{"id":1698,"date":"2020-03-09T12:11:55","date_gmt":"2020-03-09T12:11:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviuk.org\/?p=1698"},"modified":"2021-02-23T18:49:52","modified_gmt":"2021-02-23T18:49:52","slug":"update-from-the-acres-for-auroville-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviuk.org\/news\/update-from-the-acres-for-auroville-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"Update from the Acres for Auroville campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"
On August 15th, the Acres for Auroville Land Campaign kicked off its sixth year as a collaborative action of Lands for Auroville Unified (LFAU) with the worldwide centres of Auroville International. Guided by The Mother\u2019s words \u2013 \u201cA harmonious collective aspiration can change the course of circumstances\u201d \u2013 we have worked hard to create awareness of and resources for the urgent need to purchase the still missing land in Auroville\u2019s designated Master Plan area.
\nApproximately 1,000 donors from Auroville, the Ashram, India and all around the world have donated to support the A4A action. The majority are repeat donors \u2013 and Auroville\u2019s 50th anniversary brought particularly encouraging support! For the past five years, Unity Pavilion, in conjunction with A4A and AV Arts, has hosted the Art for Land exhibition and fundraiser whose proceeds go to A4A. Other solidarity has come from initiatives of Auroville units \u2013 Visitors Center, CSR, Upasana, Joy Community\u2019s Healing Festival, marathon market contributors, and Maroma Candles. The book 50 Poems from Auroville was created by Vikas and funded by AVI UK to support A4A. And thanks to AuroImage, we have a rich collection of original films and clips. Yes, solidarity works and, yes, together, we can change circumstances!
\nAnd mainly, we thank the land donors! According to the Land Board, donations to Acres for Auroville and LFAU have made possible the purchase of 52 acres of previously missing land since A4A\u2019s beginning. These new plots have provided the space for vital infrastructure, afforestation, food growing and activities that contribute to Auroville\u2019s continuing leadership in ecology. Here are some of the results as reported by the land stewards on the new plots purchased thanks to our supporters\u2019 solidarity.<\/p>\n
Auroville\u2019s farming boosted<\/strong><\/p>\n Food sustainability is a basic need and the donations have enabled the purchase of significant acres of new farmland. Siddhartha Farm is one of the beneficiaries, as the A4A funds have enabled the purchase of extra plots for the farm. It is one of Auroville\u2019s oldest farms, started by Herbert in 1995, and located on the fertile plain near Irumbai Lake. Using experimental, organic and traditional methods, Siddhartha grows paddy rice, bananas, pulses, grams, nuts and sugar cane, and has food-processing units for making cashew butter, groundnut butter and organic jaggery (raw sugar syrup). One of Siddhartha\u2019s major goals is helping Auroville achieve self-sufficiency in its need for rice, with two harvests a year possible due to the availability of water. For the new plots, digging and laying in water pipes was the first task undertaken along with building a temporary thorny fence and creating access to the main road. Herbert writes: \u201cI remember three years ago when we met at the farm with Sigrid and had a collective dream to integrate this land for Auroville. It feels unrealistic that this dream has come true. We invite you to have more unrealistic collective dreams for a better future!\u201d Tree planting on new land equals water<\/strong><\/p>\n Many new donation-funded plots are located in the collectively managed NFA sanctuary forest (Northern Forests of Auroville) which comprises eight stewarded greenbelt blocks. In line with Auroville\u2019s tradition of green leadership, the sanctuary aims to establish a protected forest, and collectively manage it for posterity. The new plots have provided welcome new land for this goal. According to Kamataru steward Rishi, \u201cOur climate is the result of the extent and quality of our forests. Forests are, in fact, water. The health of our aquifers is directly connected with the health of our watersheds which are directly correlated with the health and extent of the forests on them. Unless we recreate sufficient surfaces of land covered with protected forest, we will not be able to replenish the aquifers nor be able to change the climate.\u201d Additionally, the NFA is meant as a diverse wildlife breeding ground and preservation area for nearly-extinct indigenous species through the creation of a closed evergreen forest canopy over as much land as possible.<\/p>\n
\nAnother farm that has benefited from new donation-funded land is Kalpavruksha, stewarded by Ramesh. Also located in the Irumbai catchment area, the good water availability enables it to grow cereals, sesame, sugar cane and rain-fed vegetables. It aims to promote biodiversity by cultivating endangered food such as varieties of bananas and animal species, like indigenous hens and native fish. And just this past September, Auroville\u2019s Land Board announced the happy news of more new land purchased in the Irumbai area, thanks to supporters\u2019 donations.<\/p>\n