A Journey of Ecological Regeneration and Sensitization

Vanvadi, now 30 years old, began as a collective initiative in ecological regeneration. 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.

The seeds of Vanvadi were first planted in 1990 during a ‘National Gathering on Natural Farming and Natural Living’, held in Bordi, north coastal Maharashtra. Over 300 participants explored sustainable farming, health, and lifestyle alternatives, setting the stage for connections that would shape Vanvadi’s future. It was here that several founders encountered Bhaskar Save, who became their mentor in 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. Initially called ‘Vision Acres,’ it was renamed ‘Vanvadi’—combining ‘Van’ (forest) and ‘Vadi’ (small village). The founding principles included prohibiting agro-chemicals, maintaining at least 50% tree cover, conserving water, and promoting biodiversity to ensure positive impacts. Ethical dealings with locals and prioritization of simple, need-based living over commercial pursuits were also central values.

Vanvadi was never meant to be a speculative project. Members could exit the collective, but their rights could only be transferred to existing or new approved members, safeguarding the project’s vision and continuity.

The ‘Core Group’ of Vanvadi members includes: Vinita & Bharat Mansata, Sarita & Ganesh Nochur, Divya Bhatia, Sraddha Mansata, Mona Patrao, Rashmi Palkhivala, and Phiroze Palkhivala, authorized by the larger group of members.

The Emergence of Vanvadi as a Learning Hub

Vanvadi gradually evolved as a non-formal “eco-versity,” focused on ecological awareness, sustainable living, and natural farming. The transformation began about seven years ago with the construction of a community house, replacing the small, simple hut they had dwelt in. This allowed them to host more workshops, camps and educational programmes.

One of Vanvadi’s hallmark events, the Van Utsav (Forest Festival), has now been held for 19 years. Hosted annually in October, the Van Utsav is a “multi-generational, open agenda celebration of nature and community”, with workshops, activities and discussions volunteered by the participants themselves. The ethos of shared, collective responsibility has been central to the Vanutsav gatherings and other events held at Vanvadi.

While earlier, the workshops and gatherings at Vanvadi were occasional, and only for a few days each, it was in 2021 that the name ‘Vanvadi Forest Ecoversity’ was first adopted. This marked the launching of a three-month educational programme with the joint participation of a dozen or so local, village youngsters, and an equal number of urban youth. A few of the Vanvadi members themselves served as resident teachers/facilitators. Over the weekends, external resource people were also invited to share their expertise on diverse subjects, including: natural farming, rainwater harvesting, diversity of flora and fauna, eco-friendly construction, sustainable livelihoods, etc. During such weekends, others who were not part of the 3-month programme, were allowed to attend as well.

In more recent years, weekend workshops have been held fairly regularly at Vanvadi. Twice or thrice each year, it has also hosted work camps – for making fire-breaks, planting trees, and building small earth-bag check dams. In November, 2024, a hands-on workshop focused on constructing a mud house. From January 5 to 12, 2025, an eight-day course will be held on ‘Agro-ecology, Natural Farming and Permaculture’, featuring several experienced teachers and guest lecturers. All such events are generally announced on the website (www.vanvadi.in) and social media platforms.

Learners, Pedagogies & Research

Vanvadi attracts learners of diverse age groups, including children, youth, middle-aged and senior citizens, though most are young, urban adults between 20 and 50. A significant part of their learning is experiential, with a lasting visceral impact beyond the cerebral. Encounters and observations on the forest trail leave lingering memories. Much is learnt through walks, talks and shared work – life’s ‘humble, invisible pedagogies’.

The workshops and courses at Vanvadi strive to balance structure and spontaneity. While these have often been in English, those in Marathi or Hindi – on farming, water, forest, biodiversity – have attracted the participation of the local, tribal youth as well. Now, some of the youngsters are themselves inspired to promote the path of ecological regeneration with their fellow village youth.

Based on the indigenous knowledge of local adivasi elders – and supported by numerous researched, published references – a thick box-file of (ongoing) documentation of forest species has been compiled, titled ‘The Botanical Wealth of Vanvadi’. Some research and documentation has also been done on the fauna of Vanvadi. Enhancing groundwater recharge and rainwater harvesting as surface storage are encouraging results of ‘action-research’ over many years. Groundwater recharge has mainly been through enhanced forest cover and the resulting absorbent quality of the forest floor. The harvesting of rainwater as surface storage bodies has been through low-cost earthworks like small check dams built with onsite rocks. How to check the spread of summer forest fires, has been learnt by hands-on doing, guided by senior local adivasis. This entails clearing broad strips of dry leaf litter on the forest floor – to cut off the spread of ‘carpet fires’. Sustainable house construction with locally available materials has also been largely learnt through engagement, supported by experienced guidance.

Vanvadi would like to evolve further into a broader based, collaborative alliance and community, aspiring to live in harmony with nature and fellow humans; and learning how to do so in multi-faceted ways.

