Three Inspirational Decades of Vanvadi by Patrichia Dcruze

“Whatever is born out of the soil needs to go back to the soil!”

 A Journey of Ecological Regeneration

Vanvadi, now 30 years old, is a thriving collective initiative in ecological regeneration – of forest, biodiversity, soil and water. The seeds of this venture were sown long before the land at Vanvadi, clear-felled of trees a year earlier, was collectively purchased in 1994, largely from two big land owning families. For four years prior to that, a group of passionate individuals, motivated by the ideals of sustainability and natural living, searched for the right piece of land where they could give shape to their vision. The search culminated in the acquisition of 65 acres of land, but the journey toward co-creating Vanvadi began earlier, rooted in a history of activism, awareness, and ecological exploration.

Over 36 years ago, the journey started for two of the founders with the launching of Earthcare Books, a unique bookstore and publishing house. This bookstore was not just a place to buy books, but also a platform for social dialogue. Along with the bookstore, an illustrated wall magazine and newsletter, called “Writing on the Wall” was launched, serving as a convivial medium for discussing critical issues of the time. The first edition of the wall-magazine in 1986 – pinned on a large bill-board – took on the looming threat of nuclear armaments, addressing the tension surrounding the U.S. ramping up armament production during the 1980s.

From there, the focus shifted to environmental concerns. Inspired by the release of “The State of India’s Environment” by the Centre for Science and Environment, the second ‘issue’ of ‘Writing on the Wall’ focused on raising awareness about environmental problems in India. It sparked conversations on the urgent need for ecological alternatives. This then became the subject for the third issue of ‘Writing on the Wall’. Gradually, the bookstore became a hub for diverse discourse, hosting book releases and events that centred around socio-environmental issues and sustainable living; also cultural gatherings of music, poetry, story-telling, …

One of the early transformative moments came with the reading of a book that would shape the next phase of this journey: ‘The One-Straw Revolution - an Introduction to Natural Farming’, written by the Japanese natural farmer, Masanobu Fukuoka. Originally a scientist, Fukuoka had turned to ancestral farming, advocating for a low-intervention, non-chemical method that harmonised with nature, rather than manipulating it. His work, initially slow to spread, gained international acclaim once translated into English, eventually being translated into 60 languages, including 6-7 vernacular Indian languages! This book had a profound impact on some of the founders of Vanvadi, serving as their first exposure to the philosophy and practice of natural farming.

1989 saw the publication of *Ecological Vision: Exploring Alternatives for Co-evolution*, which explored the possibility of humans and nature evolving in harmony. The publication covered an array of topics — air, water, food, farming — with a special focus on organic agriculture. It also included a networking guide, listing over 100 people already practicing or promoting organic farming. Prior to the ‘Green Revolution’ in the 1960s, almost all of Indian agriculture was ‘organic-by-default’, with only a miniscule fraction using chemical farming methods. *Ecological Vision* was an effort to bring attention back to sustainable agricultural practices. One of the acclaimed articles was on the outstanding, veteran natural farmer, Bhaskar Save.

In 1990, a significant ‘National Gathering on Natural Farming and Natural Living’ took place in Bordi, a small educational town in northern coastal Maharashtra. Over three hundred people from across India came together for three days to discuss and explore alternatives in farming, health, and lifestyle. It was during this time that a few more founders of Vanvadi met Bhaskar Save, who would later become their mentor or guru on matters of natural farming and ecology. 

By 1994, a core group of four individuals expanded to over 24 members in just two months after their first visit to the land they ultimately bought. They first called it ‘Vision Acres’, and later, renamed it ‘Vanvadi’,  ‘Van’ meaning forest, and ‘Vadi’ meaning small village. The set of basic guidelines they adopted were: no use of agro-chemicals; maintaining minimum 50%  tree cover; water conservation; biodiversity regeneration; and ‘ecological audit’ as the prime guiding principle –  to ensure that their presence on the land contributed positively to its regeneration. They also listed “fair dealings with local people,” and simple lifestyles, prioritizing basic needs over commercial considerations. 

Vanvadi was never intended to be a speculative venture. Members could leave the collective, but their rights could only be transferred to someone within the group, or a new member, approved by at least one-third of the group, ensuring continuity in its vision and purpose. 

The second part : The Emergence of Vanvadi Forest Ecoversity as a Learning Hub