FARMING FOR

SELF-SUFFICIENCY

A DETAILED PRESENTATION OF LAND

REQUIREMENTS FOR ATTAINING SELF-SUFFICIENCY

by Ātmārama Dāsa and Ambhraṇī Devī Dāsī

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 KṚṢṆA, THE SUPREME CONTROLLER, HAS CREATED THE MATERIAL WORLD,
WHICH IS COMPLETELY PERFECT AND FREE FROM SCARCITY. THE LORD
SUPPLIES THE NECESSITIES OF ALL LIVING ENTITIES. THESE NECESSITIES COME
FROM THE EARTH, AND THUS THE EARTH IS THE SOURCE OF SUPPLY.

—SRĪLA A.C. BHAKTIVEDĀNTA SVĀMĪ PRABHUPĀDA

SRĪMAD BHĀGAVATAM, 6.14.10 PURPORT

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 CONTENTS
OVERVIEW…………………..……. 4

WHEAT (GODHŪMA)……………..……. 5

RICE (ŚĀLI)………….…………..………. 7

MUNG DHAL (MUDGA)………..……… 9

SUGAR (ŚĀRKARA)……………………. 11

VEGETABLES (ŚĀKA)………..………… 13

FRUITS (PHALA).…………..…..……… 14

COWS GHEE (GHṚTA)……..…………. 16

COWS MILK (KṢĪRA)……..…..……… 17

COW BREEDING (ABHIJANANA GAVINĪ)…

19

CATTLE FEED (GAVYĀHĀRA)………22

SESAME OIL (TĪLA TAILA) ……..……25

COTTON (PICU) ………………………. 27

FIREWOOD (SAMINDHANA)………..29
Newly emerging saplings
CONCLUSION……………….…………. 31
Marshall, NC

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 OVERVIEW:
THE FOOD STUFFS DESCRIBED IN THIS
PRESENTATION ARE THE FOODS THAT HAVE
BEEN LISTED IN THE ANCIENT ĀYURVEDIC
TEXT, AṢṬĀṆGA HṚDAYAM AS FOODS FIT
FOR REGULAR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.
THESE CROPS HAVE BEEN ANALYZED
ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

• QUALITIES AND ACTIONS OF THE FOODS,

ACCORDING TO ĀYURVEDA

• AMOUNT OF SĀRA (SUBSTANCE) OF

HARVESTED GRAINS (I.E., THAT PORTION
OF THE GRAIN WHICH IS FIT FOR FOOD
AFTER POUNDING, THRESHING, OR
RUBBING), ACCORDING TO THE KAUTILĪYA
ARTHAŚĀSTRA

• DAILY RATION OF FOOD REQUIRED FOR

MEN,WOMEN, AND CHILDREN ACCORDING
TO THE KAUTILĪYA ARTHAŚĀSTRA

• AMOUNT OF LAND REQUIRED TO

CULTIVATE NECESSARY CROPS FOR FOOD,
CLOTHING, LIGHTING, AND FUEL BASED ON
CURRENT ORGANIC FARMERS’ AVERAGE
YIELDS
Brussel sprouts
Marshall , NC

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 WHEAT
(GODHŪMA)
• Godhūma can be consumed habitually.
-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 8, Vs 42-43

• Godhūma is invigorating, cold in potency, hard to

digest, unctuous, nourishing, mitigates vāta and pitta
dośas, unites the broken parts (fracture,) sweet in
taste, gives strength and is laxative.
-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 6, Vs 15-16

• Godhūma should be consumed especially in

Hemanta (early winter,) […] Śiśira (cold winter,) […]
and Vasant (spring).

-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch.3, Vs 11-14, 17, 18-22

• [During such seasons] an Āryan male consumes

approx. one prastha (3.4 cups) of grain per day, a
woman consumes one quarter less than that, and a
child consumes one half (of an adult male).
-Kautilīya Arthaśāstra, Vs 2.15.43

• After grinding the wheat into flour (piṣṭa,) the

quantity which is fit for food (sāra) is the same as the
harvested wheat. Nearly matured wheat plant
-Kautilīya Arthaśāstra, Vs 2.15.27 www.motherearthnews.com
Photo Courtesy New Society Publishers

5
 CULTIVATING WHEAT (GODHUMA)
• Small scale organic farmers reported wheat yields at 1,000 lbs/acre.
-“Growing Wheat of Your Own”
Mother Earth News Magazine

• An Āryan male consumes approximately 1 lb (3.4 cups) of wheat per day (during Hemanta,
Śiśira, and Vasant,) a woman consumes 3/4 lb, and a child consumes 1/2 lb. Thus a male
consumes approximately 180 lbs per year, a female consumes 135 lbs per year, and a child
consumes 90 lbs per year respectively.

