SEED BANDS 2018: A step towards organic, chemical free, sustainable living and an exploitation-free environment and society

We are overwhelmed by the response we got this year. Raksha Bandhan is still more than two weeks away and we are already sold out!

Commerce was never our main intention when we started making these bands three years back. It’s always been about building our collective awareness and understanding around the issues of ecology, agrarian crisis, GMOs, IPRs and the exploitative systems we are part of and therefore party to.

So let’s not limit this process by confining it to seed bands’ transaction only, but keep it going on in our own ways… & in the meantime, you may get in touch with these awesome people who might have some of the seed bands in stock with them for your procurement. 🙂

With love,

Team Beejpaatra – a Gram Art Project initiative

 

HYDERABAD
BHARATH, Destination for Essential ALternatives : +91-9640335320

LUCKNOW:
Deepti, Jeevaniya Naturals: +91-8447403418

PUNE:
Kalsubai Millets & Traditional Foods : +91-7263025436 , +91-9422206267

BANGALORE:
Lakshmi, Sirjapur Road  : +91-9731211364 | http://www.facebook.com/rentacutlery | https://www.rimagined.com
Buffalo Back, Jayanagar: +91-8026548654
Namrata, Green Apron : +91-9900485250
Organic Mandya : +91-9742245452

MUMBAI:
Anu Pillai, Palghar: +91-8087180464
La Devi Organic, Fort : +91-9821112626
Chaitanya: +91- 82919 57159

DELHI:
Elworld Agro & Organic Foods, Noida: +91-9910690164

PAN INDIA
http://www.seedrakhi.com/ : +91-9116001917

 

Indigenous Cotton Seed Bands

Monsoon is here and so are traditional and modern festivals to celebrate relationships. Let’s not limit these celebrations towards our siblings or friends and family only. Let’s also revive our forgotten relationships. The relationship with our natural ecosystem, our agriculture, our farmers and the artisans who spin, weave and add colours to the fabric of our lives.

These seed bands are made from non-GM (Genetically Modified) indigenous cotton grown organically by farmers in our village Paradsinga (Tehsil Sausar, District Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, India), hand-spun into yarn on charkhas by women of Wardha, naturally dyed by artisans of Erode and converted into beautiful bands, homemade and handmade by women of Paradsinga, Kelwad, Satnoor, Khairi and Boregaon. These bands are embedded with non-GM, non-hybrid seeds directly from the farmers of Wardha, Nagpur and Paradsinga. So let’s celebrate these new relationships in our lives and strengthen these bonds by buying, tying, sowing these seed bands and spreading the message.

WhatsApp Image 2018-07-18 at 16.58.04

Some interesting facts about our seed bands;

1. Cotton used for making the yarn of our seed bands is the indigenous species Gossypium Arborium variety Phule Anmol.

2. While government refuses to implement a Swaminathan commission recommendation to pay farmers the cost of cultivation + 50%, we have gone ahead and given 50% over the minimum support price (MSP) to our farmers.

3. We have started the process of reducing our cash transactions & slowly replaced it with local currency of barter. Seed band makers are being paid a part of their making charges in kind, i.e., through the safe, poison free and nutritious food we grow in our farms.

4. These seed bands hold local seeds of the plants; Ragi, Rajgira, Jowar, Rice, Purslane, Amaranthus, Mustard, Roselle, Tulsi, Indigenous cotton and Touch me not which can even be grown in pots or in a small garden at home and consumed in forms of vegetables and medicines. Along with it these seed bands also hold the seeds of some small and big indigenous trees of Sandalwood, Bixa, Bael, Prajakta and Khair.

This band holds a seed in it so just tie it, sow it & see your relationship grow. 

This is a step towards organic, chemical free, sustainable living and an exploitation-free environment and society

https://www.instamojo.com/gramartproject/?ref=offer_page

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                                                                                     https://www.instamojo.com/gramartproject/?ref=offer_page

 

See our special interactive Seedband R-013

Seed band Gram art Project

49 thoughts on “SEED BANDS 2018: A step towards organic, chemical free, sustainable living and an exploitation-free environment and society

    • We are very excited to share our stories and experiences of the whole year —
      from growing rainfed indigenous organic non-GM (Genetically Modified) IPR-free (Intellectual Property Rights) cotton in our farm,
      to converting it into hand-spun yarn,
      to getting it naturally dyed,
      to hand-crafting these threads into wrist-bands embedded with platable seeds,
      to the making of plantable seed-papers from waste which carry the stories of each band that will be attached to it,
      to the initiation of barter to replace non-local currency with local resources,
      to many such processes that go on behind & beyond these seed bands…

      This time, right from each seed-band design, to indigenous cotton, to the rural artisans who’ve made this enterprise possible (modern Davids fighting the Goliath of destructive-development-causing-industrialisation), to the women involved in this process, all are making a statement through these bands- कमजोर नहीं हम! Weak… Not Us!

      We will try to share these stories of strength & sustainability with you over the next few days as we enter the Rakhi season.

      Keep checking our Facebook, Instagram & website for listening, knowing, criticising, guiding, responding, opposing & sharing… but most importantly for starting a dialogue!

