This week I headed on a 14 hour bus journey out into the Indian countryside to visit some of the farmers Zameen works with to compile research.

Each day I went out with a photographer to attend farmer meetings, conduct interviews and to take photographs for the new website.

The villages were very rustic with open sewers, no running water and muddy paths in the place of roads.

One day we had to do a photo shoot in the cotton fields, although we were only one of the female farmers was involved, all the male residents came out to watch. It became quite an event!

In the region it was the festival of the cow, so no cows were allowed to do any work for 3 days. On the second day they were all dressed up with peacock feathers, flowers, mirrors, coats and pink paint. They were then taken into the village centre to be blessed, have incense wafted in front of their noses and a dye put on their foreheads.

Here are some of the photos from the week.

The women we were  photographing in the cotton fields, and then the crowd who came to watch! Below, one of the farmer meetings I attended, and another cup of very sweet chai tea is served!

Above, the farmers' children who came to watch the interviewing

Below, some of the members from the all female farmer group which was established this year. to read more about them follow this link: http://zameenorganic.wordpress.com/

Children watching the decorated cows as they pass.

Below - now you understand what I mean about decorating their cows!