Sarvodaya Institute Is Leading Us To New Thinking On Nutrition And Environmental Responsibility

Some time ago, watching the documentary Urban Fruit by Roman Zenz I was fascinated by the story of Rishi Kumar a highly educated engineer by training who gave up a promising career in information technology to choose a different path. Along with his mother they had transformed their once wasteful and nonproductive meticulously landscaped yard into a productive bio diverse urban farm which uses about 1/3 the water it took to keep their lawn green. 

They have done so while creating healthy organic food in abundance. In fact more than enough for themselves, their extended family of relatives and friends and untamed wildlife not limited to rare butterflies, hummingbirds, mosquito fish, dragonflies and raccoons that struggle to eke out good diets due to urban sprawl.

This project has grown into a mission of education on the how-to's and benefits of urban farming and creating bio diverse mini ecosystems that give back to our environment as opposed to simply taking. 

Fast forward to 2021.... What started out as "The Growing Home" ...a model for sustainable urban living grown has morphed fantastically! It is a nursery, a farm, learning and demonstration programs, a bee club, online learning videos and so much more.

They offer classes and workshops, and host talks by experts in native gardening and organic farming. Rishi works with educators and students, like those in the Pomona California School District, on hands on organic urban farming projects. They have also participated in the Institute of Urban Ecology and . hosted a radio show on KPFK 90.7FM that was called The Good Food Movement.

Use your social networks to spread the word about Rishi's great work. To volunteer,  pick up a membership, request a speaking engagement, read their online farm journal or visit their online shop for organic medicinal herbs visit https://sarvodayainstitute.org