Save A Leaf, Clean Our Air

Each day in Mumbai, we wake up to smog in the air and the newspaper's latest report of declining air quality. When we set out for work, we pass by piles of burning leaves, billowing smoke into our lungs. The smell tells us that plastic and garbage is mixed in with the leaves, further decreasing the quality of our air. We long for the clean air of the green countryside. But we live in the city and the fresh oxygen of the hills remains a distant dream.

What can we do to make a difference?

Leaf burning is also a contributor to pollution in Mumbai. And it is understandable why the problem persists: the folks burning leaves in our city either don't know its harmful effects or don’t have any alternative options. But this desperately needs to change - Our health and that of our environment depends on it. The solution is in our hands. 

Urban Leaves is launching the #SaveALeaf campaign. In the coming weeks, we will be posting information about how each one of us can get involved in resolving this issue in Mumbai. Like our page, share with your friends, and together we can start to clean up Mumbai’s air!

In an effort to continue to raise awareness about this issue, we are collecting pictures of burning leaves from neighbourhoods in Mumbai. If you have pictures that you can share, please send them in a message to our Facebook page www.facebook.com/urbanleavesindia or email urbanleaves [AT] gmail [DOT] com. It will help build this 'Save A Leaf, Clean Our Air' campaign. Also if you want to be kept updated about our #SaveALeaf campaign and other activities consider joining our low-volume mailing list UrbanLeaves-News by filling up the form here: UrbanLeaves Mailing list

ABC OF KITCHEN GARDENING WORKSHOP: SUNDAY, 11-OCT-2015

Winter season brings along its own special offerings and we at Urban Leaves feel it's a great time to kick-start a kitchen garden.  Hence, an ABC of Kitchen Gardening - Winter Edition Workshop. 

Just as the name indicates, the workshop is meant for beginners wishing to embark on this journey of growing their own food in limited urban spaces.

You will learn the most basic, simple, easy-to-use techniques (no excuses left) to start your own kitchen garden.

The workshop,  will cover the basics of:

• sowing
• transplanting
• plant care

You will also take home a kit to help you make a beginning.  Do join us as we help more and more Mumbaikars  "Reap What They Sow and Eat What They Grow."

DATE & TIME:

Sunday, 11th October, 2015.
9:00 AM TO 12:00 PM.

VENUE:

AV Hall, Ground Floor,

Don Bosco Provincial House,
Don Bosco School Campus,

Matunga (East),

Mumbai – 400017.

CONTRIBUTION: 

EARLY BIRD: Registration and Payment done on/before 7-Oct-2015:
Regular participants: Rs. 900/-
Donor participants: Rs 800/-

Registration and/or Payment done on/after 8-Oct-2015 and on/before 10-Oct-2015:

For all participants: Rs. 1100/- 

Walk-in Registration on 11-Oct-2015:
For all participants: Rs. 1300/-

(PLEASE NOTE THAT REGISTRATION CANNOT BE GUARANTEED FOR WALK-IN PARTICIPANTS AND REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ONLY IF LOGISTICS PERMIT IT.) 

PLEASE NOTE THAT CONFIRMATION OF REGISTRATION IS SUBJECT TO REALISATION OF PAYMENT.

EXPECTED AGE GROUP: 

Above 14 years.

REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT DETAILS

Please fill the form at the link given below to register for the workshop. Individual registration is needed for each participant. Please ensure that you fill in your proper email address as further communication from us will be sent to this address.
ABC of KITCHEN GARDENING WORKSHOP REGISTRATION.

Payment can be made via Bank Transfer/NEFT, Cheque deposit in Bank, Cash Deposit in Bank, Cash payment to a volunteer.

BANK TRANSFER/NEFT DETAILS

(We recommend this mode as it is the quickest and requires the least effort. It can be executed through net-banking or through your bank branch.)

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS OUR NEW STATE BANK OF INDIA ACCOUNT and not the old STATE BANK OF HYDERABAD account. If you have the old account of SBH added as a payee, please use the details below for adding the SBI account as new PAYEE.

