living in ladakh

LATEST POSTS

Women of the village bring water to the fields, inch by inch. This is dur-chu, the first new water these sprouts have seen in 20 days, since the flood that women give the whole field...

Snow Leopard Kill

Photo Credit: Armonie Cohen-Solal ~~~~~ Camouflage, stealth, fierceness, and power. Look carefully in the image above. You should be able to see...

Ibex herd

The ibex gather this time of year near the village, the lower elevations where fresh spring greens are sprouting. There...

Plowing

After the manure comes out of the stables and the toilets and makes its fine dark piles on the fields– after the canals are repaired and the fallen terrace walls are rebuilt–...

First Winter Camp

This year the Ladakhi New Year fell nine days before the solstice. Families all over Ladakh gathered back together in their villages, to celebrate and keep ceremony together. Last year,...

Meat from Pangong Tso

Meat from Pangong Lake This August, a friend of ours, Chamba Tsetan, organized a marathon and half marathon at Pangong Lake. He is from another part of Changtang, called Kargyam, where...

LEARN MORE ABOUT US

We first traveled to Tar and started working there in the springtime of 2015, learning the practices of traditional Ladakhi agriculture and shepherding. Since then we’ve been busy, both in Ladakh and in Maine where we come from. We have learned that a good work party is a great way to be together as a community — and we can accomplish amazing things.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

🙂 😀 We are looking for help 😀 🙂 😀

Many of the people who have been primarily caring for Tar over the last 40 years are growing older now, and their children are finding homes and livelihoods based in a more urban cash economy. There is still plenty of work to be done, and fewer strong, willing bodies present and able to carry the load.

At the same time, welcoming and hosting people in homestays affords the Tarpa a valuable village-based income source, and comes as naturally and joyfully as breathing.

Plowing time (April-May) and harvest time (Aug-Sept) are the times when agricultural labor in the village is needed the most. Winter time is a good opportunity to be with young people, home on their long school break. If you think you might be interested in coming to volunteer in any capacity, please don’t hesitate to be in touch. 😀