• After grinding the wheat into flour (piṣṭa,) the quantity which is fit for food (sāra) is the same
as the harvested wheat.

-Kautilīya Arthaśāstra, Vs 2.15.27

• Approximately 0.18 acres is required to grow 180 lbs/year of wheat (for one man); 0.14
acres is required to grow 135 lbs/year (for one woman); and 0.09 acres is required to grow
90 lbs/year (for one child.)

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 RICE (ŚĀLI)
• Śāli can be consumed habitually.

—Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 8, Vs 42-43

• Śāli is sweet in taste and at the end of digestion,

unctuous, invigorating, causes constipation and little
quantity of faeces, has astringent as secondary taste,
good for health, easily digestible, diuretic, and cold in
potency.

—Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 6, Vs. 4

• Śāli should be consumed especially during Grīśma

(summer,) […] Varśā (rainy season,) […] and Śarat
(autumn.)

-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 3, Vs. 31, 46, 50

• [During such seasons] an Āryan male consumes approx.

one prastha (3.4 cups) of grain per day, a woman
consumes one quarter less than that, and a child
consumes one half (of an adult male).

-Kautilīya Arthaśāstra, Vs 2.15.43

• After pounding/de-hulling, the remaining portion (sāra)

is 1/4th the mass of harvested rice. Bundle of freshly harvested rice paddy
-Kautilīya Arthaśāstra, Vs 2.15.25 Karnataka, South India

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 CULTIVATING RICE (ŚĀLI)
• Standard yields are 2 to 4 tons/hectare (1600-3200 lbs/ acre) for small-scale farmers.
-“How Small-Scale Farmers are Growing More Rice
with Less Water and Fewer Chemicals”
www.mnn.com (Mother Nature Network)

• An Āryan male consumes approximately 1 lb of uncooked rice per day (during Grīśma,
Varśā, and Śarat,) a woman consumes 3/4 lb, and a child 1/2 lb; thus consuming 180 lbs/
year, 135 lbs/year, and 90 lbs/year respectively.

• After pounding/de-hulling, the remaining portion (sāra) is 1/4th the mass of harvested rice.

-Kautilīya Arthaśāstra, Vs 2.15.25

• 720 lbs of harvested rice produces 180 lbs of sāra (de-hulled rice); 540 lbs of harvested rice
produces 135 lbs of sāra; 360 lbs of harvested rice produces 90 lbs of sāra.

• Approximately 0.3 acres of land is required to grow 720 lbs/year of rice (for one man); 0.23
acres to grow 135 lbs/year (for one woman); 0.04 acres to grow 90 lbs/year (for one child.)

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 MUNG DHAL/GREEN
GRAM (MUDGA)
• Mudga can be consumed habitually.
-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 8, Vs. 42-43

• Mudga produces constipation, astringent and sweet in taste,

absorbs water, pungent after digestion, cold in potency,
easily digestible, mitigates fat, kapha, asra (blood) and pitta,
suitable for use as application and bathing the body parts.
Among the group called śimbīdhānya (legumes) mudga is
best, it causes only mild increase of vāta.
-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 6, Vs. 17-18

• Mudga should be consumed especially in Hemanta

(early winter,) […] Śiśira(cold winter,) […] Varśā (rainy
season,) […] and Śarat (autumn.)