      @gramartproject
      gramartproject.org
      beejpaatra@gmail.com

      #Local #Sustainable #Lifestyle #Organic #explotiationfree #Environment #Earth #Handmade #HandSpun #indigenouscotton #khadi #seedband #seedrakhi #GoGreen #gramartproject #beejbaatra #natruallydyed #handspun

    • Nice to see this , very attractive and good looking thanks for the sam . We are the udaipur based organization working with tribal people of area on organic,and non pesticides agriculture and forest produce collection and market linking . We produce Natural Honey , Jamun, Alovera, Amla and other products. please be keep in your Contact list. Our product brand is Desert Greens 9414164478

  1. Great idea to spread and fallow, Helping to keep
    tradition and bring in environmental awareness keep up the good work.
    Our best wishes to all the associates .

    • We are very excited to share our stories and experiences of the whole year —
      from growing rainfed indigenous organic non-GM (Genetically Modified) IPR-free (Intellectual Property Rights) cotton in our farm,
      to converting it into hand-spun yarn,
      to getting it naturally dyed,
      to hand-crafting these threads into wrist-bands embedded with platable seeds,
      to the making of plantable seed-papers from waste which carry the stories of each band that will be attached to it,
      to the initiation of barter to replace non-local currency with local resources,
      to many such processes that go on behind & beyond these seed bands…

      This time, right from each seed-band design, to indigenous cotton, to the rural artisans who’ve made this enterprise possible (modern Davids fighting the Goliath of destructive-development-causing-industrialisation), to the women involved in this process, all are making a statement through these bands- कमजोर नहीं हम! Weak… Not Us!

      We will try to share these stories of strength & sustainability with you over the next few days as we enter the Rakhi season.

      Keep checking our Facebook, Instagram & website for listening, knowing, criticising, guiding, responding, opposing & sharing… but most importantly for starting a dialogue!

      @gramartproject
      gramartproject.org
      beejpaatra@gmail.com

      #Local #Sustainable #Lifestyle #Organic #explotiationfree #Environment #Earth #Handmade #HandSpun #indigenouscotton #khadi #seedband #seedrakhi #GoGreen #gramartproject #beejbaatra #natruallydyed #handspun

  2. Great idea to spread and fallow, Helping to keep
    tradition and bring in environmental awareness keep up the good work.
    Our best wishes to all the associates .

    • We are very excited to share our stories and experiences of the whole year —
      from growing rainfed indigenous organic non-GM (Genetically Modified) IPR-free (Intellectual Property Rights) cotton in our farm,
      to converting it into hand-spun yarn,
      to getting it naturally dyed,
      to hand-crafting these threads into wrist-bands embedded with platable seeds,
      to the making of plantable seed-papers from waste which carry the stories of each band that will be attached to it,
      to the initiation of barter to replace non-local currency with local resources,
      to many such processes that go on behind & beyond these seed bands…

      This time, right from each seed-band design, to indigenous cotton, to the rural artisans who’ve made this enterprise possible (modern Davids fighting the Goliath of destructive-development-causing-industrialisation), to the women involved in this process, all are making a statement through these bands- कमजोर नहीं हम! Weak… Not Us!

      We will try to share these stories of strength & sustainability with you over the next few days as we enter the Rakhi season.

      Keep checking our Facebook, Instagram & website for listening, knowing, criticising, guiding, responding, opposing & sharing… but most importantly for starting a dialogue!

      @gramartproject
      gramartproject.org
      beejpaatra@gmail.com

      #Local #Sustainable #Lifestyle #Organic #explotiationfree #Environment #Earth #Handmade #HandSpun #indigenouscotton #khadi #seedband #seedrakhi #GoGreen #gramartproject #beejbaatra #natruallydyed #handspun

  3. It’s a great initiative. Have been searching for an organic and biodegradable rakhi for a long time. Finally found someone who is actually doing it.

    One question, is it possible to have R-02 in white color as seen in some pictures on your site but are not in the shopping list ? If yes, please put it up on your site or send a link from where I can buy them. Also, could you please inform which seed has been embedded in it. So that when we sow it later, we are aware of which plant is it. Thank you. Awaiting for your reply eagerly.

  4. We are doing business of customised things,we provide home delivery all over in India,It is a startup in ahmedabad(Gujarat),We have also started customised Rakhi,Seeing this Organic Rakhi-one excellent initiative,we would like to collaborate with you!Please give your precious Reply..Eagerly Waiting for your Reply!!

  5. Hello
    We want to buy RAKHIS but many of them are unavailable only two are available PLEASE TRY AND LET US KNOW

  6. When I looked at buying options, most of the Rakhis are not available.
    Please let me know whether they will be made available for buying or not.

    Thank you.

  7. Excellent Initiative,proud of you, if the mentality of people change, then our pure cultural events and festivals can still be celebrated and propogated through our young generation in resposible way. The joy of protecting environment at the same time will be long lasting.

  8. Hi
    Most of the items are unavailable. I would like to buy some and get them delivered to Delhi. When will you upload more pieces?

  9. Hi
    I would like to order 12 seed bands. Can you tell me when these would be available? And where I’ll be able to purchase them?
    Thanks

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