We are going to use the Oxen. Are you sure? This is the 21st century.

Yes, this is the plan. This is our conviction. To set the scene we must say that hardly anyone has come face to face with cow protection and how that shapes the care of cows and their interaction with their carers and society at large. At Karuna Bhavan we are not only going to use oxen but we are going to work protected oxen. In other words the oxen here at the farm will live their life in complete protection for their whole lives cared for by a loving community and even though they will be required to work as well as rest will be integrated as part of the village family.

We are not unaware of the magnitude of the task ahead. Hundreds of years has gradually taken away the natural place for oxen in agriculture and local transportation. First horses took their place and then quickly after them the tractor took their place. After that the tractors got bigger and faster and the people driving them got fewer. So now Scotland is about to embark on a step to reintegrating the working ox into society first by looking at how some oxen can play their role in the workings of Karuna Bhavan even if at first it is oxen experience events or tourist focused rides. However, as the farm develops and grows the oxen will expand their role into land cultivation, manure and compost handling and spreading, local transportation, pasture management and hay making, then later grain production and processing. These are no doubt challenges for the future but as the farm grows each step can be naturally integrated as part of the farm management process.

If we want to demonstrate to the world the importance not just of oxen but of protected oxen we must also be able to demonstrate to ourselves our own commitment to training and working the oxen. As citizens brought up embraced by modern farming systems we will be stretched as we adjust to finding the place for the oxen. The solidity to make farming based on working oxen can be found in the incredible inspirational books of wisdom and in particular the Srimad Bhagavatam guides and reminds us of the place for the oxen.

If we can pace ourselves to the pace of an ox, we will find a peace we did not find in the pace of a car or tractor. If we look into the eyes of the oxen after a day of collaborative work, we will know they are happy with this arrangement, and we will feel it was an equally rewarding day.

Be part of this adventure in re-modernizing the working of protected oxen. Support the project and its stages, volunteer your time. Hey, come and help work with the oxen. It may just be some grooming or cleaning at first, but it can quickly step up to helping with the working of the oxen. It is fun, positive, and taking something lost in history to reposition today. Saving the world farm by farm and in this case here at Karuna Bhavan Lesmahagow, Scotland.