-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch.3, Vs. 11-14, 17, 45-46, 50

• [During such seasons] an Āryan male consumes approx.

one fourth prastha (0.85 cups) per day, a woman one
quarter less than that, and a child one half.
-Kautilīya Arthaśāstra, Vs 2.15.43

• After processing, the amount of sāra is 1/8th of the mass

of the harvested mung dhal.
Mung dhal growing in Uganda
-Kautilīya Arthaśāstra, Vs 2.15.30
Photo Courtesy www.monitor.co.ug

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 CULTIVATING MUNG DHAL
(MUDGA)
• Average yields range from 90-180 kg (approximately 200-400 lbs) of final product
(sāra) per acre.
— “Improved Green Grams Hold Hope for Farmers”
www.theorganicfarmer.org

• An Āryan male consumes approximately 2/5 lb of mung dhal per day (during
Hemanta, Śiśira, Varśā, and Śarat,) a woman consumes 3/10 lb, and a child 1/5 lb
each requiring 96 lbs/year, 72 lbs/year, and 48 lbs/year respectively.

• Approximately 0.32 acres is required to grow 96 lbs/year of mung dhal (for one
man); 0.24 acres to grow 72 lbs/year (for one woman); 0.16 acres to grow
48 lbs/year (for one child.)

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 SUGAR
(ŚĀRKARA)
• Śārkara (sugar) can be consumed
habitually.

-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 8, Vs. 42-43

• Among the group of sugars, sita

(white crystalline sugar) is best. It is
invigorating, good for the emaciated
and the wounded, cures bleeding
diseases and aggravation of vāta.
-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 5, Vs. 49

• After pounding/de-hulling, the

remaining sāra (sugar granules) is
1/10th mass of harvested sugar cane

-“How Much Sugar Cane Does it Take To Produce

One Bag of Wholesome! Fair Trade Organic Sugar?”
www.wholesomesweet.com
Sugar cane fields
Pancavati Farm Community
Salem, Tamil Nadu

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 CULTIVATING SUGAR CANE
• Organic Co-op farmers report 26 metric tons sugar cane/acre
-“How Much Yield Does a Cooperative Farm Produce?”
www.wholesomesweet.com
• An Āryan male consumes approximately 10 tbsp of granulated sugar per day, a
woman consumes 7 tbsp, and a child 5 tbsp requiring 110 lbs/ year, 73 lbs/year,
and 55 lbs/year respectively

• After pounding/de-hulling, the remaining sāra (sugar granules) is 1/10th mass of

harvested sugar cane

-“How Much Sugar Cane Does it Take To Produce One Bag of Wholesome! Fair Trade Organic Sugar?”
www.wholesomesweet.com

• 1100 lbs of sugar cane is required to produce 110 lbs of granulated sugar; 730 lbs
sugar cane required to produce 73 lbs of granulated sugar; 550 lbs sugar cane
required to produce 55 lbs of granulated sugar

• Approximately 0.02 acres of land is required to grow 1100 lbs/year of sugar cane
(for one man); 0.01 acres to grow 730 lbs/year (for 1 woman); 0.01 acres to grow
550 lbs/year (for 1 child.)
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 VEGETABLES
(ŚĀKA)
• Jīvanti (doḍī śāk,) Suniśaṇṇaka (dwarf water
clover,) and Vāstuka (lamb’s quarters/ fat hen)
can be consumed habitually.
-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 8, Vs. 42-43

• Jīvanti is good for the eyes, mitigates all the

doṣas, is sweet in taste and cold in potency. […]
It is best among leafy vegetables.
- Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 6, Vs. 85-86, 114

• Suniśaṇṇaka and Vāstuka mitigate all the three

doṣas, are easily digestible and stop elimination
of fluids from the body. Suniśaṇṇaka increases
hunger and is invigorating. […] Vāstuka breaks
up hard faeces.
-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 6, Vs. 72-73

Vegetable garden
ISKCON’s Panchavatī Farm
Salem, Tamil Nadu

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 FRUITS
(PHALA)
• Drākṣa (grapes) and Dāḍima (Pomegranate) can
be consumed habitually.
-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 8, Vs. 42-43

• Drākṣa is best among fruits, is invigorating,

good for the eyes, helps elimination of urine
and faeces, sweet in taste and at the end of
digestion, unctuous, slightly astringent, cold in
potency, hard to digest, cures disease of vāta,
pitta and rakta (blood); bitter taste in the mouth,
intoxication, thirst, cough, fever, dyspnoea,
hoarseness, injury to the lungs and tuberculosis.
-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch.6, Vs. 115-116

