Press coverage

A summary of the exhibition on organic lifestyle

Many of India’s farmers have lost much of their ancestral farming knowledge and ancient seed varieties since the introduction of chemical based commercial agriculture and hybrid seeds. In many areas of India and all over the world, valuable medicinal plants are becoming endangered because of indiscriminate commercial over-harvesting and other adverse collection practices that damage essential natural habitats.

Through organic agriculture, farmers learn healthy, sustainable farming practices, and are regaining the wisdom of their agricultural heritage. Organic agriculture enriches the soil season by season. It increases the long-term yield, nutrient value and potency of their crops. It allows for a naturally clean water supply, and provides overall richness, health and well-being of their families, livestock, farmlands and communities.

Hard to believe but each decision we make to purchase a product will make enormous difference to ecology in itself. Ex: If we decide to buy organic pulses we are not only benefiting our health but also the farmer who has his quality of life improved by Not exposing himself to harmful chemical pesticides, getting a fair price and better economic advantage over a long period of time. Along with that fertility of soil is improved and species beneficial to the crops thrive in the area maintaining ecological balance. A feel good factor is certainly associated with the purchases done from the following companies for umpteen reasons given.

The organizations below have strived to bring prices of organic products on par with conventional produce by reducing the intermediaries in the supply chain while maintaining the quality.

Deccan development society

DDS is a two-decade old grassroots organisation working in about 75 villages with women's Sanghams (voluntary village level associations of the poor) in Medak District of Andhra Pradesh. The 5000 women members of the Society represent the poorest of the poor in their village communities. DDS is working for food security in our country by producing organic food including millets.The produce from DDS is Organic certified.

Web: http://www.ddsindia.com/

Chetna Organic

Chetna Organic is a works with more than 8000 (predominantly tribal) farmers in the practices of sustainable agriculture and ethical trade. It is an effort to support small and marginal tribal farmers from the rain-fed regions of Andhra Pradesh (Telengana), Mahrashtra (Vidarbha) and Western Orissa (Kalahandi & Bolangir). Garments made from Chetna cotton are 100% certified Organic & Fair trade.

Web: http://www.chetnaorganic.org.in/

Center for Sustainable Agriculture

CSA is working in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Chattisgarh directly in 150 villages and provide technical support to organizations in Orissa and Karnataka. Currently working in rain fed areas with intensive cultivation of commercial crops and suffering severe ecological and economic crisis. CSA is also working on periurban vegetable production without using chemicals, village level collection centers and direct marketing in cities.

Web: http://www.csa-india.org/

Ecodukaan.com is an e-commerce portal that works with several organizations to provide eco-friendly products at very affordable rates. The idea is to increase demand for fair trade goods and make them a way of life.

Invite to an event on organic lifestyle

A brief on the take-aways...

The photographs exhibited trace a picture from cotton fields back to its farms. We take you on a tour through the photographs, talking about - how organic form of agriculture benefits the consumers, the producers and the environment; fair trade practices along the supply chain; developmental work carried out in villages; etc.

Date: 4th and 5th June, 2011 (weekend / sat & sun)

Venue: Inorbit mall, Top Floor

Timings: 11am - 9pm, all day

Participants: Ecodukaan.com (an ecom-portal), Deccan Development society, Chetna organics and Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Photography for AMOH orphanage - an ongoing blog

We are glad to bring you this break from everyday news, spam SMSs, and all that everyday life should not be about. Heres me taking a break, and sitting down on the floor, as a few coins trickle out making a slight clattring around me. Now I will check the pictures that children in Amoh orphanage (in Ramakrishnapuram, call Ester 9000844721 to get there) selected to be put up at their home.

In the first visit, we asked children on what kind of pictures do they want. There we requests like flowers, skies, mountains, monuments, night sky, animals, etc. Based on that I had posted a 'CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS' in flickr photography clubs (of Hyderabad). And we got about 50 submissions. A girl Eleanor Bennett from UK, aged 14, also sent about 10-15 photographs. So this is one thing, people can share over boundaries and languages - pictures. (...appreciate your effort girl Eleanor :-) keep it up).

In second visit, the children were asked to choose the ones they liked most. The selection process was a lot of fun. We switched off all the lights (it was about 7.30 pm) and displayed the pictures to children. It was very touching to see the twinkle in there eyes of laptop reflection and the reactions pictures brought out from them. They seemed very inspired. So, we used the tournament method to find the winners (that is rejecting pic in favor of more liked ones). We got down to about 20 of them, when kids could vote individually and choose their likings.

The last visit was in a hurry and I didn't take any volunteers along. Next step is to go and frame them with children.

BUT FOR NEXT TIME

We need volunteers and people who can teach children framing (they are good at such things already). We also need people who can come with laptops and teach children to use email (this is a special request from Ahmed, who volunteers there). Lets create such news everyday, which for a change makes people feel positive about things.

The weavers of Andra Pradesh

We invite you to the exhibition "Weavers of Andra Pradesh", on 12th February, 2011 at Inorbit mall. We exhibit photographs and the actual products.

Date: 12th - 13th Feb, 2011

Venue: Inorbit mall, P1 lobby

Timings: 11am - 9pm, all day

Event Brief:-

We are proposing an awareness event at Inorbit mall to promote hand-loom products. This is a very unique event, as we are doing an exhibition of photographs along the staircases - where people can walk up and see some interesting photographs of weavers.

Description:-

EDEDAA is organizing a two-day event to promote hand-loom products, produced by Chenetha Color Weaves, in the premises of Inorbit mall. Chenetha Color Weaves was started with a mission to become a weavers owned company and has weavers on its executive board. All proceeds of all sales would go towards the cause.

We plan to promote handlooms in a very unique fashion - using photographs of people engaged in the weaving process displayed along the staircases. All the way along staircases from P2 (parking 2) to P1-lobby, we are putting up photographs on process of weaving and lighting them up with LEDs.

We believe that driving awareness about various aspects of hand-loom creation – such as the tedious production process, the lifestyle and economics of the industry, etc – would lead to better appreciation of the products.

People :-

• Interior consultancy by Pankaj Acharya (www.tiastudio.com)
• Executed by Naval Saini (www.ededaa.com) and Anusha & Vijay (architecture students)
• Handloom stall by Chenetha Color Weaves (www.chenethaweaves.com)
• Curated by Lakshmi Prabhala
• Photographs by V.Murali, Asra Shaheen, Sarath Chandra, Khadar Mohiddin, Ashwini Vaidya and Adarsh Padegal
• Graphics by Ruchi Agarwal
• Special thanks to Nirmala Tammineni (Livelihoods Worker), Mayur Gada (Animator & Entrepreneur)

About EDEDAA:-

EDEDAA does art and photography exhibitions along staircase walls. We encourage people to take stairs and take interest in green & healthy ways of living. We are very actively involved in CSR also. More information at www.ededaa.com .

For more information - drop a mail to info at ededaa dot com / navalnovel at gmail dot com ...

Art exhibitions in office staircases

EDEDAA is trying to reach out to large corporates in Hyderabad. We have uploaded a presentation about the impact of our work, on slide share (staircase art exhibitions). Its an easy sail through presentation and we try to convey most through the pictures - so just relax, sit-back on you chair and click on the image below. It should take about two minutes, given you like the pictures and spend some time enjoying them. Warning: you want to see it again.

Please share with relevant people in your organization - such as the CSR wing, HRs and senior management (president/vice-presidents/etc). Also let us know if there is any feedback for us.

We are also reaching out to artists, academicians and future partner organizations. Again do share your feedback or contacts in all these respects.

EMail: feedback at ededaa dot com