Reforestation Volunteer Program in Southern India

The community is the best part of Sadhana Forest. It's a dynamic community centered around compassion and sustainability that expands and contracts all the time. But the friendship and comradery are always constant. It is a place where the east meets the west in perfect harmony. I left my country 44 years ago, and this is the closest I have come to "home." The hardest part is saying goodbye to friends.

Sleeping huts are comfortable and rustic. Made of all natural material. My first impression was Robinson Crusoe's hut. Waking up to the sound of birds is the best part.

The food is great. Plant based whole food. Just my style. The breakfasts are heavenly with so many different types of fruit. Other meals are a mix of internal cuisine depending on the lead cook. No one goes hungry here. Most people socialize during meals. I usually eat mindfully in silence.

Goshala is a unique experience.
"The place of cows." Every cow and bull has their own personality. It can get exciting at times, especially around meal times. Most of them love to be brushed. They actually show you the part that they need brushed. And tell you when they don't like something or when they're done.

The tea hut is the most amazing place. The ambiance is great. It reminds me of the old west. The servers are awesome, too. I jokingly refer to the pair as the cute bar girl and the boundaries. A place to unwind and socialize.

Sadhana embodies the values it stands for.
It reflects in each person, who is residing there, and that's a difficult feat to achieve,
And as the name suggests if you wish to truly let go of the self, and engage in selfless practices it's the right space to be.
Also personally, I have felt disconnected from my body due to the nature of my livelihood and the kind of highly cognitive livestyles we live in. The few days I spent there helped me to stay grounded with my body, and just forget the daily grinds and be attuned to nature at its rawest.

I have learned huge amounts after spending several weeks in the forest and I believe my life has been changed, in big and small ways, because of it.

To start with the big things, I learned, firstly, what it means to function as part of a collective. Everyone works together in selfless service to maintain the community. The result is that no matter how much I give, I always feel like I recieve more. Additionally, I discovered a model for living which doesn't cost the planet. I thought I was already environmentally conscious as a vegan who avoids excess consumption etc. But until coming to Sadhana, I didn't consider the impact of my toilet, my hand and clothes washing facilities, my meal choices, and so much more. (Or if I did consider them, I didn't believe I could implement them as I didn't have a model of people who were living this sustainably). I will not be able to continue many of my lifestyle choices that are taken as a given in England.
Moreover, the story of Sadhana Forest generally inspires me in life. It's hard for me to believe that this thriving community was once just 1 family, and the huge forest was once barren land. Experiecing the impact of a small group of people who wanted to create change gives me hope. Also, knowing this first hand gives me more confidence in myself to do bold actions than if I read about it.
I could go on, but I'll end the 'big things' here.

In terms of smaller things: I've made deep and rich connections, I've gained tons of creative food recipes, I've met all sorts of wonderful forest animals, I've developed lots of budding interests from workshops offered by volunteers, I've become much physically and mentally healthier.

Thank you Sadhana :)

Sadhana Forest is an incredible organisation that isn't just about the indigenous reforestation or water conservation. It is also about a compassionate and sustainable community living!

I got to experience living in a hut built from natural materials like wood, bamboo, coconut leaves, coconut ropes, and stone pillars. I shared this space with like-minded people focused on the environment, veganism, and practicing a conscious lifestyle.

I had never experienced living in a community, especially one inside a forest before, but I am so glad I found Sadhana Forest. It is full of open-minded, non judgemental people who are eager to welcome you into their family. I've learnt that being in a community is more than just sharing the same communal space, it about helping and supporting one another while also building the community together.

From Sadhana Forest I will take away the concept of "seva", which is doing selfless service, and try to practice a more compassionate and conscious lifestyle. I've learnt more than I expected and have grown in ways that I previously didn't even think possible.

May there be more forests to grow people!

Thank you Sadhana Forest for everything!

After one year since I started my project researching Utopian Community and “Humanity”, and marching for Peace and the Planet, I finally arrived in Sadhana Forest in Auroville.

It has been so precious to live in the forest, volunteer for it, and eat non-processed vegan food and meet so many amazing people along the way. I loved every moment despite the hot season. So precious to volunteer for reforestation in a compassionate and kind environment that matches all of my core values.

A place you definitely should not miss!

Sadhana Forest and the team has been an inspiration. I have volunteered in several communities and Sadhana Forest has been one of my best experiences. The volunteers and staff are from all over the world. Some are planning on staying 10 days but end up staying much longer. The work that is done here is so important. I have learned and liked eating vegan and not having any processed foods. When I was here there were a few families playing and even helping out when they could. Everyone tried to include the children in our task or read and played with them. Sadhana Forest is also close to the community of Auroville.
Please come and experience Sadhana Forest first hand.

Sono una mamma che ha scelto la via del natural learning per mia figlia (e anche per me stessa!). Siamo venute a Sadhana Forest mosse dai racconti di altre famiglie che hanno fatto la mia stessa scelta e dal loro entusiasmo rispetto a questo argomento. Ora che siamo qui ho trovato molto più che questo. Oltre a un ambiente molto favorevole per la crescita di bambini (e adulti), mi ha imoressionato molto la cura di ognuna e ognuno in tutte le attività. La foresta ne è un grandioso esempio. Apprezzo tantissimo anche la struttura sociale della comunità che permette di accogliere un enorme quantità di volontari, facendoli diventare e sentire parte della comunità in pochissimo tempo ed è anche super efficente rispetto alle attività da svolgere. Le attività serali sono interessantissime e includono tutte le età. Yànsà è super entusiasta e si è sentita subito a casa. Il ritorno alla natura per noi è stato impattante (già vivemo per alcuni anni in un posto dove spesso dormivamo all'aperto e stavamo nel bosco). Ritornare a questa dimensione ci ha fatto molto bene. Per chi non è abituato magari potrebbe prendere del tempo di adattamento ma poi sentirne l'effetto di ritrovare il proprio posto come esseri umani nella natura è inevitabile. Molto grate alla vita di averci accompagnate in questo posto. Sadhana forest guys state favendo un lavoro amazing ed ancora più amazing che questo progetto sia replicabile e sti portando cibo e vita in altri paesi. Grazie!!! Torneremo presto

English:
am a mother who has chosen the path of natural learning for my daughter (and for myself too!). We came to Sadhana Forest moved by the stories of other families who have made the same choice as me and by their enthusiasm for this topic. Now that we are here I have found much more than that. In addition to a very favorable environment for the growth of children (and adults), I was very impressed by the care of each and every one in all the activities. The forest is a great example of this. I also really appreciate the social structure of the community that allows you to welcome a huge amount of volunteers, making them feel and become part of the community in a very short time and it's also super efficient with respect to the activities to be carried out. The evening activities are very interesting and include all ages. Yànsà is super enthusiastic and immediately felt at home. The return to nature had an impact for us (we already lived for a few years in a place where we often slept outdoors and stayed in the woods). Returning to this dimension has done us a lot of good. For those who are not used to it, perhaps it could take some time to adjust but then feeling the effect of finding one's place as human beings in nature is inevitable. Very grateful to life for accompanying us to this place. Sadhana forest guys you are doing an amazing job and even more amazing that this project is replicable and you are bringing food and life to other countries. Thank you!!! We will be back soon.

I had a great time volunteering at Sadhana forest. Learning a lot about sustainable ways of living, how to Cook vegan food, planting trees in the forest and interacting with likeminded people.
The surrounding of the forest is very plessant and relaxing, and the food that is cooked in the kitchen is delicious and healthy.

I would higly recomend others to come and volunteer if you are corious and want to learn more about alternative and sustainable ways of living.
Thank you for everything sadhana forest!