• Dāḍima relieves pitta in particular and the other

doṣas in general. It is normally sweet. However,
even the sour variety does not increase pitta. It is
not very hot in potency and it balances vāta as
well as kapha. All types of daḍima are beneficial
to the heart and mind, easy to digest and
unctuos, without elimination of fluids. It
stimulates the appetite and digestion is
improved by the intake of the fruit.
-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 6, Vs. 117-118 Grape vine growing in Georgia, USA
Photo courtesy www.markgelbart.wordpress.com

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 CULTIVATING FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES
Prospective Vegetables to be Cultivated:
• Dwarf Waterclover (Suniśaṇṇaka)
• Dodi Leaf (Jīvanti)
• Lamb’s Quaters/ Fat Hen (Vāstuka)
• Cucumbers (Citraphala)
• Okra (Bheṇḍa)
• Squash (Kumbhaphalā)
• Sweet potatoes (Raktatālukam)

Prospective Fruits to be Cultivated:

• Blueberries (Nīla-badarī)
• Grapes (Drākṣa)
• Peaches (Apadiśati)
• Pomegranate (Dāḍima)

• 1/10th of an acre of land can supply one person with all basic vegetables and soft fruits for one year
-How to Grow More Vegetables
John Jeavons

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 GHEE (GHṚTA)
• Ghṛta (ghee) and kṣīra (milk) can be consumed habitually.

-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 8, Vs. 42-43

• Ghee obtained from cows milk is best in properties.

- Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 5, Vs. 41

• Among oleating (oily) substances, ghee is very best

because it augments the properties of substances with
which it is processed, is of sweet taste, does not produce
burning sensation during digestion, and can be consumed
habitually from the beginning of life. […] Ghee is best
suited for those who desire improvement of intellect,
memory, intelligence, etc.

-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 16, Vs. 2-3, 8

• Ghṛta (ghee) is ideal for improving intelligence, memory,

wisdom, keenness of digestion, long life, semen, and eye
sight, for children, the aged, those who desire more
children, tenderness of the body, and pleasant voice, for
those suffering from emaciation as a result of injury to chest
(lungs,) parisarpa (herpes,) injury from weapons and fire,
disorders of vāta and pitta origin, poison, insanity,
consumption, inauspicious activity and fears; is best among
fatty materials, cold in potency, best for retaining youth;
capable of giving a thousand good effects by a thousand
kind of processing. Freshly churned butter
Karnataka, South India
-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 5, Vs. 37-39

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 COW’S MILK (KṢĪRA)
• Kṣīra (milk) can be consumed habitually.

-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 8, Vs. 42-43

• Kṣīra obtained from cows is best in properties

(compared to milk from other animals).

- Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 5, Vs. 41

• Generally kṣīra is sweet in taste and also at the end

of digestion, unctuous, invigorating, increase the
dhātus (tissues of the body,) mitigates vāta and pitta,
increases śleṣman (kapha,) is not easily digestible
and is cooling.

-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch.5, Vs. 20-21

• Cow’s milk promotes long life, is rejuvenating, good

for those emaciated after injury (especially to the
chest,) increases intelligence, strength and breast
milk; helps easy movement of the bowels and cures
exhaustion, dizziness, toxicity, inauspiciousness,
dyspnoea (increased respiration,) cough, severe
thirst and hunger, long standing fevers, dysurea
(painful urination) and bleeding diseases. Fresh milk from our cow, Svātī
Pelzer, SC
-Aṣṭāṇga Hṛdayam, Ch. 5, Vs. 21-22

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 PRODUCING COW’S MILK
(KṢĪRA) AND GHEE (GHṚTA)
• Average Gir cows (Bos indicus) produce 3 gallons of milk per day
-“Distinctive Features of Gir Cow Breed & Benefits”
www.krishnaleelagroup.com

• An Āryan male should consume 1/16 prastha (0.2 cups) of ghee per day, a woman consumes one quarter less than that (i.e.
0.15 cups,) and a child consumes one half the quantity of an Āryan male (i.e 0.1 cups.)

