A Big Blessing for the New Greenhouse!

Jai Ganesha!

Today we celebrate our official first "planting" in our new hydroponic greenhouse. This morning at 9am Satguru and many of the monks met out at the greenhouses for a Ganesha puja, an arati and a first planting of our tomato plants. This new greenhouse has been under construction for some time. It is built to withstand high winds and, like our initial greenhouse, it will allow us to grow plants we otherwise couldn't in our sub-tropical environment. Its main crop, currently, will be tomato plants which will free us from our dependency on canned tomatoes and other store bought ones. Of course, it's not just about what you grow, but also about how immensely "mo betta" (as Hawaiian's say) these fresh, home-grown fruits and veggies are to eat. They are full of life, energy and a fantastic heirloom flavor. Aum.

Satguru plants the first few tomato plants inside coconut-husk channels at our new greenhouse

As you can see, our new greenhouse (right) is larger than our previous ones.

It is reinforced for high winds and is much more advanced overall

It has an automatic shade system, an intelligent nutrient system and more

This entire food producing complex is a great accomplishment for our monks

Upon arrival, we observe a Ganesha puja at the nearby shrine

Yogi Dayanatha performs the puja

In front of Ganesha are the first few tomato plants to be planted

In just a few weeks they grew quite quickly

Jai Ganesha! May our little tomatoes grow abundantly

Next we all head over to the entrance

Along with our little plants

Satguru breaks the coconut

It feels like entering a scientific lab

...but with a little more decor

Bodhinatha lights the kuthuvilakku

Next, an arati at the control system

This is were all the magic takes place to ensure an automated system of adjusted light, temperature and nutrient levels

Here are the rest of the tomatoes

Ready to go!

The first channel is ready for them

Satguru plants the ones from the Ganesha puja

They sit atop channels made from coconut husk (from Sri Lanka, of all places)

Water and nutrient flow through the husk and are absorbed by the tomatoes

The plants then take root in the husk

Satguru does an arati for the new plants

Yoginathaswami invites everyone else to do some planting

By the end of today this whole channel will be filled and operational

Aum Namah Sivaya!

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