The true story of Britain’s first dairy in modern times to run entirely without animal slaughter or the use of fossil fuels - a unique experiment to transplant Hindu values of cow protection and working oxen to the modern Western world.

It all began when George Harrison donated a Hertfordshire manor house and 20 acres of farmland to a young community of Krishna people fresh from the city, and two cows. Thirty-six years later the experiment has grown into a carbon-free working farm in a superb set of low-tech English oak farm buildings housing fifty cows and oxen. The farm organisers claim it is Europe’s first dairy to run entirely without animal slaughter or fossil fuels, and so embodies the sustainable and ethical principles necessary for future peace and prosperity.

The farm runs on four principles of cow protection: (1) cows are not killed; (2) they are hand-milked; (3) calves suckle form their mothers; (4) bulls are given work.

The manor house last hit the national news a year ago the RSPCA donated a cow to the Hindu temple in Hertfordshire to replace one put down by a vet. RSPCA vets put down Gangotri in 2007 on their own welfare perspective, outraging Hindus at the Bhaktivedanta Manor Temple in Watford where the cow lived. But in January 2009 the charity donated a pregnant cow, Aditi, to the manor. Cows are sacred to followers of the Hindu religion and hundreds of Hindus protested outside RSPCA headquarters after Gangotri's death.

With the donation of Aditi, the dispute between the monastery and the charity has come to an end. A spokesman for the RSPCA said: "We realise the significance of cows in Hindu culture and regret the offence we caused."

Further points relating to the book:

• Preface by musician Chrissie Hynde

• Foreword by Patrick Holden, director of UK Soil Association

• Answers important questions about why buy organic milk?

• Linked to public launch of the new cruelty-free dairy

• Published alongside the AHIMSA campaign which aims to set new humane standards for milk production

• Endorsed and promoted by the UK Soil Association

The publishers of Cows and the Earth believe the book will be of useful for those interested in  religion, environment, natural history, social sciences, economics, self-sufficiency, animal ecology or philosophy.

REVIEWS

"Ranchor Prime tells the story behind the ancient tradition of cow protection, and argues for its place in the 21st century environmental movement. No ecological argument can be complete without it."Chrissie Hynde, musician and environmental campaigner

"I have never witnessed animals so happy and contented. The Krishna farm sets a new standard in organic dairy farming."
Patrick Holden, director of UK Soil Association

THE AUTHOR (in his own words)

I write about spirituality and work as a freelance illustrator and designer. My first book, Hinduism and Ecology, written in 1990, arose from my work in Britain and India as an adviser to WWF on religion and conservation. This led to the founding of Friends of Vrindavan, an environmental charity dedicated to conserving the sacred forests of Krishna in India, and to helping to establish ARC, the Alliance of Religions and Conservation.

I was born Richard Prime in 1950 and grew up in Sussex, where I roamed the woods and explored the streams (still my favourite pastime). My father was a doctor and my mother a businesswoman.

When I was an art student in Chelsea in 1970 I discovered the Bhagavad Gita and met followers of Krishna. I joined the London Radha Krishna Temple and became a disciple of A C Bhaktivedanta Swami, taking the name Ranchor Das. During the 1970s I pioneered a Hare Krishna centre in Manchester, and built and managed a new Radha Krishna temple in the West End of London. In 1987 I began working as a freelance writer and designer.

I started Fitzrovia Press in October 2008 to publish my own books and to commission new writing from other authors. The press is dedicated to producing spiritual books for a broad readership.

DETAILS
Published by Fitzrovia Press
ISBN 978-0-9561846-0-3
Hardcover
144 pages, including 32 colour photos
Price £14.99

Posted on Environment Times online on 29th January 2010.