The food trees going in around homes in Virudhunagar are planted by Sadhana Forest's Plant 4 India Fellows, together with the families. Each fellow gives a full year, living on site, to restoring land with rural communities.
Sadhana Forest calls Plant 4 India its first fellowship. In May 2023, the places in its summer batch filled so quickly that applications had to close, and a winter batch was opened.
The newest batch was due to start training at Sadhana Forest Auroville on 1 October 2026. From 1 November, fellows are assigned to a rural centre: Virudhunagar, or one of the three in Meghalaya.
In Virudhunagar, the work is hands-on. Fellows plant native, drought-resistant food trees together with local people, care for the trees and the nursery, show visitors around, cook plant-based meals for the team, and keep the centre running with zero-waste habits, down to cleaning the compost toilets and solar panels.
No experience is needed. Fellows get food, a place to live, a mentor, and a monthly stipend while posted in the villages. After the year, they may be able to carry on at the same site.
Sadhana Forest plants food trees around homes in Virudhunagar. See the project.
Sources: Plant 4 India, "The Fellowship"; Sadhana Forest, "Sadhana Forest Virudhunagar" (centre page), "Our Journey" and "Applications open for Plant 4 India Winter '24" (May 2023).
