Visiting Rushika and Suriyakumar

During their trek across North America, Senthilnathaswami and Sadasivanathaswami visited the hilltop home of Suriyakumar and Rushika in Diablo, California. This family from Sri Lanka has been instrumental in moving Gurudeva's mission forward, and the day with them was full of puja, conversation, sharing of progress at the Aadheenam and more.

One of their loves of late is growing grapes, and their hilltop home is almost surrounded by vines, almost 3,000 of them. They are young (last year was the first harvest), but they are prolific, with clusters dangling every foot or so. They took the swamis into the vineyard, and each of the six varietals was clipped so they could taste the grapes and see the subtle differences in them.

Two years back, Senthilnathaswami and Sadasivanathaswami planted the only two white grapes in the vineyard, a Sauvignon blanc, and were thrilled to see how sweet they are.

A few days after the swamis left for Toronto the entire hill was harvested, yielding some 6 tones of grapes.

Suriyakumar shows the swamis how the vines are covered by nets for protection from predators.

they are taken to a small adobe hut on the property. That\

s Thamby with them on the right. '

Swami takes a moment to show the hosts the progress at the Aadheenam.

Thamby is the master farmer who makes it all work. He fights gophers every day of his life!

Suriyakumar is becoming an adept viticulturist. It is the love of his life, and every evening he comes home from his work and walks through the vines.

These are the whites the monks planted.

A tray of the various varieties, six in all.

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