Suganthi selected for an international mentoring programme
Suganthi has been selected for the 1st stage of the Mentoring Women in Business programme by the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women has developed an innovative solution that combines mentoring with technology to offer cross-border support to women entrepreneurs in developing and emerging economies. The Mentoring Women in Business programme partners women entrepreneurs from around the globe with successful business people. Women with entrepreneurial aspirations are mentored by entrepreneurs or mid-career professionals for a minimum of 12 months.
Harvest from the Blue Mountains
Help required for Mysore
We need somebody to spread the word around, especially, the IT companies and large hotels, that there is a Green Shop, in Mysore. Somebody who can volunteer for this would be a great help.
Organic Agriculture may be outgrowing its ideals
This can be other side of Organic Agriculture when we lose sight of the holistic nature of such activities.
Workshop for Retail Shop Managers
Managers from different shops across India, who were part of the Fair Trade India shop branding exercise are coming together for 2 day workshop at Kotagiri on the 7th and 8th of December, 2011. The workshop will help the shop managers to understand the brand, the manual and other relevant information, which will be helpful for the day to day functioning of ‘Fair Trade India’ branded shops.
Student Intern
We have a student joining us today for the next 6 weeks – Soumya studies at the Symbiosis Institute in Pune and will help to do consumer surveys in the shops and also come up with a marketing plan for the Mysore shop which has not been doing very well!
Volunteers from Sweden
2 volunteers from Sweden have joined at the end of Oct, from Future Earth. They will be with us for 5 months, helping to put information together on producer groups, dealers, products, etc. Nice to have a fresh set of people with us.
Handmade Paper Products
Nava Vihan, a group based in Pondicherry is rolling out beautiful handmade paper products. The range is extensive.
Upgrading of Mysore shop
The new shop at Saraswathipuram is undergoing further upgrade – some new furniture going and lot of food products. Krac-a-Dawna have offered to do an exhibition in mid-Sept which will showcase their range of food and fabrics.
Products from the Bandipur Tiger Reserve
Just going to add products from a group that works with adivasis in the villagers around Bandipur. The Mariyamma Trust works to reduce conflict issues between the local population and the wildlife. The products are designed and produced by Temple Tree Designs, which uses a percentage of income generated to support the activities of the Trust.
New labels on spices
Wow! The new labels are absolutely super. They will also move into a new packing – just hang on as the spice range of labels get launched. Will follow soon with honey and candle labels.
Gift boxes
We have been struggling over the past few months trying to find a carton manufacturer who would make small gift boxes. After scouring all over Tiruppur and Coimbatore, you wont believe it but yes! we found one manufacturer right in our backyard, in Ooty. We had a sample box in our hands today – wow! let’s see how the process moves forward.
Fair Trade retail branding
Was in Delhi on Friday-Saturday. The Fair Trade branding exercise continues – good meeting with FTF-India and the Exec Board. Plan laid out for the next couple of months. Was good to meet all old colleagues from the Board – all the best to them for the tough responsibility that sits on their shoulders.
Working capital requirement
Been a lull for the past couple of weeks – been facing a terrible cash crunch. It’s been good and tough news. Honey has rolled in and nobody has complained – after a drought of 3 years. However, money has rolled out and we have struggled to keep up. Been able to raise loans from a friend and that has helped keep us going. Thanks a ton.
Let’s Plant Trees
Wow! This is a beautiful little book – an ideal gift for someone special
From the Rainforest
Organic cardamom, from the Coorg hills. Taste and enjoy.
Let’s Plant Trees by Vinod Eshwar
A unique book in that it comes with four seeds (pongamia seeds) that are to be planted. For more on this amazing big little book you can visit the microsite for it at http://planttrees.tulikabooks.com/. The Green Shops will also carry this book for sale. We are also selling fantastic cardamom from Vinod’s farm in Coorg.
Limited fab offer from Tulika Books – till 30th June only
Tulika Books has come out with 2 lovely offerings – one, a gorgeous hardbound story collection `Water Stories From Around The World (Rs.385)’ is available at a special price of Rs.285. Second, you can have any 5 of the books listed in A-Z of Tulika Books on the Environment blog (http://tulikapublishers.blogspot.com/2011/06/a-z-of-tulika-books-on-environment.html) (excluding `Water Stories’) for Rs. 450/- + free shipping.” Anyone interested can write in at tulikabooks@gmail.com.
Article on Fair Trade in Civil Society
Razai covers from Kumbaya
Wow! What amazing razai covers that came in for an order – the tough thing is that you have to order the sizes..