Auroville’s roots and growth have always been intertwined with afforestation and farming. Over 50 years ago, when Auroville was founded, the area was an eroded, mostly barren desert plateau. Driven to make the harsh conditions more habitable, the early Aurovilians began planting trees. Over time and through intensive experimentation, they developed a profound and unique understanding of how to rebuild an ecosystem. They learned how to prevent erosion and topsoil loss, planted hardy deep-rooting trees to begin, and eventually started seeking out and integrating species native to the Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest, a rare forest type native to the coastal belt of Tamil Nadu.
Today, millions of trees have been planted and the ecosystem has rebounded to an incredible extent. Simultaneous to the afforestation efforts, Aurovilians have developed innovative farming projects using the principles of permaculture and organic whole systems agriculture. They cultivate a wide variety of crops including fruits and vegetables, grains and pulses, spirulina, moringa, bamboo, and hemp. Several farming projects have focused on indigenous edibles like local millets and vegetables, ensuring that these nutritional treasures are not lost in the sweep of modernization.
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Sadhana Forest
Located in Auroville’s Green Belt, with a mission to transform 70 acres of severely eroded, arid land into a thriving forest with indigenous trees and plants
Pitchandikulam Forest Consultants
A pioneering green belt community in Auroville, working to bring back the indigenous forest to the badly-eroded township site
Auroville Tree Care
A team of Auroville-born tree surgeons lead by three ISA certified arborists, which provide professional care for the trees, landscapes and green spaces
Buddha Garden Farm
Growing food organically and sustainably in Auroville
Auroville Bamboo Centre
Offering bamboo construction and furniture training
workshops for all, to promote the cultivation and usage of bamboo
Hemplanet
Aims to transition the international township of Auroville into a hemp-based economy, where farmers, manufacturers, consumers and the environment all reap the benefits
Annapurna Farm
Certified organic farm & dairy of Auroville
Aurospirul
An eco-friendly, social enterprise
that cultivates, processes, and promotes the use of spirulina
