Auroville`s forest is unique:
a regenerating tropical dry evergreen coastal forest,
started on eroded land with pioneers species,
maturing to the original fauna and flora past 50 years.
The foresters live on site, have committed their lives
all indigenous seeds of the region have been collected over the past 40years, and
are documented in a virtual herbarium.
Original wildlife is returning, with protected species of larger mammals, and over 100 bird species,
The forests embedded in a universal township with 3200 people from 59 countries:
A truly unique evolutionary regenerative culture.
Ultimately, we could see research and education of the multifacetted regenerative approach emerge as a "Forest Academy" :
"I definitely see that Auroville`s forests are a unique source of research, for both outside academia as well as for our own interests.This could definitely be worth pursuing." - D., Auroville forester, project manager, Deep Ecology.
We urgently need to fund the consolidation of the land, as now its parceled into 44 forests!
Bridging of land parcels immediately creates "self - regenerating corridors" and enlarges the habitat for protected species in fauna and flora multifold - thus steeply increasing the ecological value of the forest.
You will find attached the "Funding Auroville booklet",(2) made possible with a grant, your donations and a lot of voluntary work! This shortened version will be printed, and handed over to potential donors.
Your continued support is essential to get all this work done, step by step, day by day!
Shanti, a young French lady grown up in Auroville, has joined the team.
Her dynamism plays out in her work in researching foundations, and setting up our admin work!
Our team (l to r)
Ken Vanosky, friend of Auroville, CFO& fundraising, San Francisco
Supriya - Project development
Peter - writer, publications
Sigrid, co-founder - networking
Shanti - admin, foundation data base
Giovanni, business lawyer - grant applications
We are happy to share about our work, and the future developments for Auroville`s regenerative work!
Contact us via info@funding.auroville.org
Whatsapp 9626006961
Greetings from Auroville Funding,
We are in an exciting moment , as a great team of 5 professionals (see the photo) has come together in past months, and now we comprise expertise in townplanning, project development, law, editing, grant writing, and networking. Our team is potent, and our cooperation with those setting up projects to further develop Auroville`s land regeneration is advancing well.
Lets have a look at land and water: For us fundraisers, land purchase priorities certainly relate to water security for the bioregion. Auroville needs to think and plan as a community for water security for the bioregion for next summer, but also for the years ahead.
Aurovilles water expertise is shared widely in the Auroville community. Aurovilles expertise in documenting the water situation in Auroville has been recognised recently by outside agencies. Several Aurovilian experts are involved in water conservation projects in Tamil Nadu already.
The landboard and Aurovilians working with the bioregion and water conservation have a good grasp of ground realities, and prioritised land purchases to gain water security for all of us. Water has no borders!
The urgency is for funding for land purchase as this is a major element for the strategy to take effect in the coming months.
I do hope we can count on your continued support, for a further harmonious flourishing of Auroville with its bioregion.
Learn about our work, and promote it! With the input of Peter, an experienced editor, our fundraising booklet is now finalised! You find it attached as a softcopy.
I believe you will thoroughly enjoy it!
Sigrid, for the Funding Auroville Team
Its the time of year when the Auroville community is brimming with energy, visitors from all over the world come to experience a unique collective approach,a different way of living:
We were graced by the visit of the president of India, Ram Nath Kovind in December.
Another famous visitor is "Indias Waterman" Dr. Rajendra Singh, who came for 2 days and visited the water conservation projects and interacted with Aurovilles water experts, youthlink and public. (See photos)
During winter, Auroville becomes a vibrant campus showcasing a holistic ecological approach: 50 years of organic farming, afforestation work radiating out to Southern India and beyond, water conservation and solar energy projects, waste reduction education, upcycling, EM based cleaning agents and water regeneration products, soil regeneration etc etc...
So many aspects of regenerative work can be experienced, studied and practiced right here and now:
Courses in Permaculture are offered at Solitude Farm and Joy of Impermance Community, The Comm4Unity 1 months course was offered by Youthlink (connected to GEN, Global Eco Village Network). A 6 months horticulture course organised by Botanical Garden is well under way, and a 2nd edition planned.
People visiting experience the forest and farms on Sundays green walks, can join trainings in tree house construction by a group of young Aurovillian professionals, or simply enjoy deliciously prepared organic food in one of the farm restaurants, or "made in Auroville" organic Icecreams and Chocolates.
An amazing wealth of ecological expertise and application of the regenerative approach is happening here all at once.