Bank:	STATE BANK OF INDIA
IFSC Code of Bank:	SBIN0000533
Address of the Branch:	Sunbeam, 18th Road,  Chembur Mumbai 400071
Account Name:	VIDYA VAARIDHI TRUST
Type of Bank A/c:	Current
Account No:	34994910641
PAN Number of Trust:	AAATV2294B

CHEQUE DEPOSIT IN STATE BANK OF INDIA

Please visit a STATE BANK of INDIA branch to deposit your contribution by CHEQUE into the "VIDYA VAARIDHI TRUST" account with details as given above.

CASH DEPOSIT IN STATE BANK OF INDIA

Please visit a STATE BANK of INDIA branch to deposit your contribution by CASH into the "VIDYA VAARIDHI TRUST" account with details as given above. 

Please note that if you opt for this method you will have to deposit Rs. 50/- extra along with the contribution for the workshop as SBI levies a Rs. 50/- transaction charge for cash transactions happening at non-home branches.

CASH PAYMENT TO VOLUNTEER

Cash can be deposited with Urban Leaves volunteers located in various parts of Mumbai. Please select the desired location in the registration form. You will be emailed the details of the Urban Leaves volunteer to contact for depositing the contribution.

CELEBRATING WORLD KITCHEN GARDEN DAY WITH FARM TALK, FRIENDS AND FOOD : 30TH AUGUST 2015

WORLD KITCHEN GARDEN DAY 2015

World Kitchen Garden Day is a day when kitchen gardeners of the world come together. The year round, we are busy ... sowing, planting, harvesting and nurturing our individual community-farms or home gardens. Since the last few years, we have seen our tribe growing in Mumbai and the time is right to evolve further. 

All of us who practise Urban Farming struggle with the initial step ... that of designing our farms ... whether we are on terraces/rooftops, open spaces and balconies or mobile gardens.

How do we make the best use of available space for optimum use and productivity? Can it be aesthetic and sustainable at the same time? As an urban farmer, how do I maintain harmony with nature, while I live mechanically in this mega city?

BEFORE: CLEA AT MBPT TERRACE

AFTER: NATURE TAKING ITS OWN COURSE AIDED BY US

AFTER: MEANDERING PATH ON THE URBAN FARM

Join us as we learn from our farmer friend, Clea Chandmal,
'How to do a Permaculture Design'.
Says Clea, “Sustainability is strongly linked to efficiency. In Permaculture, using laws of nature and strategies, we DESIGN systems to be efficient. The design process is what I will be describing. A good design and its implementation results in a sustainable and resilient, largely self-managing system.”
The talk will be followed by a delicious plant-based lunch by SHARAN.

DATE & TIME:

Sunday, 30th August, 2015.
10.00 AM TO 12.30 PM.

VENUE:

Bianchi Hall,
2nd Floor, Don Bosco International School,

Don Bosco School Campus,

Matunga (East),

Mumbai – 400017.

CONTRIBUTION: 

Registration and Payment done on or before 27th August 2015:
Rs. 500/-

Registration and/or Payment done after 27th August 2015:
Rs. 600/- (Registration will be wait-listed and accommodated only if logistics permit it)
PLEASE NOTE THAT CONFIRMATION OF REGISTRATION IS SUBJECT TO REALISATION OF PAYMENT.

EXPECTED AGE GROUP: 

Above 18 years.

REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT DETAILS

Please fill the form at the link given below to register for the workshop. Please ensure that you fill in your proper email address as further communication from us will be sent to this address.
WORLD KITCHEN GARDEN DAY, AUGUST 30TH, 2015 REGISTRATION.

Payment can be made via Bank Transfer/NEFT, Cash payment to a volunteer.

BANK TRANSFER/NEFT DETAILS

(We recommend this mode as it is the quickest and requires the least effort. It can be executed through net-banking or through your bank branch.)