-Kautilīya Arthaśāstra, Vs 2.15.43

• One droṇa (54.4 cups or 3.4 gallons) of milk produces one prashta (3.4 cups) of ghee

— Kautilīya Arthaśāstra, Vs 2.29.35

• (i.e. 16 cups of milk produces 1 cups of ghee)

• An Āyran male drinks approximately 5 cups of milk per day, a woman drinks 4 cups, and a child drinks 3 cups.

- -NOTE: this approximation is based on our personal experience

- of drinking fresh cows milk from our happy, protected cow

• 8.2 cups (3.2 + 5) of milk is required for one man per day ; 6.4 cups (2.4 + 4) of milk for one woman per day; 4.6 cups (1.6 +
3) for one child per day

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 BREEDING MANAGEMENT
(ABHIJANANA GAVINĪ)

• Gir cows are full grown at 3 years of age (i.e. minimum breeding age)
-“Distinctive Features of Gir Cow Breed & Benefits”
www.krishnaleelagroup.com

• Gestation period is 9 months (i.e. give birth around the age of 4; no milking
during gestation period)
-“Distinctive Features of Gir Cow Breed & Benefits”
www.krishnaleelagroup.com

• Lactation period is 1 year

-“Distinctive Features of Gir Cow Breed & Benefits”
www.krishnaleelagroup.com

19
 BREEDING
MANAGEMENT
(ABHIJANANA GAVINĪ)
• Average life expectancy of a
cow is 19 years
-Lokopakāra, Ch 11. Vs 41

• Cows and bulls should be

protected for the entire
duration of their lives (i.e.
“cradle to coffin”)

• According to Manu, it is not

good to drink the milk of a
cow that doesn't have a calf
- Hari Bhakti Vilāsa
11th Vilāsa, Text 784
Svātī’s 7 month old bull calf, Sanātana
Pelzer, SC

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 BREEDING MANAGEMENT( ESTIMATION )
Cows Newborn Calves Total Age of Oldest
(3(1
milking,
milking3 and
bred) (yearly calving to (total cows, bulls, (begin with 4 y.o.
1 pregnant) produce milk) and calves) cow with calf)
2018 2 1 ***3*** 4
2019 3 1 4 5
2020 4 1 5 6
2021 5 1 6 7
2022 6 1 7 8
2023 7 1 8 9
2024 8 1 9 10
2025 9 1 10 11
2026 10 1 11 12
2027 11 1 12 13
2028 12 1 13 14
2029 13 1 14 15
2030 14 1 15 16
2031 15 1 16 17
2032 16 1 17 18
2033 17 (1 born, 1 die) 1 17 19
2034 17 (1 born, 1 die) 1 17 19
2035 17 1 18 17
2036 18 1 ***19*** 18
2037 19 (1 born, 1 die) 1 19 19
2038 19 trend continues… 1 19 19
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 FEED FOR COWS &
BULLS (GAVYĀHĀRA)
• A working bullock’s daily ration is as follows:
• 1/10 bhāra grass (21 lbs)
• 1/20 bhāra fodder (11 lbs)
• 1 pala molasses (4 tbsp)
• 1/2 pala rock salt (2 tbsp)
• grain husks left over from pounding
• spent (rejected) grains after harvesting
• left over oil cakes
- Kautilīya Arthaśāstra, Vs 2.29.43

• A milch cow’s daily ration is as follows (1/4 less

than that of bullocks):
• 16 lbs grass
• 8 lbs fodder
• 3 tbsp molasses
• 1.5 tbsp rock salt
• grain husks left over from pounding
• spent (rejected) grains after harvesting
• left over oil cakes
- Kautilīya Arthaśāstra, Vs 2.29.44
Sanātana grazing on fresh green grass
Pelzer, SC

22
 FEED FOR COWS &
BULLS (GAVYĀHĀRA)
• A cow and bull consume the following amounts of
food per year:
(daily ration x 365)

• grass:
7,665 lbs (bull) ; 5,840 lbs (cow)

• fodder:
4,015 lbs (bull) ; 2,920 lbs (cow)

• molasses:
39 lbs (bull) ; 29 lbs (cow)

• rock salt:
18 lbs (bull) ; 14 lbs (cow)