However, we very urgently needs to secure, to consolidate the land, the base for this unique campus:
Today over 60 % of Auroville´s greenbelt land still needs to be purchased!
Auroville, and its 48 outreach projects, work on a holistic solution for all - the 100 000 people in the bioregion are part and parcel of all our steps. In 50 years we have grown together. Only by securing water and land can we safeguard Auroville`s and the bioregions florishing development.
Please donate for land purchase for Auroville!
A unique collective attempt to trace the future for humanity.
Dear
I am happy to give you an update from "Empowering the future" !
We manage to continue to work as we got 3 new volunteers joining! Rishi, Peter and soon Allan are joining our team with skills in consultantcy for fundraising for non profits in India, in writing and editing articles about Aurovilles amazing expertise in regeneration work, and in green townplanning and project management. Together with Supriya, who is professional in sustainability and project development, and longtermer Sigrid coordinating the team, we have an amazing possibility to call for funding, and receive funds to effectively expand Auroville land regeneration.We are preparing several land projects and will send these to you soon!
A great project reaching out with Auroville`s green expertise is
"Be the change" - is a new program in horticulture
a 6 month training program in Horticulture organised by the Auroville Botanical Gardens.
Several Aurovilians and collaborators from the region bring in their expertise, as the training goes into all aspects of plant biology and ecosystems and places an emphasis on practical hands-on experiences. Participants will also gain knowledge through site visits, ranging from Eco-restoration projects around Auroville and ecosystems in different sites in Tamil Nadu.
The participants in the Ecological Horticulture Course are to create a new generation of professionals who are competent to lead teams in the field engaged in practical work. The participants may expect to find employment as project managers for Eco-restoration and conservation projects; as supervisors in commercial landscaping companies and horticultural departments, or be ready to set themselves up as independent businesses in the world of conservation.
The lecturers have many years of experience in the fields of horticulture, landscaping, forestry, biology and project management, as well as a deep concern for the conservation and restoration of natural habitats. Their aim is to impart the knowledge and experience that they have gained throughout a lifetime of working on the land.
The participants will gain knowledge on plant maintenance, propagation and composting techniques; the proper care and use of tools and machinery; as well as landscaping, report writing, nursery management and fundamentals of Eco-restoration and afforestation. Certification is given at the end of the 6-months course.
Auroville has such a unique international expertise in regenerative work in all areas! We need to preserve and develop its base, the land! Please donate !
We are competing for bonus prices for another 2 days! Donate now!
Dear friend and supporter,
We had very little funds in past months - but we, a team of 5, continue to work every day to raise the funds for Auroville`s land its regeneration projects - as a model for the future for the earth and humanity. Our team is expanding since March 2019 with 3 professionals: Supriya, Prajnya and Balvinder, adding an amazing expertise in international & financial law, accounting and project management!
Past months we have established a good cooperation with the Auroville groups coordinating farm and forest activities, in order to create a good reporting and organisational structure to evolve a best practices model for use of funding.
We have organised and videod a day long "open mike for projects" to stimulate good project writing, and are now creating videos to use for fundraising: you will see those soon!
You find research & demosites on the 24 organic farms on https://fundingauroville.org/land/
Today we would like to feature Krishna McKenzie from Auroville`s Solitude Farm,
Krishna is promoting "Natural Farming" and "Permaculture" , 2 philosophies of organic farmingm since a decade in Auroville, where he practices and teaches his workshops! The founder of Natural Farming, the Japanese Masanobu Fukuoka ("Rice Straw Revolution") has visited Auroville end of the 80`s. Fukuokas exceptional work, is continuing in Auroville with a group around Bernard LeClerq, Deepika Kundaji and Krishna McKenzie. Surprisingly, Krishnas approach to "Do you know where your food comes from" has gotten amazing media attention in the Tamil Nadu Media in past months: Krishna presents, speaking in Tamil language, in numerous TV shows, often together with his wife Deepa. You find a short english video of TedEx talk of Krishna in Links.
Auroville`s message for regenerative work spreads in unexpected ways!
We do need your support to make it happen "on the ground"!
We urgently need to secure priority plots of land, to sustain and expand the regenerative work Auroville has done for the past 51 years! We need to safeguard the water for Auroville`s pilot projects in water efficient organic farming, and for the population of the bioregion!
On July 18th is a day of matching grants!
It starts at 9:00 a.m. ET US, Globalgiving gives "first come - first serve" matching funds for donations of $100 and above. The higher the donation, the higher the match
We hope you are with us, and will send a short reminder on July 17th !
Links:
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