Last of Buddha Garden

Although it feels like a long time ago, we were at Buddha Garden just about a week ago, seems longer. These are some of the last pictures from our time in Auroville. 

Country kiss

We had an infestation of hornet like flying-stinging things trying to live in our huts roof. Ginger got stung on the finger by one, it really hurt and left a big red bump that's still there. Here they are with a few guards standing watch. There was a lot more hiding inside the comb they were building. Rajan the do it all staff member of the Buddha Garden dealt with it by bravely spraying some ant spray at them and poking the nest with a stick. Brave man. Amazingly he didn't get stung and they left, after being smoked out with incense for a few more days.

We ventured to the ocean one very hot day, Luc and fellow Buddha Garden volunteer Mikey went for a dip.

Regina, Ginger and Luc. 

In the salty ocean.

Cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuutie.

Similarity breeds liking

The entrance complete with cattle gate.

Scrum of crazy red bugs.

Our daily packing list.

Bag, hats, water, toilet paper, flashlight, mosquito spray, water, money belt, pen, notepad, pocket knife, keys, fan. 

Yet another pretty sunset.

We visited a farm where they grew Spirulina, we had been taking the tablets for a few days prior to seeing the tanks it was made in, after seeing them we stopped. Spirulina is an algae that's supposedly really good for you, it's a complete amino acid. But the tanks it was being grown in had other things growing in them, and looked pretty gross. The stuff is expensive too!

Luc and Amy not looking very enthused.

We really enjoyed our time in Auroville but are happy to be where it is not so hot. Its starting to feel like our trip is almost over, which is crazy because we still have nearly two months left, most people never travel for even that long! We're all cozied up in the tourist ghetto of Kathmandu for now, waiting for some tummy trouble to blow over, then its off to the hills. Five more weeks in Nepal, who knows what kind of shenanigans we'll get up to. Check back soon to find out!

Sivananda yoga with Shambu

This past week we did a Beginner Sivananda yoga workshop. We did ten classes in  five days, it was a lot of yoga for one week. We learned a lot despite being quite sore and tired by the end, and we both really felt like we took a lot out of it. Our teacher Shambu was great, he really checked on all of us in every asana. It was great to have our mistakes corrected to get more out of the class. 

Lovebird shoulderstand

Luc assisting Ginger in a headstand

And then Ginger assisting Luc

As well as this yoga workshop, we've done a Laughter yoga class and an acro yoga class, they both sound just like what they are. They were all a ton of fun, and an incredible experience.

Tomorrow we get on a plan to Nepal!

Solitude Organic & Pebble Garden

Probably the best thing about Auroville has been all the great Organic small farms to see and explore. We got to know the Buddha Garden quite well, and had the chance to check out a bunch of places. Two of our favorites have been Solitude Organic and Pebble Garden. 

The entrance to the farm

Field of rice

They were growing rice and food using a method known as "do nothing" farming. I'm into this. It's a style and philosophy inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka. I read the book and it changed my perspective on food.

Up close

Rice sitting out in the sun to dry

Bicycle powered flour grinder, there is a grinder beside it another bike.

The nursery

Ginger with corn taller than she is

Mmm, want to grow...

Big windmill


The days start with a quick foggy sunrise, and a long colorful sunset. It will be hard to leave our  little hut in the field.

Baby goat in the farm beside us

Mama goat in the path to Buddha Garden

We went to a cotton exposition as well, very interesting

 We went for a tour of the Pebble Garden which is half soil regeneration and half seed saving. They grew an amazing amount of vegetables, mostly for seed. The man running the farm was the cutest farmer ever, and everything about the farm was beautiful. They had a very nice second story loft I wouldn't mind living in.

Cute farmer

Mosquito nets to avoid cross pollination

To create soil, they make a bed full of compostable matter and use twigs with will decompose eventually into the bed 

Big Chinese cabbage

Buddha Garden

We still really love it here at the Buddha Garden, and feel so at home we're predictably extending our stay.  

Mending & dirty feet

grenouille.

The field outside our hut

There are beautiful sunsets every night

Blanket door keeps it cool inside

Our new cabin in the woods.

Luc assisting in tipi building

Sawdust for the compost toilet in the nearby International House, which houses volunteers in Auroville.

His & Hers compost toilets. Not actually, one is for the liquids, the other for the solids. 

5 kilos of fresh green & purple lettuce

Lettuce bouquet

7 a.m

Washing

Finding earthworms while weeding

Sitting on our second story porch

We watch the sunset every night from our hut

A local fire-dancer

There are windmills everywhere.