This week we again hosted His Holiness Devamrta Swami who presented classes to 100 retreat participants about the temporary nature of happiness in this material world. The retreat was very much appreciated by all those who attended. Everyone managed to go for a bus trip to Lorne in the middle of the day to enjoy the scenery, despite the unpredictable weather.

Meanwhile back at Hare Krishna Valley, while the retreat participants were at Lorne, we held our monthly Sunday feast programme for 30 guests who came from both near and far. As it was Mothers day, I gave a class about the seven mothers mentioned in the Vedic literature for the interest of those who attended. The seven mothers are our natural mother, the wife of the Guru, the wife of the Holy man, the wife of the King, the wet-nurse, the cow and the earth.

We look forward to speaking to you again next week.
Until then, I remain yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada.

Keshava Dasa.

This week we were fortunate to have the Temple President of the Melbourne Hare Krishna Temple, Aniruddha Prabhu, and his wife, Achintya Rupa Mataji, stay with us for most of the week.
With Manigriva and Tarini Rupa on their honey moon, Hare Krishna Valley was a bit quieter than usual, but on Saturday we held a festival for Lord Narasingadeva’s appearance which attracted a group of 20 devotees who enjoyed chanting, dancing and feasting.

While tending to her compost bin, my wife Veda was pleasantly surprised to find many earth worms living there, which is a good sign of healthy compost. She will now apply the compost to her garden beds over winter to produce a small variety of vegetables.

We look forward to speaking to you again next week.
Until then, I remain yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada.

Keshava Dasa.

So finally the big day came, and we celebrated the matrimony of Manigriva and Tarini Rupa at Hare Krishna Valley. The event was attended by around 80 guests. It was remarked by many of those who attended that this was an extremely sweet occasion. The bride looked very beautiful, and as the ceremony was held outdoors, the backdrop of the surrounding forest made for a wonderful ambiance.

The feast was amazing, and was enjoyed by one and all. Many of the guests, including myself, ate up to the neck. The next day was spent cleaning up the kitchen and packing away the tables and marquees. At the end of it all, we were exhausted but happy.

We look forward to speaking to you again next week.
Until then, I remain yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada.

Keshava Dasa.

This week at Hare Krishna Valley was spent cleaning up from last weeks retreat, and preparing the farm for the wedding of Manigriva and Tarini Rupa which will be held this weekend. We also began renovations on the Balarama Ashram, to upgrade it as a retreat facility for all of our guests.

On our day off, Veda Priya and myself went for a bush walk to one of the water falls behind Lorne. When we arrived back at the farm we were greeted by an amazing sunset, courtesy of Lord Krishna.

We look forward to speaking to you again next week.
Until then, I remain yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada.

Keshava Dasa.

This week at Hare Krishna Valley we hosted a Congregational retreat for the devotees from the Melbourne Temple. This was hosted by His Grace Bhurijana Prabhu and His good wife Jagattarini Mataji. In total we had 100 attendees over the weekend.

While the adults were inside listening to the enlightening lectures, the kids were outside in the playground taking advantage of the fantastic weather. Overall, the weekend was a huge success, and we are trying to arrange for a similar gathering later in the year.

We look forward to speaking to you again next week.
Until then, I remain yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada.

Keshava Dasa.

This week at Hare Krishna Valley we hosted our monthly Sunday Feast programme. We were expecting 50 guests, however, 70 people showed up to enjoy an afternoon of chanting, spiritual discussion and a wonderful vegetarian feast offered for the pleasure of Lord Krishna.

During the week, Manigriva decided to relocate the old chicken shed which has been on the farm for many decades. He thought that we could use it as a wood shed near the Radharani ashram, however, it fell apart on the way up the hill. Anyway, it was a sincere endeavour!

We look forward to speaking to you again next week.
Until then, I remain yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada.

Keshava Dasa.

Over the weekend I visited one of our other Hare Krishna farm communities in Murwillumbah, Northern NSW. The occasion was the wedding of the son of one of my good friends.

I had the opportunity to take the 1.5 hour climb up Mount Warning, the first place in Australia to receive the rays of the sun. When I reached the summit with my good friend Rupa, we were surrounded by cloud, and thus unable to enjoy the view. Anyway, the exercise was good !

We look forward to speaking to you again next week.
Until then, I remain yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada.

Keshava Dasa.

This week at Hare Krishna Valley, we said good bye to a new friend, Susan, who stayed with us for 10 days as a volunteer doing work on the farm. She was deeply moved by the experience she received at Hare Krishna Valley, and left with tears in her eyes. She promised to come back and stay soon.

On the weekend we attended the wedding of two of our friends at the Melbourne Temple, Adrian and Guna Mani, who are beginning their life long commitment to each other in Krishna consciousness. We wish them well for the future.

We look forward to speaking to you again next week.
Until then, I remain yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada.

Keshava Dasa.

This week at Hare Krishna Valley we hosted a strategic planning meeting for the Melbourne Temple. Around 25 devotees attended the weekend of meetings to discuss the direction we will take in the Melbourne Hare Krishna movement for the next 12 months.

Meanwhile, my wife visited some of her friends at our sister farm in Murwillumbah, Northern NSW, for a weeks holiday. This is the only dairy farm in Australia which produces ‘Ahimsa’ milk, which means milk that is taken from cows who are not sent to be slaughtered.

Manigriva began to harvest our 1/8th of an acre of bio-dynamic potatoes with the help of some our volunteers, and he will store them in a crate in our big shed over the winter.

We look forward to speaking to you again next week.
Until then, I remain yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada.

Keshava Dasa.

This is a picture of the home grown organic vegetables that are being grown right behind my house by my wife Veda Priya. This shows that just by a little effort and a lot of love one can produce most of one’s own food in one’s own back yard.

On Sunday we hosted our monthly Sunday feast at Hare Krishna Valley, which attracted around 50 guests from the local area. We were fortunate to have as one of our guests Dr Richard Di Natale, the Greens Senetor for Victoria. Richard lives just down the road from us in Deans Marsh, and rode his bike to the farm along with one of his friends to participate in chanting Hare Krishna and partaking of the delicious vegetarian feast.

We look forward to speaking to you again next week.
Until then, I remain yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada.

Keshava Dasa.