As one moves towards Saligao via Pilerne in Bardez, North Goa, some of the fallow fields on both sides of the Madani road, which is lined with coconut trees, remind one of the village's rich agricultural past.
At the end of the Madani road, a gentle incline will take you to the top of the Saligao plateau, which was once synonymous with the howling of golden jackals, a defining characteristic of the village in the past.
Both, Saligao and Pilerne, separated by a plateau, were once agricultural villages where families met their own food needs. Coming to the present reality, those stories of self-sufficiency are a thing of the past, best confined to the pages of history.
What we see today in both these villages are constructions that are draining their natural resources like water and land. Another challenge these areas face is pollution that comes in the form of garbage strewn on the roadsides.
A SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVE
Seized of these issues, especially garbage, Rector of the Seminary of Our Lady, Saligao-Pilerne, Fr Valerian Vaz, along with environmentalist, David de Souza, founded Goa with Earth in 2022, an initiative that is slowly working towards rejuvenating the entire plateau that houses the seminary.
At Goa with Earth (Guaranteed Organized Action with Efficiently Applying Residue Treating Habits), garbage is not addressed as garbage, but food residue, and why is that? Explains Fr Vaz, "If food is God's gift, then the leftovers have to also be respected and not just thrown away to rot."
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At Goa with Earth, food residue is viewed as a resource which is converted into compost that is utilised to make the soil fertile. The initiative was started with the avowed objective of encouraging people in neighbouring areas to bring their food residue to Goa with Earth.
'PLEASE LEAVE YOUR FOOD RESIDUE'
David de Souza, who oversees the project adds, "We welcome everyone and anyone to come to Goa with Earth to leave their food residue with us, and from here, we will take care. We're making it easy for people to contribute to a more sustainable future for Goa."
People coming to the seminary can leave their food residue at any time in the day at a small sitting area, a cafe point, which is also a point of interaction to learn more about the initiative. "Here, we educate people about Goa with Earth's goals and how they can contribute to its growth," adds de Souza, who is known for running such projects.
CAFE POINT
This point of interaction is also intended to generate revenue on a day-to-day basis. "Our vegetable production easily catches the attention of those coming in to hand over their food residue. They immediately ask if the vegetables are for sale. They buy our produce without hesitation because they know what they are taking home is purely organic. So, we don't go out and market our produce, people walk to us," says de Souza.
The focus of Goa with Earth is food self-sufficiency. "Our goal now is to increase our vegetable and fruit production while being mindful of water conservation, which is a big challenge," adds Fr Vaz.
GET PAID FOR YOUR RESIDUE
Goa with Earth has come up with a novel concept. It is paying prize money to those who regularly come to the seminary with their food residue. The prize money is in the range of Rs 10,000, Rs 7,000 and Rs 5,000. "This is to create a financial incentive, potentially encouraging more people to compost or recycle their food residue," informs de Souza.
He says those who are desirous of knowing more about this concept are always welcome to come and meet him at the cafe point.
De Souza mentions that the concept being propagated at Goa with Earth, 'I litter, I clean", is to bring about a change in mindset. "Right now our mindset is causing this pollution that we see all around us. At Goa with Earth, we implode upon all not to throw out their food residue, but give it to us," he adds.
BROADER VISION
And, for Fr Vaz, Goa with Earth is not only about creating a difference in Saligao, but its broader vision encompasses the seminary grounds. "We are looking at replicating the Goa with Earth model across the State, so that small communities can make a big difference in solving the big issue of garbage," he mentions.
If not the entire Goa, the answer to the garbage woes faced by families and communities in surrounding areas can be found at Goa with Earth if only they are willing to find it.
DETAILS
WHAT: Goa with Earth (Guaranteed Organized Action with Efficiently Applying Residue Treating Habits)
WHERE: Seminary of Our Lady, Saligao-Pilerne, Bardez, North Goa
CONTACT: +91 8308260500
EMAIL: coo.gwe@icloud.com
