SadhanaForest

We are an international water conservation and reforestation project active in three continents. We are a community of volunteers and welcome volunteers and visitors year round. We work on indigenous reforestation, food security and various other projects. As a community we practice ecological restoration, veganism, gift economy, natural learning and simple sustainable off-the-grid living.
We engage in seva (selfless service) for about 25-35 hours a week. Our seva primarily consists of reforestation and water conservation, as well as general tasks that sustain the project as a whole.

Our dynamic community is composed of people of all ages and backgrounds, from all over the world. We have found that living and sharing in a communal atmosphere brings us into harmony with nature and with ourselves; as one of our community members commented when she left, "May there be many forests to grow people.”

We welcome and accept everyone who wishes to get involved with us, any time of year, and we always have plenty of space available and plenty of work to do! You do not need to have a background in forestry or water conservation in order to enjoy and participate in our seva (selfless service).

We practice an eco-friendly way of life including veganism, alternative construction, solar energy, biodegradable toiletries, compost toilets and conscious consumption. In Sadhana Forest we eat a pure vegan diet, which means no animal products from living or deceased animals. We eat fruits, vegetables, whole-grain brown and red rice, millets, herbs, spices, beans, and dal, and source as much as is possible from local and regional organic farms.

All volunteers are asked not to smoke cigarettes (including both local “bidis” and electronic cigarettes), use drugs, or drink alcohol, inside or outside of Sadhana Forest, during their entire stay! This guideline helps us always to remain fully aware of our behavior and maintains our personal health, safety and security. It is also our way of supporting those who would like to live a life free of these substances. Only come to Sadhana Forest if you are 100% sure that you are able and willing to completely respect this request. Volunteers who do not respect this guideline will be immediately instructed by the Project Director to leave Sadhana Forest for at least 6 months.