Our young bull-calf, Sanātana, grazing on fresh green grass

Pelzer, SC

23
 CULTIVATING FEED
Grass
• Average yield is 3 tonnes/acre (6,000 lbs/acre)
-“Tall Fescue for Forage”
John Jennings, Paul Beck
University of Arkansas, Agriculture and Natural Resources
• 1.3 acre of land is required to grow 7,665 lbs/year of grass (for one bull); 1 acre to grow 5,840 lbs/ year (for one cow)

Wheat Fodder
• Average yield is 1.5 tonnes/acre (3,000 lbs/ acre)
-“What’s the Nutrient Value of Wheat Straw”
Paul Gross
Michigan State University
• 1.4 acres of land is required to grow 4,015 lbs/year of fodder (for one bull); 1 acre to grow 2,920 lbs/year (for one
cow)

Molasses
• Yield of molasses per ton of sugar cane crushed: 4.5-5%
-“Molasses; About Molasses”
www.birla-sugar.com
• Organic Co-op farmers report 26 metric tons sugar cane/acre
-“How Much Yield Does a Cooperative Farm Produce?”
www.wholesomesweet.com
(i.e. 26 tons (per 1 acre) of sugar cane produces 1.17 tons of molasses)

• 0.02 acres of land is required to produce 39 lbs/year of molasses (for one bull); 0.01 acres to produce 29 lbs/year of molasses (for one
cow)

TOTAL:
• 2.72 acres is required to provide feed for 1 bull per year; 2.01 acres to provide feed for 1 cow per year

24
 SESAME OIL
(TĪLA TAILA)
• When pressed, sesame (tīla) produces 1/4th oil (of
the harvested amount of sesame)
-Kautilīya Arthsastra, Vs 2.15.40

Continuous oil lamp in the temple:

• “O foremost of brāhmaṇas, you should always offer

dīpa (lamp) in the temple of the Lord Viṣṇnu and
never put it out or let it go out by itself, due to a lack
of oil.”
-Hari Bhakti Vilāsa
8th Vilāsa, Texts 93

• “One should offer a lamp to the Lord, using either

ghee or oil. Offering a lamp that burns ghee is best.
If one is unable to afford ghee then he can offer a
lamp that burns mustard, sesame, or kusumbha oil.”
-Hari Bhakti Vilāsa
8th Vilāsa, Texts 41-42
Continuous oil lamp in the go-śāla (cowshed) :

• “A cow pen where a lamp is not lighted in the

evening is without the blessings of Laxmī, the
goddess of wealth. Looking at such a house the A sesame plant
cattle weep.” Photo Courtesy www.nbcdfw.com
-Kṛṣi-Parāśara, V??, Ch??
Parāśara Muni

25
 CULTIVATING SESAME (TĪLA)
• Average yield of sesame seeds is 4,850 lbs/ acre.
-“Southern Farmers Experiment with Growing Sesame”
www.agweb.com
• 1 tbsp sesame oil takes 1 hour to burn
-“On Using an Oil Lamp”
www.digitalambler.com

TEMPLE/ALTAR:
• To keep a lamp in a temple/altar burning continuously for one year (8,760 hours) requires 8,760 tbps sesame oil.

GO-ŚĀLA (COW SHED):

• To keep a lamp in a go-śāla burning at night (approx. 11 hours) for one year requires 4,015 tbsp sesame oil.

ĀŚRAMA (HOUSE):
• To keep one lamp burning throughout the night (approx. 11 hours) for one year requires 4,015 tbsp sesame oil.

• To burn four lamps for light in the evenings (about 4 hours) for one year requires 1,460 tbsp sesame oil.

TOTAL:
• Approximately 18,250 tbsp (570.3 lbs) sesame oil is required to provide lighting for one house, altar/temple, and cow-shed for
one year.

• When pressed, sesame (tīla)produces 1/4th oil (of the harvested amount of sesame)
-Kautilīya Arthsastra, Vs 2.15.40

• 2,281.2 lbs harvested sesame is required to produce 18,250 tbsp (570.3 lbs)/ year of sesame oil.

• Approximately 0.47 acres of land is required to produce 2,281.2 lbs of harvested sesame per year.

26
 COTTON
(PICU)
• “He who makes clothes should get yarn spun out of
wool, bark-fibres, cotton, silk-cotton, hemp and flax.”