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS OUR NEW STATE BANK OF INDIA ACCOUNT and not the old STATE BANK OF HYDERABAD account. If you have the old account of SBH added as a payee, please use the details below for adding the SBI account as new PAYEE.

Bank:	STATE BANK OF INDIA
IFSC Code of Bank:	SBIN0000533
Address of the Branch:	Sunbeam, 18th Road,  Chembur Mumbai 400071
Account Name:	VIDYA VAARIDHI TRUST
Type of Bank A/c:	Current
Account No:	34994910641
PAN Number of Trust:	AAATV2294B

CASH PAYMENT TO VOLUNTEER

Cash can be deposited with Urban Leaves volunteers located in various parts of Mumbai. Please select the desired location in the registration form. You will be emailed the details of the Urban Leaves volunteer to contact for depositing the contribution.

Hosted by:  DIRT, Earthoholics, Fresh and Local, Green Line, Green Souls, Mumbai Sulins, Natures Gram, RUR, SHARAN, Urban Leaves

For any questions please email: events [DOT] urbanleaves [ AT ] gmail [ DOT ] com.

NUTRITION PACKED IN SMALL SPACES: SUNDAY 9TH AUGUST 2015 [Registrations open]

Do you love salads?
Would you like to add to your basket of fresh ingredients?
Have you wished for a regular supply of natural-nutrients?
Or wanted to grow your food but have limited space? 

If the answer to any two of the questions is a YES, then Urban Leaves has the answer for you.....

Nutrition Packed In Small Spaces - A Micro-Greens Workshop where you will learn the why , do the how-to-grow  and savour the taste of micro-greens. You could also get to visit our urban farm before or after the workshop.

DATE & TIME:

Sunday, 9th August, 2015.
10 AM TO 12 PM.

VENUE:

AV Hall, Ground Floor,

Don Bosco Provincial House,
Don Bosco School Campus,

Matunga (East),

Mumbai – 400017.

CONTRIBUTION: 

Registration and Payment done on or before 7th August 2015:
Rs. 600/- for normal registered participants.

Rs. 500/- for registered patrons(donors).

Registration and Payment done after 7th August 2015:
Rs. 700/- (Registration will be wait-listed and accommodated only if logistics permit it)

EXPECTED AGE GROUP: 

Above 14 years.

REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT DETAILS

Please fill the form at the link given below to register for the workshop. Please ensure that you fill in your proper email address as further communication from us will be sent to this address.
MICRO-GREENS WORKSHOP REGISTRATION FORM.

Payment can be made via Bank Transfer/NEFT, Cheque/Cash Deposit in Bank, Cash payment to a volunteer.

BANK TRANSFER/NEFT DETAILS

(We recommend this mode as it is the quickest and requires the least effort. It can be executed through net-banking or through your bank branch.)

Bank:	State Bank of Hyderabad
IFSC Code of Bank:	SBHY0020408
Address of the Branch:	1st Road, Near M-Ward Office, Chembur Mumbai 400071
Account Name:	VIDYA VAARIDHI TRUST
Type of Bank A/c:	Savings
Saving Account No:	52009032981
PAN Number of Trust:	AAATV2294B

CASH/CHEQUE DEPOSIT IN STATE BANK OF HYDERABAD

Please visit a State Bank of Hyderabad branch to deposit your contribution into the "VIDYA VAARIDHI TRUST" account with details as given above.

Please use the link given below to locate a branch in Mumbai/Thane:

STATE BANK OF HYDERABAD BRANCH LOCATOR

Select the state as Maharashtra and city as "Greater Bombay" or "Thane" for listing branches in Mumbai or Thane.

CASH PAYMENT TO VOLUNTEER

Cash can be deposited with Urban Leaves volunteers located in various parts of Mumbai. Please select the desired location in the registration form. You will be emailed the details of the Urban Leaves volunteer to contact for depositing the contribution.

For any questions please email: events [DOT] urbanleaves [ AT ] gmail [ DOT ] com.

