Pebble Garden

On the occasion of the 86th birth anniversary of the late Dr G Nammalvar, who was an Indian green crusader, agricultural scientist, environmental activist and organic farming expert, Aurovilian Bernard Declercq was presented with the Vanagam Award for Lifetime Achievement in honour of his consistent efforts, along with those of his wife Deepika, to reforest the barren land of Auroville’s Pebble Garden.

Land exchange is very much in the news at present, with Auroville land being exchanged for privately-owned land in AuroOrchard and mooted as a possibility in places like Forecomers and Pebble Garden.

The AVFO ATDC approval for Auroyali to take a piece of Pebble Garden land for its workshop has been rescinded by the AVFO ATDC after the feedback period.

Deepika Kundaji is known in India for her work in seed-conservation and land regeneration. She is regularly called on to conduct training for farmer groups and to speak about her work.

Pebble Garden, situated on the way to Koot Road west of Auroville, was begun as a reforestation project by Bernard and Deepika in 1994. Over the last 25 years, it has been transformed not only into a dense and vibrant indigenous forest, but also a widely recognised seed conservation centre for endangered vegetables.

Aurovilian Deepika Kundaji was one among 30 women and 9 institutions to be conferred the “Nari Shakti Award for 2017”, India’s prestigious award for women, by the President of India on the occasion of International Women’s Day at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President’s Palace, in New Delhi on March 8th.

From November to March it’s always busy in Auroville, with the community hosting performances, workshops and exhibitions and welcoming the outside world.

Barely twenty years ago, around Puducherry, the staple food was fermented ragi and a particular variety of kambu (Bajra). That variety of kambu is now virtually extinct and today’s staple food is polished white rice.

Auro-Orchard, one of Auroville’s biggest farms, took the decision to go organic in October 2012. How have they done? And how optimistic are they about the future of food production in Auroville?