farm-garden

At the Ashram, we nurture over 2.5 acres of organic gardens and orchards. The garden is a place of beauty, nourishment, devotion and learning.

The wealth of fertile soil, flowers, bees, trees, birds, vegetables and fruit is a direct result the loving attention and hard work of many garden Karma Yogis over the years. Many look forward to spending their summers in the garden, picking fruits and vegetables, weeding and caring for the earth. Everyone who works in the garden or has spent time at the Ashram has come away with a greater appreciation of local, seasonal and organic.

Our garden produces 20% of the food we eat, 11,000 meals out of the 55,000 we serve annually. Ashram menus are based on what is available seasonally from our garden. We also winter store, freeze, dry and preserve as much produce as possible.

In an aim to reduce our carbon footprint and support the local economy, the Ashram purchases vegetables, fruit, honey, eggs and cheese from local farmers and orchardists. We support many local growers through CSA programs (community supported agriculture) and work trade.

Under the current direction of Paris Marshall-Smith, the kitchen-garden team keeps updated on food sustainability initiatives that are happening locally and globally. We are actively engaged in seed saving, companion planting, composting and permaculture principles. Our guiding ideal behind the garden is a reverence for life.