samaya ashram

Sustainability

Changing how we each live our lives is the first step to creating a more sustainable existence for humanity. That step could be switching from petrol to pedal-power, starting to recycle or simply being informed about our purchases. There can be nothing greater at stake - our very survival - but it will be through taking control of our own lives that the tide can start to change.

Living within our means and in harmony with nature seems a natural extension of meditation and awareness.

Here at Samaya we have reduced our gas and electricity bill by a third in the last year alone. More and more of the food we serve comes from our own land - and as our experience increases so does our efficiency.

We have a vast rainwater storage; firewood from fallen trees is used for cooking; the sun heats our water; nothing is wasted. And this is just the beginning.

 

To help “do our bit” for the environment and to live more in harmony in nature we do the following:

• We have short showers with water collected from tankwater.  Our showers are heated by the sun in the summer to save gas.
• We cook on a fire to save gas.
• We do not have heaters in the winter time.  We snuggle up with blankets and an extra jumper and a nice cup of tea on the wintry nights!
• We use compost toilets instead of flush toilets.
• We live in cabins which are separate to toilets and the kitchen so from first thing in the morning we need to walk outside in the beauty of Mother Nature.
• We grow as much of our own vegetables and salad vegetables as possible and eat from our many fruit trees.
• We are currently experimenting to use more natural cleaning products e.g. lemon juice instead of using bleach and white vinegar instead of using harsh chemical disinfectants.
• We combine our excursions outside of the ashram if possible so the car is not used as often.  For example, if we need to pick up someone in the airport in the afternoon, we will also do our shopping on the same day.
• We are strict to recycle tins, plastic and glass.
• We now blend our own rice milk so we no longer have to dispose milk cartons.
• We turn off lights when it is unnecessary.