Dear Forest Friends,

The Eco-Cycle Yatra continues in our neighboring village of Kasipalayam!  The Yatra has created some beautiful new friendships. On Saturday morning a group of children, teenagers and adults from Kasipalayam visited Sadhana Forest for our Chanting and Planting. Our neighbors took part in tree planting activities and stayed for breakfast. The children asked questions about our current generating stationary bicycles and then volunteered to cycle for a half hour. It was a very helpful exchange.

On Sunday, our long term volunteer Raja, gave a recycled-material jewelry making workshop in Kasipalayam for children and adults alike.  Over 20 people from the village joined Raja in making jewelry from coconuts, recycled paper and other reusable materials.

Yesterday, 8 volunteers from Sadhana took bicycles, a few jute bags and rakes and rode to Kasipalayam. When we arrived, a small group was weeding an area and asked for our help.  Other Yatra volunteers started collecting garbage around the temple.

Soon after we arrived, we were invited to see a garden in the back of a home where a lot of plastic waste had accumulated. We worked to clean that area and remove the trash. When we were finished our neighbors offered us fresh Mosambi  (local orange) and drinking coconuts from their garden.

We then continued to walk and visit other neighbors, joining together with a group of young people in front of one house and talking with children who just returned from school. We are continuing our anti-plastic and rubbish message throughout our visits. Come and join our next Eco-Cycle Yatra and sharing every Monday at 4 p.m.!

Love, Light, and Sweet Limes

To Past, Present and Future Eco-Cycle Yatra-ites and all Forest Friends:

Monday, marked our third weekly Eco-Cycle Yatra. We once again put on our Khadi scarves, turned up our kick stands and visited our neighbors in Kasapallayam, a village in close proximity to Sadhana Forest.

Photo By - Myrtille

Last week, after working together to help clear a small waste site, the villagers invited us to return and help clean the local temple.

Our group this week was infused with great volunteer energy. 5 people who had never been on an Eco-Cycle Yatra before came to Sadhana and took part in the communal activities.

Our great friends, Mani and Ashok, helped lead the discussions about waste accumulation and health risks. Many villagers and participants of the Eco-Cycle Yatra worked together gathering waste. At the end of the evening we invited the villagers to come to Sadhana Forest on Saturday morning for Chanting and Planting.

We look forward to our next Yatra on Monday, November 2 – and hope you can also join us.

Love, Light and Lots of Jute Bags-

David

Greetings and  warmth to Sadhana Land,

Earlier this week, we went on our second Eco-Cycle Yatra, with family, friends and volunteers.

After our unity circle participants traveled by foot and bicycle, to Kasipalayam where we continued our community sharing and environmental work with our neighbors. Last week during our first Eco-Cycle Yatra, we were shown a small land fill that posed a serious health risk due to its proximity to a well. During our visit, together with many residents of the village we used our volunteer energy, rakes and jute bags to help clean up some of the waste. 8 huge jute bags full of trash were collected, sorted and taken to recycling. The feeling of working together was great!!!

Photo Courtesy of Igor Barinov

Some members of the Eco-Yatra walked the thirty minutes to Kasipalayam from Sadhana Forest. Many Sadhana Forest Volunteers who were not able to join last week due to lack of bicycles were able to join us this time by foot. The walking volunteers were lead by Raja, who also made sure all the bicycles were in working condition.

Our team of Tamil and English speakers – Mani, Ashok and Veena helped lead the sharing to facilitate the work.

It was a special day of community building that we will continue next Monday. Come join us on Monday, October 26, for the next Yatra.

David