladakh. This has proved extremely valuable for past participants, giving them the information they need to put their experiences in perspective.

4. Practice Ladakhi language and have cultural and linguistic questions answered by local ISEC staff.

Whereas the farm-stay experience is individualized, the workshops are focused on group interaction. This mainly involves discussion, sharing experiences and some practical group exercises. These activities are designed to help participants integrate their own personal experience in Ladakh with the wider political, economic, ecological and cultural issues surrounding it. Through the Farm Project, ISEC is attempting to provide a holistic educational experience. We see practical, intellectual, nature-based and emotional learning as equally important components of a complete and enriching educational experience. The farm-stay itself provides the experiential and nature-based aspects, while the workshops are designed to complement and deepen this, both intellectually and personally.

To help establish a common starting point for these workshops, you are expected to have read Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh, by Helena Norberg-Hodge (available at half price from ISEC), before embarking for Ladakh. It is a good idea to do so before even deciding to participate in the program, as the book can give a much better idea about what to expect.
We also hold meetings with members of the Women’s Alliance of Ladakh (WAL) throughout the summer. These meetings offer the opportunity for Farm Project participants and Ladakhi women to share their perspectives about development and change in Ladakh.

We end every Farm Project month with a dinner and party - this is a chance for participants to spend time together, share music, poetry or song, and just generally have a good time!

Community building

ISEC attempts to foster a close relationship between participants and encourages interaction and sharing, not only during workshops but also through cooking together, playing music and spending time in nature. We urge participants to bring musical instruments or songs with you when you come. And don’t worry if you’re an amateur — the more inclusive and participatory it is likely to be.

Responsibility

Health

We must emphasize that, while in Ladakh, you are not the responsibility of ISEC. It will be up to you to organize health and travel insurance, and to check with your doctor regarding any necessary immunizations. However, although we cannot claim responsibility, this does not mean that you will be alone if you have problems. There are both traditional and Western forms of health care, and a hospital in Leh, as well as a clinic that analyses stool samples. ISEC staff will help you find what you need, and will provide support if you are feeling unwell. We definitely recommend that participants speak to their physicians about any health concerns prior to joining the Farm Project.

Some people have difficulty adjusting to the altitude in Ladakh, and some even need to return to lower elevations. This generally has nothing to do with age or previous health problems, but more to do with not resting enough on arrival. Again, you should give yourself AT LEAST three days to acclimatize in Ladakh, prior to starting the project. Intestinal problems are also common, and can be persistent, though they are usually not serious. If you have any physical disabilities or limitations, it is very important that you make us aware of them when you apply, so that we can speak to you personally about how this may affect your involvement in the Farm Project. We do not discriminate against applicants who have physical limitations, but it is important for you to be fully aware of possible hardships before making your decision. For example, if you have bad asthma, or are very overweight or unfit, this may be a serious problem when doing manual labor at a high altitude.

Political instability

Ladakh neighbors Kashmir, which is a politically volatile region. While actual danger is minimal, ISEC cannot make any guarantees, and it is your responsibility to inform yourself about the area and make travel decisions accordingly. Although the situation has improved recently, we urge participants not to travel to Ladakh via Kashmir. It may be wise to inform concerned friends and family that the Western media tends only to pick up the ‘bad news’ about Jammu and Kashmir (the state where Ladakh is located), thereby giving the impression of constant war and hardship. The media also does not distinguish between the different parts of the region, which are separated from each other by tall mountain ranges. The effect of skirmishes on the border are rarely felt in central Ladakh (where all the farm-stay villages are located). However, because of problems in the region, you should expect to see a sizeable Indian army presence in Ladakh (particularly around Leh).

Costs and practicalities

Firstly, participants are responsible for their own travel expenses and arrangements, both to and from Ladakh and for their time spent in Leh. (Unfortunately, ISEC is too short-staffed to help with these travel arrangements in any way). Remember that you need a valid passport and an Indian visa.

The fee for the year 2006 Farm Project is £350/US$600. The income from participant fees covers approximately one half of the running costs of the Farm Project and ISEC subsidizes the rest through fundraising. Host families are paid a daily rate to cover the costs of having a participant stay with them.

Forming a Network

Once the project is over, we encourage participants to stay in touch with each other and with ISEC. The growing Farm Project network can be a wonderful resource for those people who wish to take positive, action in their own communities back home.

Returning home

It is hoped that you will not simply view your stay as an interesting vacation or a unique intercultural experience, but will use your new-found knowledge and understanding to inform your own life. There are many ways to get involved in your own community, whether one wants to try to change government policy, work at the grassroots in one’s own community, or start a career in ‘development’ overseas. Whatever the form of activism, we feel that a deeper understanding of the forces that underlie the spread of the global economy, and the knowledge of it's impact worldwide, is absolutely essential.

Important

The number of participants that can enter the program each month is limited, and because there is a great deal of interest in the project, we are selective. To be certain you will have a spot in your desired month, please send in your completed application form as soon as possible, as they are reviewed on a first come, first serve basis.

To Apply

The number of participants that can enter the program each month is limited, and because there is a great deal of interest in the project, we are selective. To request a Ladakh Farm Project application, please contact or in North America.