-Kautilīya Arthaśāstra, Vs 2.23.2

• “Five palas (240 g) of cotton yields one pala (48 g) yarn.”

-Kautilīya Arthaśāstra, Vs. 2.15.41

• *******The remaining clothing (i.e. outer garments) can

be made using donated deer skins from local
hunters*****

Deer Skin for Clothing:

• “According to the brāhmacārya system, he [a brāhmacārī]

should dress with a belt, deerskin, and matted hair and
should bear a daṇḍa [staff,] waterpot and sacred thread.”

-Srīmad Bhāgavatam
7.12 Summary

A field of cotton
Photo Courtesy www.pinterest.com

27
 CULTIVATING COTTON (PICU)
• Average yield of cotton is 2 bales per acre (1 bale = 480 lbs)
-“2015 GA Cotton County Yields”
www.georgiacottoncommision.org

• One person requires 3 bath-towels, 3 handkerchiefs/dish towels, 3 pairs of underwear (kaupīna), and
2 sets (i.e. 4) bed-sheets per year.

• One bale of cotton can make:

690 bath towels
or 21,960 handkerchiefs/dish towels
or 2,419 mens/womens underwear
or 249 bed sheets
-“What Can You Make from a Bale of Cotton?”
www.cotton.org

• 0.004 bales of cotton is required to make 3 bath-towels; 0.0001 bales to make 3 handkerchiefs/dish
towels; 0.001 bales to make 3 pairs of underwear; 0.02 bales to make 4 bed-sheets.

• 0.013 acres of land is required to grow 0.0251 bales of cotton (for one person/year)

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 FIREWOOD
(SAMINDHANA)
• 25 palas (1,200 g) of
firewood are a means of
cooking one prastha (3.4
cups) of rice
-Kautilīya Arthaśāstra
Vs 2.19.26

• An average household burns

approximately 4 cords of
wood per year (for heating
and cooking)
-NOTE: this estimation is based
on our personal experience
whilst living off-the-grid.
Cooking on fire
Karnataka, South India

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 PRODUCING FIREWOOD
(SAMINDHANA)
• “Sustainable Yield Management” recommends to harvest firewood in a 10-year cycle to remove 25
percent of the total wood volume (in 10 years;) this represents approximately the growth that has
accrued since the last harvest.
-“Managing Your Woodlot for Sustainable Yield”
www.affluentpeasant.barkie.net

• Average yield of firewood is 20 cords/acre (1 cord weights approx. 4,000 lbs)

-“Aspen Management in Michigan”
Russell P. Kidd and Melvin Koelling
www.michiganforesters.com

• Approximately 1/5 acres is required to produce 4 cords of firewood per year (for one family.

• Approximately 8 acres of land is required to sustainably harvest 4 cords of firewood (for one family) per year.

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 IN CONCLUSION
Crop Man Woman Child

Wheat 0.18 ac 0.14 ac 0.09 ac

Rice 0.3 ac 0.23 ac 0.04 ac

Mung Dhal 0.32 ac 0.24 ac 0.16 ac

Sugar 0.02 ac 0.01 ac 0.01 ac

Fruits/Vegetables 0.1 ac 0.1 ac 0.1 ac

Feed for up to 19 *yearly calving (alternating cows) *if all cows/bulls born on
to provide continuous milk 45.22 ac/ family property stay on property
cows/bulls
Sesame Oil 0.47 ac/family

Cotton 0.013 acres 0.013 acres 0.013 acres

Firewood 8 ac/ family

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 IN CONCLUSION
To support one family of three (one man, woman, and child,)
approximately 55.5 acres of land is required
for complete self-sufficiency in terms of
food, clothing, lighting, heat and fuel.

*Note - The majority of land, for this calculation, is allocated towards cows and bulls based on the following criteria: 1)
caring for them for the entire duration of their lives (i.e. not selling them) and 2) yearly breeding alternating cows for
continuous milk supply. By changing any of these factors, the amount of land required will change significantly.

Help the Plow and Flute Project raise money for purchasing land by
following the link below:
www.plowandflute.com

Hare Kṛṣṇa

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www.plowandflute.com

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