The current content breakdown

I have all of the content below - waiting to be digitized - what i do need to stitch together are the stories for the graphic novel. - this is under construction - i have the first draft for "Interview with someone" up.

1. BEFORE WE BEGIN 1- Introduction to organics - what the word means,
2. INTERVIEW WITH SOMEONE - (Graphic Novel bit 1)
3. BEFORE WE BEGIN 2- The principles of Organic Farming - monoculture and its adverse effects, when the shift happened to the current ways of farming, and the green revolution story and when it began in India – The famines.
4. JACKSON AT DRISHYA (graphic novel bit 2) - About Jackson, the real deal on use of pesticides. – Types of sustainable gardening, Statistics on amounts of pesticides and fertilizers kg/ ha used in countries, and number of organic farms in countries. Time line mapping the progress agriculture and food sector up until the recent years. The Drishya plants – what’s grown and the process – The grey water system being built.

5. DIY part 1 – Initial investments + Tools – Pots, Trays, Soil, Compost, Peat moss etc. Tools needed –Being a green gardener – Parts of a plant - Know your soil – Soil structure – types of soil, Compost, Mulch and Fertilizers (nutrients needed). Make your own compost bin – different ways to compost.

While you compost : Plan your garden – mark trees, bushes, pots/containers, creepers, beds for vegetable patches.

Alternative for place with space constraints- growing in pots, building raised beds.

Ideal soil for trees – double digging. Ideal soil for pots. Ideal soil for trays.

Working organic matter into the soil. – leave for 15 days.

6. WHILE GETTING THINGS SET UP - shop organic, shop smart - where from in bangalore, reliable stores and products - Namdhari's, ERA organics and the twice a month sale of Navdarshanam. Processed foods to avoid and organic foods to buy organic from supermarkets. Navdarshanam’s list of healthy foods.

7. Shahnaz and Navez at NAVADARSHANAM (Graphic Novel bit 3) – Stories about the small time farmer; the way they treat their crops and the hardships they face, their current setup and interesting stories and bits about their lives- their view on pesticides, Bt poultry etc. - Bt poultry and Meat - Jaime Oliver.
   Tips for urban gardeners – being a green gardener.
8. DIY part2 – Lists of plants and trees to grow in the frontyard, backyard, herb garden, Build frame for creepers, Plant saplings into trays, Potatoes in tyres – How to transplant young plants and Trees. Building raised beds, rockeries. Build your vegetable shade for the summer.

Label your garden – Plant a paper.

9. RECIPES - veg. nonveg
10. Treating industry produced food at home - Whats on my food, the product and the pesticides one can find on it.
11. Facing a silent spring - Pradeep saha/ CSE
12. Activity - monitoring chemical intake – build a comprehensive example for people to work off.
13. DIY part 3 – The bio pest control – companion planting, crop rotation , Good bugs and attracting birds. Knowing your plant diseases – garlic, neem sprays etc.

The horror stories

14. Pesticide and GMO related news – what are pesticides – the pesticides in use in India – What are Gm products – endosulphan news, other related news.
15. ON A BRIGHTER note –

Quotes from Who’s Earth (whole earth catalog)

Karuna Farms (graphic novel bit 4) - the existing sustainable society – politics, the economics, the spirituality and mother nature – earth ship, media, urban sustainability.

16. COMMUNITY GARDEN. – good trees for reclaiming public land.
17. Our bellies, the media and the current times - self written article.
18. BACK TO DRISHYA - end with conversation with Jackson about system meltdown – rich and the poor. “All we can do is wait and watch…. And while we wait we do our two bits – pray, save for the future and plant a tree.”
19. SOURCES – gardening equipment, seeds, plants, book references, movies to watch, web sites.