The rice harvest at Solitude has started, and the farms volunteers from many different countries have begun to work in the rice paddy field. Only organic vegetables and grains are grown in Solitude, always following the principle of biodiversity and crop variety. How do the volunteers like the hard work in the field? Listen to the sounds of the rice field, the workers impressions, and Josh, who explains the philosophy behind the rice cultivation and the current situation. Anyone is welcome to join the rice harvest if they are interested. Read more

Night was late already due to the technical problems earlier in the afternoon when Yemadas came on the stage. Yemadas - nomads with positive attitude as they explained way back always come with some new members, and some new worldly instruments. This toss their songs were softened by space drum, violin and flute, and in some songs we had a chance to hear didgereedoo as well. Fusion of indio-afro-brasilian rhythms all so close to earth breathing swung as to a dance. For excellent sound we can thank Joel with his team ... Read more

To celebrate life and overcoming cyclone was the keynote of Lively Up Your Earth eco music Festival in Solitude Farm on Saturday 28th of January. With Cyclone Blue we went down the memory lane into early 70ies, by evergreen rock songs well played and sung by amazing olny 13 years old Danny, who joined his father Amando and Matt. And it is something in known that made us at ease, so Cyclone Blue hit the dancing strings in audience and enthusiastic share of encouragement. To Joel and his team we are grateful for excellent sound. Read more

Hosting Lively Up Your Earth eco - music festival for the second time in Solitude Farm with numerous stalls of products ecologicaly oriented, gadgets for children, food and lots of music brought community and more together almost a month after the natural catastrophe of Thane. Emergence as the hosting band came up on stage the last, and late. Solids songs of world music and poetic rock, reflecting the uniqueness of city life in Auroville and life of members of the band kept the audience on their toes. Thanks for excellent sound to Joel and team Read more

There's no doubt that Marc Vella captured hearts of Aurovilians with his loving attitude toward music as toward audience, nature... Films we saw before his arrival, his personal presence in the town, brought again crowd to the Lively Up Your Earth eco music festival at Solitude Farm on last Saturday 28th of January. We can thank to private donors which contributed needed money to hire a piano from Chennai and with that made it possible for all of us to hear to Marc Vella amongst the palm trees of Solitude Farm. Read more

Sun was hot, children happily running around when music started with Oldtimer - Larry and Paul. Paul was also informing us on the progress of the musical part of the festival in his humorous way. Oldtimers haven't spent much time on the stage and Johan ZilverZurf followed them with his bass. Some interesting combinations of chill out and ambient we heard with him, setting the peaceful tone of festival at this hot hour of the day. Read more

Suryan surprised us with his new Dharma Trio - beside Suryan on guitar and voice Johan on bass and Laurent on drums which added new dimensions to his songs. His songs still hypnotic and thought provoking, but now dance worthy getting us up on our feet. A true poet speaks to everyone at once but also speaks each individual at the same time; and if it's accompanied with such an amazing and captivating voice Suryan is blessed , touching us all on many levels. Read more

Financial Service informs us that thanks to Future School students Chandran, Dyuman and Kanikannan the financial service office at the Townhall has now an electronic token system. In today's news we feature an interview with Krishna reflecting on recently held Lively Up Your Earth eco music festival. Aurovilians and Newcomers are welcome to register their names for a Darshan on 21st of February token on from Monday, 6th, to Wednesday at PITANGA, in Samasti. Music of hildegarf of Bingen and Beyond at Arka tomorrow at 6pm . Read more

When Mishko M'Ba greeted the audience with announcement of repertoir which would pay the tribute to Jaco Pastorious, famous bass player, brought many smiles on the faces. The whole gig was special treat for music lovers. Excellent musicians Mishko M'Ba on Bass, Matt Littlewood on saxophone, Suresh Bascara on drums and Karan Joseph on keyboards played known songs of Jaco Pastorious, Pat Metheny, Miles Davis and Joe Zawinul with technical perfection and with all their love for the music. Read more

The Working Committee would like to inform the community that all wood in Auroville is a collective asset and should not be kept for personal use, sold or traded. Selling or trading it is in fact illegal. People who have sold wood to outsiders should contact the Cyclone Help Desk AND then transfer the money to the Unity Fund account number 240001 with description "Wood Sales". In today's news we feature Krishna on Lively Up Your Earth, eco music festival, update and music line up. Today at 5pm Sve-Dame Heart Songs and dances by Upahar. Read more

You can hear interviews and soundscapes from sadhana forest, recorded 2nd of january 2012, a couple of days after cyclone Thane hit the community. Aviram, founder of Sadhana forest, speaks about his experience and the consequences for his home. Also some of the volunteers active at Sadhana share their feelings about the storm passing by and what needs to be done now. Although the conditions are harsh, all the volunteers keep their spirits high. Sadhana forest, a forest in the making, will recover and keep on growing... Read more

