Little Local

01/10/2021

Did you know that Ladakh is home to the world’s sweetest apricots?
It’s not very well-known but apricots have been grown in Ladakh for centuries, and were widely traded along the Silk Route in exchange for wheat, barley and wool. Some parts of Ladakh like Sham Valley, Nubra Valley and Kargil are particularly abundant in apricot farms.

But unlike in the past, when apricots yielded good returns for the locals, today farmers struggle to market their produce successfully.
Farmers have limited resources and are not able to access markets all year-round because of extreme weather conditions. And many times they end up selling at low cost to traders, or losing some of their produce because of old harvesting and drying methods.

In 2016, Tata Trusts and Himmotthan Society decided to try and solve this problem. They started training farmers on better methods for harvesting and drying, and also helped in setting up a Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) which means an organization that is 100% owned and run by farmers!
The FPO currently has 200 farmers, and works as a collective for farmers to sell together in larger quantities, get better pricing and most importantly sell directly to urban consumers like you! 🌟

We’ve spent much of this year working with them, helping them create their own brand identity, and it is a project that has brought us so much joy and happiness!
And we are SO excited today, to be able to share this project with you! 😍

Presenting Julley Ladakh, the first brand of Premium Dried Apricots from Sham Valley Apricot Producer Cooperative Limited. 100% all natural, with zero chemicals/ preservatives, and directly from the farmers who grow them! 🧡

It’s the perfect little snack, goes well with breakfast and is a good any-time-go-to fix for your sweet craving. Also ideal for festival snacking and wedding season

AND – they are now live on our website!
What are you waiting for? > WWW.LITTLELOCAL.IN

18/08/2020

Love love love how this labour of love has come together so beautifully! ❤️
Filmed and conceptualised by , stunning graphics by , this is a mini-docu series featuring our work in Ladakh with on and more!
Sharing some stunning frames and visuals in our stories, episodes to follow soon! Stay tuned! 😍

17/10/2019

Yayy! Our with made it to the long list for IRTA 2020 - Best Social Impact Project!
Fingers crossed for the next round! 🤞🙏😊

with
・・・
A big thank you to everyone who took the time out to apply for ! We were thrilled to see all the good work you’re doing! So here it is... the much awaited LONGLIST for !
Those who didn’t make it to the LONGLIST this year, please know that you probably missed it by a whisker! Do come back next year and tell us about the wonderful things you’re continuing to do. All the best!

27/07/2019

It’s a good day to read the papers 🙂
Thanks Hindustan Times Cafe for featuring us!

27/07/2019

In today's Mint Lounge
This is the Kargil you need to know more about

Twenty years after the 1999 war, locals and the administration are working to change the war narrative that has long stuck to this district in western Ladakh.Lounge travels to four community-run museums set up to preserve Kargil’s rich cultural heritage

22/06/2019

ZBAYUL - THE INVISIBLE VILLAGE
Project Zbayul is a sustainable livelihood initiative by and .local in partnership with the community of Henasku village in Kargil-Ladakh.
This summer we collaborated with where 35 students of architecture and design worked with the community and helped curate and set up a community-owned museum that focuses on the life, history and culture of Henasku and its people.
If you ever happen to be in Ladakh, you know where to make a stop :) come visit the museum and live in traditional village homestays and experience the warmth and hospitality of the local people and learn about a time long gone!
Located on the main Kargil-Leh highway, it’s a convenient half day visit from Leh/ Kargil but best experienced as at least a couple of days of stay in the village :)
Our integrated village development model aims to strengthen the community by developing homestays, conserving heritage and culture, marketing handicraft and supporting skilling.
Image
Words
@ Kargil Ladakh

26/04/2019

‘We build too many walls and not enough bridges.’ - Joseph Fort Newton

25/04/2019

Cold air. Dark night. Warm fire. And a sky full of stars.
Sometimes this is all we need!
Join us as we go camping into the mighty Great Himalayan National Park next month. We will be living and trekking with the local youth of Shangarh village in Sainj Valley, Himachal Pradesh. They have formed a Village Forest Development Society to protect and conserve their natural heritage, and improve local livelihood.
Come if you love the mountains and wonder how you can do something to protect them! :)
Local partners Sunshine Himalayan Adventures
Dates - May 20 to 25, 2019
Cost - Rs 25,000
Sign up link in bio!
For more details see link in bio! :)
ReRoute. Introducing a series of carefully curated, community-first travel experiences across India. Explore remote places with local communities. And directly support local livelihood. Brought to you by Outlook Responsible Tourism Initiative and Little Local.

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16/04/2019

*Second Summer Trip Announcement*
Where The Roads End!
Do you love the mountains and wonder how you can do something to protect them? Come with us as we spend a week in a remote Himachali village in near wilderness. We will live and trek with trained local youth, and understand how the community is working together to conserve their natural heritage and improve livelihood! Highlights include staying with a local family, trekking and camping under the stars for 2 nights during the week and experiencing first-hand how conservation and livelihood can happen together.
Our partners are Sunshine Himalayan Adventures - and - they have been working in the region for the last 20+ years!
Dates - May 19 to 25, 2019
Cost - Rs 25,000
Sign up link in bio!
For more details, write to us at [email protected] !
ReRoute. Introducing a series of carefully curated, community-first travel experiences across India. Explore remote places with local communities. And directly support local livelihood. Brought to you by Outlook Responsible Tourism Initiative and Little Local.


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14/04/2019

We are in the papers! :D
Thank you Asian Age for featuring us on your responsible travel cover story today!
And thanks for featuring our partners and travellers too!
Ankit Sood Akanksha Pundir Sushma Hegde Sapna Poti Shikha Balakrishnan

https://www.asianage.com/amp/age-on-sunday/140419/towards-conscious-tourism.html

07/04/2019

As a small social travel enterprise, we’ve always looked to India as one of the leading voices in the complex space of responsible travel. They’ve done a whole lot for the eco-system with their initiative and their annual summit has always been a space to share ideas, seek guidance, be inspired, meet old partners and even make new ones!
Today it brings us most happiness to announce we’re collaborating with them to bring to you a series of highly curated, highly bespoke travel workshops! Our most special partners and most special experiences amplified with the Outlook brand and community!
ReRoute - The Way You Travel.
Introducing a series of carefully curated, communities-first travel experiences across India. Explore remote places with local communities. And directly support local livelihood. Brought to you by Outlook Responsible Tourism Initiative and Little Local.
Our first workshop is in Sarmoli, Uttarakhand and just been announced. Next one’s in Himachal and will be announced tomorrow 🙂
Please see our posts for details, do spread the word and most of all - Come along and ReRoute The Way You Travel :)

28/03/2019

It’s nearly weekend and we are thinking of apong - the local rice beer we had in Assam last week!
We were lucky to see it being made, and luckier to sample some :)
Our hosts said it’s local custom to offer apong to all guests, and a sign of mutual respect and friendship to have a drink together. We were of course only too happy to oblige :)
Boiled rice and burnt rice husk are mixed together with local herbs and left to ferment for 15 odd days. What you get at the end is a really nice light sweet-ish drink that tastes more like wine, and less like beer! Some versions can be stronger too.
What are the local brews have you sampled in your travels?
Swipe left to see the lovely grannies who gave us company that evening! @ Majuli - মাজুলী