In this short video by The Better India you will see the transformation of a denuded and rocky land transition into an abundant food forest in 6 years that today grows about 70% of all its food through thoughtful regenerative design using Permaculture and Agroforestry principles.
swaYYAm is a not-for-profit registered as a Trust with the government of India. We work toward thoughtfully building resilient local communities by increasing capacities for self-reliance.
swaYYam is a collective of educators, farmers, natural builders, artists, and other talented team members
swaYYam’s Open Shell Farm is located in Yelachatti village, on the edge of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve National Park in state of Karnataka, India
All Events are currently suspended due to COVID 19. Please check back for updates
With Open Shell Farm, we began our work in year 2014 on the ecological regeneration of a small piece of barren and degraded land located next to the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in the hills of the Western Ghats.
The 1000 Tree Project was started in response to the drought of 2016 when we saw large scale cattle deaths in our area. Deforestation and failed monsoons combined with chemical farming, soil erosion, overgrazing and plummeting groundwater supplies created a downward spiral for the community living here.
Rangaayana is an effort in reviving dying Indian traditions of folk-lore, music and dance – our ancient ways of passing wisdom & knowledge.
“The project aims to maintain the integrity of the local ecology – social and environmental – and integrate sustainability in every decision. The goal is to design and build capacities and self-reliance within the community and the individual as well. For life to have meaning and longevity one cannot separate the outer world with the inner world. They are inextricably connected.”