For sister Sandrine and bredren Alex moving to Ethiopia was a matter of faith. For one to repatriate have to emancipate oneself from the mental slavery, from lust and vanity, ... Holly Mount Zion is the reality - Ethiopia, and Shashamene the spot given from his majesty Haile Selasie to expatriots as a token of appreciation. Although it might look at the first glance that community is divided - still no matter what is their mansion, they're singing the same song, they're all rastafari and they all believe in the Dvinity of negus Haile Selasie. Read more

Listen to a short excerpt of an interview with Alain Grandcola speaking about the road-in-progress at Solar Kitchen. Eleven more talks from Georges van Vrekhem starts October 8 beginning with Evolution, CSA (community supported agriculture project) holds another meeting on growing food in public spaces Wednesday, 4 pm at Solitude. Auroville Film Festival 2011: AurovilleRadio will do a live internet broadcast 6 to 7 pm, 29 Sept. through 3 Oct. Living Routes invites AV youth aged 18–25 to apply for a scholarship in the Spring 2012 semester. Read more

Pashi made a presentation on possiblilities of growing Bamboo grass using organic fertilizers in Auroville wastelands and shared the experience of cultivating bamboo in different soil and water conditions. He also spoke about biomass being a sustainable source of reliable energy and how bamboo and woody material can be used effectively for generation of energy. He elaborated on the ecological and economic advantages of cloning and culturing Bamboo as against Casuarina which takes far more space and is less productive.

On Saturday 6 August, at 7.00am on popular demand after the concert in Pitanga, Uday Bhawalkar will play Morning Baithak? (in Dhrupad Hindustani classical style), accompanied on the Pakhawaj by Pratap Awad at White Hall , Bharat Nivas, Pavilion of Indian Culture On Sunday from 10 am-12.30 pm At College Guest House Anisha and Tiago want to share some afro Brazilian dances, songs and rhythms that are celebrated since Africa and than moved to Brasil. Solitude team invites us on Saturday on Jam session to harvest fruits and make jam with them Read more

Mango and Tango are words for this weekend, which, weather wise might be dry and hot. Dance, not only tango lovers, can join the workshop for tango at Arka on Saturday as Sunday, morning and afternoon, since it doesn't require partners but just socks. Both days will end by milonga - tango party. About workshop we talked with Aurevan. On the other side Solitude Farm invites us all to MANGO Saturday. Beside delicious mangoes they would like to share with us also knowledge on permaculture gardening, and inspire us to start thinking to grown our own food at our homes. Read more

Solitude Farm would like to invites us for their MANGO day at Solitude on Saturday. A nice selection of organic mangos will be starting to get ripe by then and so we can make our pick. On Saturday there will be also a tour of the farm starting at 11am and after it lunch . At 9am, also this Saturday there will be the first of a number of informal training sessions that will take place on Saturdays covering their work in natural farming and permaculture, hoping to inspire people to get involved with Auroville farms or start their own gardens. This year their natural farming red rice, non-tilled and direct sown without the use of any machine, achieved a yield that was close to a good normal yield by conventional organic farming. The Tibetan Doctor will be visiting us on Saturday the 25th of June, For appointments call Kalsang at 2622401. The consultation will take place at Pavilion of Tibetan Culture at International zone. Read more

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants which started in Geneva at the beginning of the week is about to end. Decisions regarding the Endosulfan pesticide ban are still pending. Njal, who has been raising awareness regarding Endosulfan's impact on the environment and health in Auroville/bio-region, revealed the arguments from the side of the chemical industries. Plus how it's difficult for farmers to understand the impact of Endosulfan. Njal hopes the 1000 signatures he gathered for the petition (sent to Geneva) against Endosulfan will result in a change for the best. Read more

« Social Entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish or teach how to fish. They will not yet rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry". Here is Ashoka's innovative Entrepreneurship Organization's main motto which was further expalined by Gijs, during a 20-minutes stand at the Multi-Media Center on Tuesday April 19th, 7:30pm. Based on the TED talks model, the Fellow Member of Ashoka living in Evergreen presented the Social Organization's dynamic around the world and how its Fellows generate systemic changes within the Environmental, Human Rights, Democracy, Economy, Rural Development and youth areas. Read more

Auroville's Earth Day Week got its kick-off on Saturday April 16th with the Eco-Market at the Solar Kitchen. From 9:30 am to 1:30pm, over fifteen stands gave the opportunity to discover, taste, or buy eco-food or products such as recycled clothes and bags, bicycles at cheaper prices, solar lights, water filters or pesto, marmalade and pickles from Aurovillian eco-farms. Njal informed, yet again, on the petition against Endosulfan and on alternative solutions, selling a wide range of books regarding health and environmental issues as well. Everyone could share the on-spot fire-cooked food or register for any of the coming Guided Tours on Auroville's cycle trails offered during Earth Week. Read more

The news today offers announcements about Earth Day, only a week away: not to be missed is another event from Johnny and the kids: an Earth Day Parade which will begin from the Youth Centre around 10 o'clock on Friday 22nd April, wending its way to Mahakali Park (between MM and Kalabhumi) where there will be a pot-luck picnic around midday. Tomorrow, Saturday's Eco-Market at Solar Kitchen, will have extra attractions for the eco-minded both adults and children. And a guided tour is on offer, to discover newly color-coded trails on Auroville's cycle trails, topped off with a 2011 film 'Green Fire.' Also tomorrow a farewell performance of 'Third in Line' by Magdalene San Millan, her one-woman show. Read more