AMRUT MITTI WORKSHOP (FOR ADULTS) ON SUNDAY 22ND MARCH 2015

"Soils host at least one quarter of the world’s biodiversity. They are key in the carbon cycle. They help us to mitigate and adapt to climate change. They play a role in water management and in improving resilience to floods and droughts."

-José Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General

Today, our soils are tired, overworked, depleted, sick and poisoned by synthetic chemicals. Malnutrition begins with the soil. Minerals in the soil control the metabolism of cells in plant, animal and man. If soil is deficient in trace elements, food and water will be equally deficient.

The year 2015 has been declared the International Year of Soils (IYS) by the 68th UN General Assembly.The IYS aims to be a platform for raising awareness of the importance of soils for food security and essential eco-system functions. Have a look at this infographic:

http://www.fao.org/resources/infographics/infographics-details/en/c/271187/

Right from their inception, the main focus of the Urban Leaves Community-farms has been the making of Amrut Mitti: a nutrient-rich soil high in microbial life. We spend hours on building this soil lovingly on our rooftops - collecting biomass from our neighboring areas (which would otherwise be burnt away), hunting for cow dung and urine in this mega city, and holding hands and dancing on the Amrut Mitti heaps and  discovering the slow magic of it turning into gold, teeming with a whole new universe of micro-organisms. This year, we plan to make and teach the technique to as many who care and wish to learn.

Come and join us for a day’s Workshop on “Amrut Mitti and its use in City-farming”. 
The workshop will cover:

• Understanding Amrut Mitti, need and importance
• Hands-on practicals in the making of Amrut Mitti
• Using Amrut Mitti to grow fruits and veggies in raised beds and special containers
• Maintenance and care of Amrut Mitti
• Recycling of kitchen waste with Amrut Mitti

DATE & TIME:

Sunday, 22nd March, 2015
8 AM TO 3 PM

VENUE:

Don Bosco Provincial House Rooftop Community-Farm

Don Bosco Provincial House,

Matunga (East),

Mumbai – 400017 

CONTRIBUTION: 

Payment on or before 18th March, 2015

Rs. 1700/- for normal participants

Rs. 1500/- for Registered patrons

Payment after 18th March, 2015 but before 21st March, 2015
Rs. 1900/- for normal participants
Rs. 1700/- for Registered patrons

The contribution is inclusive of healthy vegan cuisine served for breakfast and lunch, prepared generously by our Seva cafe team.

REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT DETAILS

Please fill the form at the link given below to register for the workshop. Please ensure that you fill in your proper email address as further communication from us will be sent to this address.
AMRUT MITTI WORKSHOP REGISTRATION FORM

Payment can be made via Bank Transfer/NEFT, Cheque/Cash Deposit in Bank, Cash payment to a volunteer.

BANK TRANSFER/NEFT DETAILS

(We recommend this mode as it is the quickest and requires the least effort. It can be executed through net-banking or through your bank branch.)

Bank:	State Bank of Hyderabad
IFSC Code of Bank:	SBHY0020408
Address of the Branch:	1st Road, Near M-Ward Office, Chembur Mumbai 400071
Account Name:	VIDYA VAARIDHI TRUST
Type of Bank A/c:	Savings
Saving Account No:	52009032981
PAN Number of Trust:	AAATV2294B

CASH/CHEQUE DEPOSIT IN STATE BANK OF HYDERABAD

Please visit a State Bank of Hyderabad branch to deposit your contribution into the "VIDYA VAARIDHI TRUST" account with details as given above.

Please use the link given below to locate a branch in Mumbai/Thane

STATE BANK OF HYDERABAD BRANCH LOCATOR

Select the state as Maharashtra and city as "Greater Bombay" or "Thane" for listing branches in Mumbai or Thane

CASH PAYMENT TO VOLUNTEER

Cash can be deposited with Urban Leaves volunteers located in various parts of Mumbai. Please select the desired location in the registration form. You will be emailed the details of the Urban Leaves volunteer to contact for depositing the contribution.

For any questions please email: events [DOT] urbanleaves [ AT ] gmail [ DOT ] com