ORGANIC FOOD-GROWING

To promote healthy and sustainable food-growing methods and protect both the public health and the natural environment, Dharmalaya Institute is working with local villagers to create model organic gardens, and is transforming part of its campus into a showcase for natural edible landscaping.

WHY ORGANIC?

The dangers of using unnatural chemical insecticides, herbicides, and fertilisers are many and severe. When one investigates these issues thoroughly, it is clear that, moving forward, the only wise and sustainable choice for society is to grow all food organically.

BENEFITS

Human health: Safe, pesticide-free foods that are richer in nutrients thanks to healthier soil.

Animal health: Protect wildlife from illness and death.

Water health: Preserve the soil’s natural function to purify groundwater.

Farmer safety: Protect farmers from harmful chemicals that cause serious diseases.

Biodiversity: Clean air, water, and soil helps preserve biodiversity and the balance of nature.

Money savings: Organic food-growing is far less expensive than chemical agriculture.

It tastes better! There’s a reason that top chefs choose organic produce!

The edible landscape is one of the most efficient uses of land because it provides aesthetics, social space, and sustenance at the same time. It saves money while improving human health, creating beauty, and protecting the natural environment.

EDIBLE GARDENS

The basic idea of the edible landscape is that the built environment (our natural buildings) can be complemented by a cultivated environment (landscape design) that provides not only beauty and function but also food. Imagine that you walk out of your home and the path leading from your door is lined with various visually appealing plants and trees that provide not only pleasing shapes, colours, textures and scents, but also food that you can simply pick and eat. In such a place, one can walk outside and forage for a snack, a meal, an herbal infusion, or a medicinal remedy.

ORGANIC FARMING AT DHARMALAYA INSTITUTE

Education through hands-on training

It’s one thing to hear someone talk about organic alternatives, and another to experience it on a stroll through a thriving, high-yield organic garden and see (and taste) the immense potential for oneself. ‘Show me, don’t tell me’ is the most effective educational method in our region, and the best way to learn something is to do it oneself first and then help others do it. Accordingly, Dharmalaya Institute offers experiential education programmes in high-yield organic farming . We also provide well-paid on-the-job training for local village labourers willing to commit the time to work for the project.

OUR ORGANIC FOOD-GROWING PROGRAMMES

Dharmalaya Institute frequently offers workshops and courses in various aspects of organic food-growing, including permaculture courses, organic gardening workshops, tree-panting volunteer periods, and more. See our Upcoming Programmes for details.

Those with the most passionate interest may wish to consider our Internship in Permaculture and Organic Gardening, a residential service-learning and on-the-job-training programme for people interested in how to achieve harmonious relationships between the built environment (shelter), the cultivated environment (gardens/farms/orchards), and the natural environment. For details, see this page.

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."
— Marcus Tullius Cicero