Program Reviews

Sadhana Forest was the largest volunteering project in which we have participated. We have quite some experience by now in several volunteering projects, and we were even involved in the creation of one, so I understand the challenges of managing such a large scale project, and such a large group of people. I admire the resilience of the project, and the outstanding reforestation and water conservation efforts developed here and in the other locations. I felt much lighter living in a simple and meaningful way, in the middle of the forest, meeting so many interesting and stimulating people who keep offering very interesting free workshops. I feel relieved that the food I eat, the energy I consume and the waste I produce are sustainable, which really frustrates me in my daily life. But the most important thing for me is the environment and care provided for families. It is incredible that such a welcoming place to people from different backgrounds and experiences can provide such a safe and stimulating space for children to freely explore themselves, their relations and surroundings. The families living here are an incredible inspiration. Thus, I warmly recommend it for families!

My experience in Sadhana was great overall, living in the forest for 10 days away from the city and in a vegan friendly environment was amazing. I really loved that.
It is also a great family friendly environment. The long-term volunteers are always available to answer questions and help if needed.
You help around the forest for around 5 hours per day in the morning (+2 afternoons a week) and you get accomodation in private hut for couples and families, or in dormitories for single travelers. You also get three big meals a day: big breakfast with fruits, lunch and dinner.
Beside that, I met incredible people there that I will definitely keep as friends.

Sadhana Forest is a beautiful community. Everyone who comes here seems to be, almost by default, interesting, compassionate people. I'm leaving here with a very full cup, and some heightened aspirations for my own life. Living in community is wonderful, with kids running around and people supporting you on all sides. The focus on sustainability is inspiring, with almost no waste and very little resource consumption. Loved how natural it is here to slip into the habit of being generous and free giving. I would certainly be keen to come back for awhile.

Hi all,
I know Sadhana forest from couple of months back, from one of the traveller and have seen the Chart of food timings were it relates to me in my diet plan.
I had no clue that some day i am going to be in Sadhana forest as a volunteer.before arriving to Sadhana forest its just a glance of direction for me to sadhana forest.
Now I am Sadhana forest and the time schedule is amazing. Here the day starts up with ...
orientation tour about sadhana forest - it's completely with plant based food Vegan, natural way of preparing for compost, chemical free liquids for bathing and clothing.
5:30am morning waking call with melodious song with soothing bell sound.
6:00am all need to be present in common open ground for some morning stretch up exercises.
6:15am 1st seva starts
8:45am to 9:45 Break fast starts with serving to everyone in the community & introduction of the new members. some community announcements.
moment of silence before having breakfast.
9:45 am 2nd seva starts
12:45pm the same procedure happens as mentioned in breakfast.
there will be some 3rd seva for dinner Cooking, cleanup.
Community encourage to feel free and interactive every one.This is place were human gets some sense about other world out of city and completely being with nature and each one is respected.
this place is good to know about Compassion, human values, loving and kind towards animals.
kids are left free to have their way and respected huge
my experience in Sadhana forest is amazing.i really had the good time
feeling to be here as volunteer is a blessed from Forest.
Thank you Sadhana forest.

사다나에서의 첫 날은 정말 힘들었다. 놀러 온 것 만이 아니라 발런티어의 역할을 해야하다보니 낯선 외국인들과 부대끼며 정신적 육체적 피로가 컸다.
하지만 3일 차에 접어들자 사다나 포레스트에 깊이 빠져드는 나를 발견했다. 낯설었던 규칙과 낯선 사람들이 부대끼며 보낸 시간 만큼 편해지고, 사랑스러워졌다. 다양한 국적의 사람들이 모인 덕분에, 어느새 같이 온 한국인 친구랑도 영어로 대화하고 있는 나를 발견했다.
계속 새로운 나를 발견할 수 있었다. 한국에서와는 달리 사다나에서는 ”혼자만의 시간“에 지쳐서 누워버리는 것이 아니라, 그림을 그리고, 새로운 영감을 얻고, 아름다운 소들과 교감하고, 내 몸과 마음이 건강하게 살아있다는 감각을 느낄 수 있었다. 나는 그 느낌이 너무 좋다. 내기 살아있다는 걸 느낄 수 있는 이곳에 오래도록 다시 찾아오고 싶다.
자연과 사람을 좋아하는 사람이라면 이 곳을 좋아할 것이라고 믿는다. 망설이고 있는 사람이 있다면 꼭 와보라고 권하고 싶다. 이 좋은 경험을 더 많은 사란들과 나누고 싶다.

대안을 실험하는 일은 언제나 어렵다. 없는 길을 가는 것이기에. 오랜 시간 초심을 잃고 지속하는 것도 쉽지 않은 일이다. 그런데 이렇게 오랜 시간 초심을 잃지 않고 지속해가면서 이만큼 많은 사람들이 드나들고 있다는 것 자체로 의미가 깊다고 생각한다.
아침과 오전에 세바를 하고, 오후에 자유로운 시간과 다양한 커뮤니티 활동을 하는 하루 일과의 구성이 좋다. 다양한 사람들을 만날 기회를 가지면서도, 사다나의 본래 목적을 한 발짝 한 발짝 꾸준히 실현해가는 지속가능한 방식이라고 생각한다.
처음에는 딱딱하고 엄격한 제지가 조금 당혹스럽기도 하였으나, 시간이 지날 수록 왜 이러한 규칙이 있는지 이해하게 되었다.
장기봉사자가 있기는 하지만, 대다수는 8일에서 20일, 길어도 6개월에서 1년 정도 머물기에, 이러한 방식으로 정말 마을을 이루고 살아가기 위해서는 어떻게 해야할까 고민이 든다.