The vital themes that land-based learning communities urgently need to explore are: checking soil erosion and degradation; enhancing vegetation, bio-diversity, fertility and absorption/storage of rain; progressive self-reliance in growing food and building a home; diverse ecologically sustainable and satisfying livelihoods; convivial self-governance and effective resolution of inter-personal conflicts.

Wholesome food, abundant clean water, fresh air, comfortable homes, peaceful surroundings, natural ambience, supportive relationships, creative fulfilling work, … are all basic human needs. How to meet them in harmony with nature and fellow humans, remains the core challenge of our churning times. This is why it is important for urban youth to learn afresh from the forest and nature. Even mainstream universities and institutions will need to address this challenge, sooner rather than later.

The Rebirth of the Forest

Over the past three decades, the land has regenerated remarkably into a dense, tall forest, teeming with bio-diverse life forms, and more than 80,000 trees!

The forest is now home to over 120 traditionally recognized useful species of plants, 52 of which provide edible forest foods at different times of the year. Mangoes, Jambul, Mahua. and berries like Karvanda (Carissa Carandas), yield fruit in the summer, while the start of the monsoon brings a bounty of fresh, tender forest vegetables, such as the local delicacy, *Shevla* (highly valued in the area), and numerous others. Additionally, an abundance of edible, wild (uncultivated) tubers can be sourced in the forest. Though several of these tubers need special knowledge in their identification and preparation, they have been life-savers to the local people and the landless in past years of agricultural failure.

Every year, in early monsoon, Vanvadi hosts ‘Forest Food Foraging Walks’, usually guided by adivasi women elders. Vanvadi is also rich in timber, medicinal plants, edible tree gums, bio-fuels, botanical ‘pesticides’, natural dyes, and plants used for traditional crafts like leaf plate and basket-making. The forest provides too an abundance of fodder, fibre and firewood.

In addition to the numerous benefits of diverse forest produce to the local people and forest inhabiting creatures, of particular great importance are the critical ‘eco-system services’ of the forest – to harvest solar energy, sequester greenhouse gases and purify the air we breathe. Soil-dwelling creatures like earthworms, ants and other organisms, break down organic matter (like leaf litter, dry twigs and branches, decomposing roots), returning them to the soil, making it nutrient-rich and porous like a sponge. This, in turn, soaks in rain water and helps recharge wells and borewells, enabling all neighbouring downstream villages to source pure water for their drinking and cooking needs.

Today, Vanvadi stands as a living example of how people can come together to regenerate land, following the ‘zero chemical and minimum intervention’ principles of natural farming and forest regeneration, for the co-evolution of humans and the environment. Its story continues to inspire those who seek to reconnect with the earth and live in harmony with nature.

Learning from Traditional Knowledge

Vanvadi’s journey is deeply informed by traditional wisdom and the knowledge of indigenous communities. In 2014, one of the founders attended a tribal food festival in the Niyamgiri foothills of Odisha, where adivasi women from over a hundred neighboring villages displayed several hundred species of food plants, both cultivated and uncultivated. This experience underscored the wealth of indigenous knowledge and the importance of learning from those who live in harmony with nature.

In 2015, a similar experience at a ‘National Forest Food Festival’ in Delhi – where Vanvadi also participated along with a few local adivasis of its area – revealed over 1,500 species of wild, edible plants on display, further emphasizing the incredible biodiversity that thrives when ecosystems are allowed to flourish with minimum external disturbance. These festivals also highlighted the critical role forests play in preventing soil erosion and enhancing water absorption and retention. They reinforced the principle that to truly understand sustainability in food and farming, one must learn from farmers and indigenous, forest-dwelling communities who have first-hand knowledge of diverse terrain and eco-habitats, as there can never be a one-size-fits-all approach to food and agriculture.

Future Aspirations

Looking ahead, the vision for Vanvadi is to grow into a forest eco-village community and learning alliance that protects and further regenerates the health and biodiversity of the land. The aim is to create a space where people live in harmony with one another, learn from nature, and share their knowledge with others. The decentralized model allows individuals the freedom to pursue their interests — whether it is growing wholesome food, sustainable architecture, natural healing, meditation, or the arts and crafts — while ensuring their activities align with the ecological principles that guide Vanvadi.

As Vanvadi continues to grow, its mission remains clear: to provide a guiding example of sustainable living for the youth and future generations. The community hopes to inspire others to live in balance with nature, foster connections, and share their knowledge with the world.

Conclusion

Vanvadi’s evolution from ‘Vision Acres’ to a Forest Eco-versity and a Learning

Community Alliance, is a testament to the power of regeneration, both of land and the human spirit. What began as an initiative in ecological restoration has grown into an inspiring, and yet evolving, learning centre, that offers a living example of how to live in harmony with nature.

The Vanvadi forest has come alive. In its wake, a community of learners and next generation trail-blazers will hopefully rise, dedicated to ensure that Vanvadi remains a place of ecological balance and soul-enriching human connection for generations to come.