Join us for a clear and engaging overview of composting essentials - what makes high-quality compost and how different methods compare in their strengths and limitations.

We will cover:
* Scientific Thermophilic Composting
* SPIC Fermentation Composting
* Modified Johnson-Su Bioreactor Composting
* Vermicomposting
Future sessions will include hands-on deep dives into each method.

About the Presenter:
*Keivan Negahbani* is a lifelong student of Permaculture, Agroecology, Soil Biology, and Regenerative Agriculture, with a PDC and Agroecology certification from India. He now trains as a Soil Food Web Consultant and has led composting and waste management initiatives in India and Australia.

Limited spots. Contributions based. Register here.
LINK IN BIO
https://forms.gle/4gGW5hjxbtA4wUDG8
📍 Location: Pebble Garden
(https://maps.app.goo.gl/zEUnDTm3WDfc3P5S6)
📅 27th Feb | 3pm-5pm

📞 Charan +91 8431764831

We recently hosted a beautiful knowledge-sharing session on bananas with Vinod Sahadevan Nair, whose deep passion and lifelong work with banana diversity inspired everyone present. He shared his journey, cultural associations of bananas across regions, and practical insights into cultivation, propagation, and managing diverse varieties in a sustainable way.

The session explored the many dimensions of bananas, from their nutritional value and health relevance to the wide range of uses from fruit, stem, flower, and leaves. Farmers and growers from Auroville actively participated, asking thoughtful questions on cultivation practices, disease management, and varietal selection, making it a rich and interactive exchange. The gathering concluded with a visit to the banana plantation at Auro Orchard, where participants could observe the diversity and growing systems more closely.

The entire session was recorded and is now on our YouTube. Link is in the bio!

CONSCIOUS TECHNOLOGY LAB UPDATE!

We have installed pump automation for the sump and overhead tank using float sensors and controllers, eliminating water wastage and saving labour through automated motor control.

A LoRa gateway is being reconfigured to restore borewell water metering. We also began troubleshooting the FarmBot offered by Talam to continue hands-on experimentation in the garden.

Read more of what Azhaganandan and team are working on here: https://auroorchard.auroville.org/conscious-technology-lab-update/

[AuroOrchard, Experiments, Research & Education]

🍌 *The World of Bananas*
Diversity, Cultivation and Conservation

Join us for an engaging knowledge-sharing session with Vinod Sahadevan Nair, a dedicated banana cultivator (aka Banana man of India) from Kerala who grows and conserves more than 500 varieties of bananas. His orchard represents an extraordinary range of rare, indigenous and international banana varieties.

The session will explore banana diversity, cultivation practices, propagation methods, managing multiple varieties within limited space, soil health, sustainability, and building resilient and profitable banana farming systems. The gathering will conclude with an open dialogue and Q&A.

Everyone is welcome.

Link to register is in the Bio.

When: 17 February ~. 10am to 12pm
Where: AuroOrchard Farm

For any queries, please contact us on +91 8431764831 (Charan)

Read up about @rawlivingbeing 's personal journey into the relationship with food on our latest blog here: https://auroorchard.auroville.org/eating-for-nourishment-or-habit-a-personal-journey-into-the-relationship-with-food/

Link to the blog also available in Bio.

[AuroOrchard, Volunteer, Health, Research & Education]

OUR EXPERIMENTS WITH FAULKNER’S METHOD OF SHALLOW PLOUGHING

AuroOrchard’s red sandy loam loses carbon quickly, making soil building labour-intensive. Raised beds work but are hard to scale. Inspired by Faulkner, we tested shallow disc-harrowing to mix residues without deep inversion. Early trials show improved fertility, manageable labour demands, and potential for an ecological, accessible form of mechanised farming.

Read more on our blog here: https://auroorchard.auroville.org/experiments-with-faulkners-method-of-shallow-ploughing/

Link to blog also available in our Bio.

[AuroOrchard, Ecology, Vegetable Gardening, Research & Education]

The Abundance team has been largely occupied with harvesting, cleaning, and preserving rosella. The salad boxes, much appreciated, take considerable time each morning. It is heartening to hear feedback from people tasting these products after weekly farm tours.

Support from volunteers and team members is helping diversify recipes and organise the work better.

[AuroOrchard stories, Abundance, Food Processing]

January has been a very busy and perhaps the most fulfilling season in terms of planting.

We are growing lettuce, arugula, celery, coriander, palak, chilli, brinjal, lady’s finger, pumpkin, cucumber, long beans, winged beans, and many flowers. The soil feels rich after the monsoon, the cool morning dew suits the greens, and our dedicated volunteers support daily weeding, composting, pruning, and mulching.

While in the Orchards, Rosella that was interplanted with young jackfruit and avocado was in full bloom. We harvested an abundance of Rosella and our Abundance team has been largely occupied with cleaning and preserving it to process it into juices, syrups, chutneys, and spreads. We also pruned young avocados, cleared around mangoes, and weeded new syntropic beds. In the coming months, we will continue pruning, mulching, and ensuring reliable irrigation as mango and avocado flowering approaches.

Our team in the Nursery has been busy with added support from Usha, who brings experience, passion, and care. We're saving seeds – planning what and how much seed to store for the year. In the coming weeks and months, we will organise seeds, continue planting, improve the space, and possibly extend the nursery.

[AuroOrchard Stories, Vegetable Garden, Orchards, Nursery]

Poultry remained a major focus the past months. We remodeled all nest boxes, added more perches, and reviewed practices to improve efficiency and living conditions for the birds. We were also audited by Certified Humane International for certification—a valuable learning process.

Soon, AuroOrchard’s poultry will be among the few internationally certified free-range operations in India!!

[AuroOrchard Stories, Certified Humane International free-range Poultry]

The Market Garden Course is taking place from Feb 18 – May 13, 2026!

Learn to plan, design and grow productive, small-scale farms that are ecologically sound, socially responsible, and financially viable.

Who is this course for?
- Farmers seeking to strengthen or scale their current operations.
- Individuals or groups wanting to start or diversify food production on their land or in their communities.
- Anyone committed to producing healthy food while caring for the environment.

WHEN:
18 February 2026 - 13 May 2026

For more details about the course and to sign up, head on over to our link in our Bio!

For any queries, please reach out to us on auroorchard@auroville.org.in

[AuroOrchard, Market Garden Course, Agroecology]