Sadhana Forest -Kenya

Sadhana Forest takes their expertise from India, on to Haiti, and now is trying to earn support for an upstart project in Kenya. The organization has won a number of rewards for their reforestation efforts and has a proven track record in not only restoring indigenous ecosystems, but also uplifting the local peoples. Sadhana Forest is currently seeking economic contributions to their new project in Kenya by crowdfunding at WeTheTrees.com, the permaculture and sustainability crowdfunding portal. Any and all contributions toward this project are greatly appreciated. Visit their campaign now at:

http://www.wethetrees.com/campaigns/lets-create-a-food-forest-in-north-kenya

In 2011, I visited Tamil Nadu in India while traveling and teaching permaculture. My travels led me to Auroville, the expansive eco-village in Southern India. Because of my interest in restoration and regenerative agriculture, once I was at Auroville, I was directed by many people to go visit Sadhana Forest and meet Aviram and Yorit Rozin.

I was very impressed with how much Sadhana Forest had transformed what was once barren and inhospitable land into quite lush young forest and a thriving community of tree planters and young environmentalists. The feeling of both the community and the environment was beautiful and uplifting, which was very much in contrast to what I experienced in the surrounding villages. And they did all this on a very small budget of donations.

The main activities of Sadhana Forest are:

• Planting the indigenous plants that constitute TDEF, an ecosystem unique to this region, and one that is currently endangered.

• Environmental education for all. They include as many children and young people in the process of ecological revival and sustainable living as we can. Their dream is to create, with their participation, the opportunity for them to experience the original forest of their forebears. For most, it is their first ‘hands-on’ experience in sustainable living, an exciting and transformative experience for them.

Sadhana Forest is currently running a young mirror project in Haiti, and having great success with it, so when I heard that they were trying to fundraise to start a project in Kenya, I was joyful that their systems and mentality were spreading to yet another continent. But, to make this happen, the organization needs to raise a fairly large sum of money. If you are interested in checking out the campaign to raise some of this money, please do visit their campaign and consider giving, or at least sharing the link with your friends.

In the words of the Aviram, the founder of Sadhana Forest:

Deforestation, food security, drought, climate change and land conservation are serious issues facing many parts of the globe. These environmental issues threaten the well being of people in those areas as well as the natural ecosystems. Tackling such involved and interconnected issues takes enormous effort and a forward thinking strategy.

Sadhana Forest is attempting to right these issues by finding innovative ways to support the local rural villages. It turns out that growing drought resistant food-bearing trees could be the ideal solution for the problem. Planting indigenous tree species will provide multiple benefits. By retaining water and filling the aquifer, Sadhana Forest allows the villagers to cultivate their food and prevents exodus towards nearby city slums.  he forest will also absorb carbon from the air and fix it into the soil as calcium carbonate (limestone). This permanent sequestration of carbon is very important in view of global warming.

Most recently, Sadhana Forest - Kenya has plans to create an indigenous forest in the Samburu district of Kenya. The forest of indigenous, food-bearing trees will help provide long-term food security to the Samburu people. Working together with thousands of Samburu families, Sadhana Forest - Kenya is looking to reduce foreign dependency, improve the local environment, and provide a consistent source of nutritious food.

By setting up a large tree nursery with local, food-bearing trees, and training the local community in tree planting and water conservation, the area will be transformed into a healthy, diverse eco-system and the Samburu will be able to lead a healthy, self-sustaining life.

Sadhana Forest won the third place at the Humanitarian Water and Food Award (WAF) in 2010, validating its achievements in India and Haiti. We now hope to contribute to creating forests and food security in Kenya.

Consider giving to this very worthwhile and reputable organization for their expansion into Kenya. They grow more than trees, they grow a healthy a beautiful future.

Visit their campaign now:

http://www.wethetrees.com/campaigns/lets-create-a-food-forest-in-north-kenya

About the Author of this article:

Christian Shearer is the founder of Panya Project Educational Center in northern Thailand and has been practicing tropical permaculture for eight years. He is an international permaculture design teacher and consultant, traveling and teaching extensively throughout Asia to share and learn in those places. He most recently embarked on the process of starting permaculture's first and only crowdfunding portal dedicated to the upliftment of permaculture and sustainability on this planet, WeTheTrees.com.