Karnataka Malnad Mela: Fair way of going green

This weekend Bangalore is going to be part of a step taken to conserve the ecological heritage of Karnataka. The annual Malnad Mela comes to town.

Organised by Vanastree, a Sirsi-based collective which works to promote forest garden biodiversity and food security by conserving traditional seeds, the Mela not only showcases the traditional and ecologically-sensitive practices of Malnad, but also seeks to teach Bangaloreans a few things about ecology. Vanastree functions as a seed-collective too.

“We want the urban populace to become aware, be conscious of the ecological environment they inhabit and question where their food comes from. They need to see what it contains, what effort it takes, think on the issue of food security and do something about it,” says Sunita Rao, the 45 year old founder trustee of Vanastree Collective.

Through efforts of Vanastree and through such platforms as the Malnad Mela, Rao hopes that people take the issue of making a seed-bank from traditional plants, crops and vegetables seriously.

“We hope that this kind of an initiative is replicated across the country to create more local seed-banks,” she says.

The theme for this year’s Malnad Mela is food garden, seed saving and recycling. Expect to see Vanastree’s range of seeds, garden produce and traditional Malnad foods and snacks, non-foods and crafts like kokam butter balm, patchwork quilts and runners, cashew resin wood paint, insect repellents, seed jewellery, vegetable hair dye, soap nut scrubs and more.

“When people touch, feel, see and here the hear stories behind the produce, they appreciate the culture, the rural lifestyle and the fragility of it,” says Rao. There will be a Malnad snacks and drinks stall run by women from the region who are coming to Bangalore for the Mela. There will also be an exhibition of photographs and posters on the Malnad gardeners, food gardens, and vegetable diversity. “We want people to connect with their heritage and derive lessons from a fast-vanishing way of life,” says Rao.

In fact school trips to the Mela will treat it as an open-air classroom and some are hoping to draw up a lesson from it. Home gardening is going to be a big part of it and the Malnad home gardeners are being brought so that they can offer consultations and suggestions to the urban gardeners.

“There is an enormous interest in home gardening and food gardening in Bangalore. We’ve had requests from a lot of people who volunteered to hire a bus and bring down the gardeners for a meet on other occasions, says Rao. Vanastree already has offers from 12 volunteers from the city and will bring down seven more from Malnad.

Other non-profits working on the theme of sustainability and environment will also be present at the Mela. Daily Dump will demonstrate composting, Daman Ganga will be present with recycled tetrapack roofing sheets and paper products, soliciting volunteers for collecting from various neighbourhoods, Biome Solutions will be there with dry toilets and a display on ecological sanitation and Bhoomi Network with publications. Vanamitra, an animal rescue initiative, will be there with films and a display on wildlife, while others will showcase contemporary and traditional crafts, handloom and paper products.

From red rice to vanilla beans, a lesson on setting up your own human composting unit, there will be much on offer. Lighting for the Mela is to be done with rechargeable LED lamps and solar lights and the shamianas and sun shades are made of recycled parachutes and cloth garden umbrellas.

“We have run the Mela for the last 10 years in Sirsi and this is our fourth Mela in Banaglore. We don't have any sponsors,” says Rao.

For details and volunteering opportunities mail to
vanastree@gmail.com
Malnad Mela
Date: February 5th & 6th
Time: 10am to 6pm
Venue: Golden Beads School, 157 Richmond Road,
Bangalore 560025