Today's news is multi-featured, presenting announcements starting with Johnny, who puts together a parade for Earth day from the Youth Centre to the Visitors' Centre, inviting anybody interested in joining, either walking or with a float, which could be anything from a bullock cart to a wheel barrow and all themes fine, from clowns to clerics. And a call for teachers: Future School is looking for an English teacher with a strong academic background in English and/or a passion for an in-depth study in English language and literature.Refer to 'Dispelling Myths,' a program on AurovilleRadio concerning the meeting which was held last Saturday at Visitors' Centre called due to the incidents taking place on Auroville's roads. Read more

At Pavilion of Indian Culture, Sri Aurobindo Auditorium, Bharat Nivas on Saturday at 8pm we can see Dasava Tara - the ten incarnations of lord Vishnu, which is a dance drama by the students of Sri Krishna Kumar Dance Academy. The French Pavilion presents also on Saturday at 5pm at Cinema Paradiso in Town Hall interview of Dr. Leonard Laskov, father of Holoenergetics in a film by Jean Yves Bilien "Healing with Love". "White Peacock" clay studio invites us to Open House on Sunday at 10am. Last day to submit films for AV Film Festival 2011 is 15th of August, and we can submit those which were made after august 2009.

In this last interview of the series on the 'History and Future of Farming' we talk with Toine. Toine's talents lie not so much in the practical aspects of farming, but more in the organizational structuring of Auroville's greenbelt. Having a history as former director for two multi national companies on wind and solar energy, he currently working in the Town Hall. Toine is asked to help out on the organizational aspects of the five year plan called ASAP. While each has his or her own knowledge of the local climate and soil, Toine contributes to the management and creation of a integrated approach among all the individual approaches. This talk will uncover some of the main aspects of the five year plan and its expected developments in the upcoming months. Read more

In this tenth interview Murti (Ayar Padi) gives us an audio tour through his farm and the issues linked to it. Born in the local village Kottakari, Murti had to finance his farm on loans. Slowly it transforms to the farm that it is today. A farm with many varaities of vegetables and volunteers who pay to help out. Murti freely talks about his expectations of the five year plan called ASAP. As ASAP comes to existence, Ayar Padi Farm really gets the change to develop, says Murti. Read more

Featured in the news a remembrance of 40 years ago today, when Mother sent a special message to those early Aurovilians who would begin the initial digging for what would become the foundation of Matrimandir: 'The fraternity of collaboration; the aspiration towards Unity in Joy and Light. Blessings.' Also in the news some announcements: a call for volunteers to do farm work and building at Windarra Farm in exchange for accommodation; another call goes out for a high level English teacher for Future School and, a chance to use writing skills in Sadhana Forest's 'This I Believe' essay series. And finally a reminder to reserve an evening next weekend to hear the Auroville Choir sing a concert of Celtic songs. Read more

As a kick-off for the presentation of the Auroville Sustainable Agriculture Plan (ASAP), within the next few months, Auroville Radio presents a series of eleven interviews concerning the foods we eat in Auroville. What were the ideas in the old days of Auroville regarding agriculture and sustainable foods? Which agricultural developments did Auroville been through since the first Aurovillians started to change the dusty plains into the forest it is today? How is the present situation in Auroville's greenbelt and what is it capable of? And, perhaps most important, what are the challenges for the future?... Read more

As a kick-off for the presentation of the Auroville Sustainable Agriculture Plan (ASAP), within the next few months, Auroville Radio presents a series of eleven interviews concerning the foods we eat in Auroville. What were the ideas in the old days of Auroville regarding agriculture and sustainable foods? Which agricultural developments did Auroville been through since the first Aurovillians started to change the dusty plains into the forest it is today? How is the present situation in Auroville's greenbelt and what is it capable of? And, perhaps most important, what are the challenges for the future?... Read more

As a kick-off for the presentation of the Auroville Sustainable Agriculture Plan (ASAP), within the next few months, Auroville Radio presents a series of eleven interviews concerning the foods we eat in Auroville. What were the ideas in the old days of Auroville regarding agriculture and sustainable foods? Which agricultural developments did Auroville been through since the first Aurovillians started to change the dusty plains into the forest it is today? How is the present situation in Auroville's greenbelt and what is it capable of? And, perhaps most important, what are the challenges for the future?.... Read more

As a kick-off for the presentation of the Auroville Sustainable Agriculture Plan (ASAP), within the next few months, Auroville Radio presents a series of eleven interviews concerning the foods we eat in Auroville. What were the ideas in the old days of Auroville regarding agriculture and sustainable foods? Which agricultural developments did Auroville been through since the first Aurovillians started to change the dusty plains into the forest it is today? How is the present situation in Auroville's greenbelt and what is it capable of? And, perhaps most important, what are the challenges for the future?.... Read more