Āranya

Farm | Forest | Environment

Context

Vital components of a self sustaining life – native cattle, native grain and vegetable seeds, extensive green cover and biodiversity are in all in grave danger of extinction within this coming generation. This historical horizon we inhabit represents an irreplaceable loss of associated traditional knowledge, traditional culture, and bio-diversity.

Today 9 in 10 farmers grow lab produced strains of rice instead of using saved seeds as is usually done. Of the 1,00,000 varieties that were grown in India, only 6000 remain with numbers dwindling every year. Of the over 100 breeds of cattle that walked our land only half remain. The situation with vegetables is equally dire. Today we would be hard pressed to find a single farmer who saves seeds for the next growing season. We are losing hundreds of nutrient dense species.

With development and the diversion of agricultural land and commons for infrastructure and housing, trees are being mercilessly removed without any replanting plan. Once areas dense with greenery with rich, fertile soil are now becoming bad lands with no growth and layers of rubble. Commons that were once areas of dense foliage and bio diversity are now laid with cement. Ground water levels are decreasing, increase in air and water pollution is only a few years away. 

Focus on these fundamental components will ensure clean air, water and food for all .

Ecology & Tradition in Action

Propagate, Save & Distribute Seeds & Saplings

  • Consciously steward land on Vilvam campus and Balambika Sanctuary. 
  • Propagate, save and distribute varieties of native rice grain.
  • Propagate, save and distribute varieties of native keerai/greens and vegetable seeds.

Nurture Native Cattle & Promote Traditional Agricultural Practices

  • The Balambika Sanctuary House and protect native cows and bulls in a Goshala in partnership with the Balambika Sanctuary. 
  • Help farmers observe the relative ease in nurturing native cattle
  • Promote Traditional
  • Agricultural Inputs.

Create Nandavanams / Mini Forests in Villages

  • With the permission and cooperation of local authorities, we grow mini-forests and sacred groves on common lands, temple premises, lakes, ponds, catchment areas, and government school grounds across the 25 villages we serve.
  • Revive traditional Ecological Knowledge
  • Establish the community as caretakers of the commons again.
Vegetable seeds preserved in the seed bank
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Vegetable seeds preserved in the seed bank
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Rare rice varieties cultivated
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Native cow breeds are cared for in the Goshala.
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Mini forest/ Nandavanam nurtured
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