일반적인 여행에서는 이만큼이나 많은 사람들과 교류할 수 없다. 그것이 이곳의 가장 큰 매력인 것 같다. 영어가 유창하지 못하더라도, 함께 땀 흘리고 일하면서 마음을 나누게 된다.

Sadhana Forest captured my attention as an intentional community when I watched a documentary on YouTube as I was browsing through a playlist on sustainable agroforestry, natural farming and permaculture practices. To me, it served as a great example of how conscious practice of the principles of regenerative living can cause transformation in an ecosystem where human beings are living in harmony with nature. I couldn’t wait to experience life at Sadhana Forest first hand. At the nearest possible time where I could make space on my calendar, I decided to pay them a visit. The official website https://sadhanaforest.org/ was a great resource in getting me prepared and oriented. Finding them on Google maps was simple enough, finding my way to Sadhana Forest was a lot more interesting as it’s nestled away outside the city limits of Pondicherry and getting there took me through some villages and deserted paths. All in all, the sight of the tranquil green space of Sadhana Forest cheered me up and so did the signs welcoming visitors in. Over the 3 days that I experienced at Sadhana Forest, some key elements really stood out for me. One of the most important elements was the spirit of service (seva) amongst the group of people who have been staying at and caring for Sadhana forest for years. Their sense of authenticity, compassion, leadership through responsibility and openness to learning, growth & contribute shone through in every interaction with members, volunteers and visitors alike. Another key element was the sense of feeling centered, grounded, connected to nature and people that we felt as we went about contributing in caring for the space: cooking meals for the community, cleaning & feeding cows in the gaushala, planting & caring for native trees, collecting wood for the kitchen stoves and so many more activi that constantly brought the group together. The food here was clean, fresh, organic and prepared with care and it was palpable in the effects I could experience. The impromptu workshops that were held here also brought in a lot of flavour to my experience here. I felt so much more energetic after a day of engaging with the group than I did at the beginning of the day in the city. I would certainly come back here again. And I would recommend that you visit Sadhana Forest if you are interested in sustainability, regenerative living practices, unschooling, volunteering, permaculture and the like.

A volunteer wrote "Let there be more forests to grow people." and this for me is an apt definition for Sadhana Forest and it's people. The sevas are very intense, there is so much work that on somedays it can push you beyond your comfort zones. It takes a lot to grow and maintain a forest, and at the end of the day, in sweaty t-shirts, getting through another day feels very cathartic... I come back to this place every few months, and every single time, I meet amazing people. The conversations that we have here are unlike any other place that I have experienced, it has burst all my bubbles and changed my outlook for life. There are so. many. amazing. people out there, it just blows my mind! Dear reader, if you feel like you want to connect with people who are challenging the system and showing us a way of sustainability, and of kindness to everyone we share this planet with, then this is the place for you.

Je suis resté deux semaines en tant que bénévole à sadhana forest, c'était vraiment une expérience unique qui prônent de belles valeurs comme le véganisme, le minimalisme, le zéro déchet. Le but premier est de planter des arbres et de conserver l'eau.

On se réveil à 6h pour faire quelque étirements et participer à la vie communautaire, certains vont planter des arbres, d'autres vont couper du bois, s'occuper des repas, de l'hygiène des différents lieux. On travaille environ 5h avec une pause pour le petit déjeuner.
L'après midi on est libre, il y a souvent des activités artistiques que les bénévoles proposent. Il y a aussi un mudpool où on peut se baigner, c'est un lieu très apprécié.

Il m'a fallu quelques jours pour m'adapter aux conditions de vie, car même si je savais peu près a quoi m'attendre, c'est différent de le vivre mais au final je m'y suis fait assez vite.

Il y a des bénévoles venant du monde entier, ce qui permet de voyager tout en restant au même endroit.

Je recommande vivement a tout le monde de venir et faire son expérience, la participation est de 600 roupies par jour pour pouvoir payer les repas, ce qui équivaut à 7€ environ.

J'y reviendrai très certainement.

Sadhana Forest to me is a home with open doors. A sustainable vegan community with warm hearts and an intention to engineer compassion in every thought process. A day in Sadhana Forest starts at 6:00am where we join in for the morning circle and then choose our sevas (selfless service). Morning sevas could include planting trees in the forest which is so much fun with our community friends. We dig trenches, discuss about native trees and learn so much from the Forest Manager. Another seva I love is the Gaushala where we have so many cows who are all rescued cows. Feeding and brushing them just brings me so much joy! We shower them with love and care so that we can take away any memory of abuse in their past. Other sevas could include kitchen hygiene and cooking meals for the community where we all sit at the kitchen table chatting away as we help the chef. The meals are completely unprocessed, vegan food that will make you crave for a second and also third serving! After breakfast, we choose sevas that help with the general upkeep of the community, like accomodation, compound, toilet cleaning etc till it's lunch time. Afternoons are mostly relaxed and we hang out with friends, attend fun workshops to learn new things or go for a dip in the amazing mud pool. I personally love to curl up in the hammocks and read for a bit till it's 4:00 pm and delicious vegan tea and laddo is served at our tea hut! I have changed for the better and my life will never be the same again. I will always have Sadhana Forest in my heart wherever life may take me. I urge everyone to pay a visit to understand kinder ways to exist on this planet which is our only home.