Venue

International Trust for Traditional Medicine (ITTM), Vijnana Niwas, Madhuban, Kalimpong 734 301 West Bengal, India

Project Description & Resources

	Chromatography of Soils Dead  infertile Soil (left), compared to well aerated BD Soil (right).  (according to: Pfeiffer, Ehrenfried, Chromatography applied to Quality Testing, Biodynamic Literature, Wyoming, RI 1984.)
Sensitive Chromatography A presentation made by Johanna Derix, Germany, Janvier 2005.  Big Movie (4 MB)  Small Movie (1 MB) Required QuickTime Player

The biodynamic trial cultivation at ITTM was initiated in 1996 by Tadeu Caldas, a Brazilian agronomist, based in the UK, who has been working in the development of ecological agricultural systems, especially biodynamic agriculture, for the last 20 years. As a researcher, lecturer – for many years at the Emerson College, UK - and consultant, he has been involved in several organic and biodynamic cultivation projects in Latin America, Africa and Asia. He teaches and supervises the cultivation of medicinal plants at ITTM on his regular visits to India.

Since January 2000, the ITTM experimental biodynamic garden has been enlarged with the generous support of PADMA AG Switzerland and is in the process of being developed into a medicinal plant study and research garden. Mostly medicinal plants of the Eastern Himalayan region used in Tibetan and Ayurvedic medicine as well as by local traditional herbalists are being cultivated.

A laboratory, apparently the first of its kind in India, fully equipped to make the quality tests of chromatography and sensitive crystallization according to Rudolf Steiner and Ehrenfried Pfeiffer has been set up in December 2000.

Exposure Opportunities

If you have studied Biodynamics or are in the midst of such studies, having some orientation in performing quality testing, and would wish to have a completely new work experience of biodynamics in the exotic flora and fauna of the lower Himalayas (range 500-2500 meters altitude), you are welcome to participate in a 3-6 month project each year. For a most meaningful learning experience, if convenient for the participant, ideally this exposure may be repeated for similar spells of 3-6 months over a period of three years.
 

Your exposure would include:

• Identifying medicinal plant species in the ITTM Garden.
• Transplanting or sowing sample species in new nursery beds in the ITTM research garden.
• Performing quality tests of Chromatography and Sensitive Crystallization of wild and cultivated species at the ITTM LAB and help develop a biodynamic cultivation method for each species that bring about the most optimum results.
• Cultivating selected medicinal plants on trial plots in the ITTM research garden, applying the relevant biodynamic methods and monitoring their progress .
• Documenting your findings in a database.

ITTM will provide:

• The space for your work experience.
• Tailor made Field Study Programmes.
• The fully equipped laboratory for biodynamic quality testing.
• A core group of Resource Persons to refer to for advice and clarification.
• A comprehensive reference library.
• Two gardeners to assist you in garden work.
• Biodynamic preparations and compost.
• Computer, e-mail, database programs (FileMaker 5.0).
• A local interpreter to take you around for field visits.
• Biodynamic reference and other Tibetan medical and Ayurvedic plant books

ITTM is a non-profit Public Charitable Trust. The cost involved is therefore based on actual expenses. (Details on request.)

You shall have to bear:

• Your international travel arrangements and fare till Kalimpong and return.
• Valid visa and medical insurance for India.
• Cost for board and lodging at ITTM.
• Local project travel cost (mostly involving travel by public transport and overnight stay in moderate Govt. Lodges / Trekkers’ Huts / etc.

Facilities For Project Participants

Vijnana Niwas offers twin-sharing rooms with common western-style baths with hot shower, a common kitchen with water purifier, apart from a versatile library, seminar, yoga and community rooms on a reasonably expansive campus. If you prefer more privacy, the Guest Flat offers two rooms with attached bathroom and a fully equipped kitchen. Food served will be mainly vegetarian, mostly grown biodynamically in our own garden, with occasional country chicken and river fish preparations.

Arrival At ITTM

You will arrive in India, either at the Delhi International Airport or at the Calcutta International Airport. In either case, you can take a connecting flight to Bagdogra Airport and from there arrive at Kalimpong over a two and a half hour drive past the great mountain river ‘Teesta’.

Please send your CV and photograph along with your Expression of Interest to: