A team of eight Sat Yoga karma yogis recently arrived at the Sat Yoga ashram with open hands, heart, and mind for the planting of our first food forest. Under the guidance of the cosmic forces that perfectly positioned the moon and constellations for the planting on Earth during this week, we embarked on the initial steps towards becoming an agricultural, self-sufficient spiritual community. The wise permaculturist and friend,  Itai Hauben, steered our direction on the planting fields.

The Sat Yoga Ashram is being built on the Saint Marcos’ Ridge (Fila de San Marcos) on the hill tops of Saint Isidro del General. Saint Isidro descends from El General (The General), a symbol for the Christ-Self.  As the name of the ashram’s physical location implies, the spiritual path is a razor´s edge, a ‘fila,’ a ridge.

As we gather on the land we are reminded of the sacred work at hand, aware of the nobility of spirit that Nature inspires and requires from us all. From ancient tree ferns to majestic oaks and life supporting Ficus trees we look for guidance in Nature’s signs as subtle as the high altitude air. We listen for messages from the silent source of Her breezes, the bird songs, and the howlers’ laughter. Our souls, the soil we commit to rejuvenation. On the Ashram land, we’ve come to find ourselves in communion with All that Is.

Through laboratory soil testing and traditional wisdom of recognizing plant species as indicators of recuperating soils, fields best prepared for cultivation were chosen for the ashram’s first food forest.

Carefully selecting between existing pioneering trees, grass begins to fall under the loving hands on our fellow farm workers. Instead of slash and burn, permaculture prefers the cut and drop method. Ancient wisdom would agree: that which dies becomes the muck from which the lotus can rise.

Natural springs are protected with walls of tall green vegetation. Water is one of Nature’s most sacred gifts of life. Springs are crowned with green canopies that cool the earth beneath for rainwater to penetrate, replenish and continue the cycle of precipitation; Heaven descends on Earth for Earth to return to Heaven.

A tractor was generously donated to the ashram just as the ground was being prepared for cultivation. Treading lightly along the edges of the food forest, the tractor aids in the cutting of grass and the shredding of brush that will later to be used as either fertilizer or mulch.

Branches and twigs are grated for mulching, while the leaves lay fallow for unaided decomposition. All that has been cut to make way for the food forest is returned to the land in service to higher purpose. Generosity of Spirit is nature’s trademark.

The alchemic process of transformation occurs from within as the mulch begins to heat-up within days of still sitting, decomposing and transforming bark and grain into fertilizing agents for the upcoming food forest.

The land’s natural contour lines guide Itai in the formation of swales that will channel rain water into the springs.

Ditches are dug by hand to serve as both  rain water channels in the rainy season months, and water retention in the dry season. Soil erosion and parchness are prevented through this method.

Beans are the first seeds planted on the food forest terrain. They will become sacrificial plants used for fixing nitrogen into the soil. Upon the very first signs of flowering, the bean plants will be cut, thus, releasing nitrogen into the earth that would otherwise be used for forming the bean. Future crops and food trees will greatly benefit from the selfless service of these unsung heroine sisters.

Channels and swales, apparent opposites, work together in a wholesome way guiding the flow of water to the springs that will ultimately return it to its ocean of origin. After our field chores we gather in meditation, becoming the channels of individual consciousness that unite with the whole of sangha-nature towards the return of humanity back to the ocean of consciousness.

Logs long ago fallen on what are today’s planting fields hold nature’s richest fertilizer, decomposed wood that is commonly known in Costa Rica as ‘uru.’

From the cavernous hollows of fallen logs, feather light cool humus is gathered for making a decomposing fertilizing agent known as ´mountain micro-organisms.´

Ingredients are gathered in the workshop for the making of ‘mountain micro-organisms,’ an organic spray  using ‘uru’  as a main ingredient.

A blend of three bacterial hosts along with rice husks and a sugar cane extract are lovingly mixed by hand by our farming team. Prema, Prana and Karma work their transformative magic in invisible and manifest ways. Our Karma Yogi team becomes increasingly attuned to life’s forces through participating in biodynamic preparations, as well as from the direct toiling of the earth. As we transform eroded soils on the ashram land we come to realize the simultaneous rejuvenation of our own souls.

The mountain micro-organism solution is stored in a barrel for a few days before being diluted in water and sprayed on the recently chopped fields of our future food forest.

Karma yogi, Guillermo, sprays ‘mountain micro-organisms,´ on the field before the planting of the fruit trees. Microorganisms are invisible actants that speed up the decomposition process of the pasture grass giving way for a vegetarian existence.

Biodynamic preparations are being used simultaneously with permaculture techniques on the ashram land. Itai and Purusha prepare preparation 500 which will also be sprayed before the planting of the trees.

Selfless action on the part of Sat Yoga community members comes in many forms, from inner transformational work, to physical labor and financial support. The act of giving without expecting anything in return is the surest way to the greatest attainable riches, accountable only to God. A much needed pick-up truck recently donated arrives with bequeathed fruit trees.

Fruit trees are positioned by Itai with the eye of a landscape artist and the knowledge of an agriculturist. Permaculture bases its philosophy on creating integrated systems, a concept much revered by Sat Yogis who tirelessly work to integrate human consciousness to its original state of wholeness and synchronicity with All.

Holes are dug for the grafted fruit trees. Poor soil is removed to make way for composted rich soil processed by the earth worms in the ashram’s compost barn.

The worm-compost barn was started last October as the initiating project towards the planting season.

At first, five mares and one stallion provided the manure for our worm barn. Today the numbers have been increased by five young foals.

Worm compost is mixed with sodium carbonate and soil to create the best possible humus for the newly planted crops.

Trees go into the ground to the symphonic sounds of bird songs and howler monkeys. We become increasingly synchronized to the land’s rhythms and signs as the days move on.

In La Fila de San Marcos scarce history remains of an agricultural past. Blessed with evergreen pastures, farmers long ago traded the planting of crops for the raising of cattle.

As we embark on new beginnings for sustainable living, careful inventory is made of all that is planted on the land; including, the approximate 60 varieties of bananas investigated at EARTH University that we will oversee for their applicability to our geographical area. With time, the ashram may provide a comprehensive agricultural study and application for farmers in the region.

Throughout the work day, pauses are made for taking in nourishment from the bounties of nature; from the typical Costa Rican lunch break never missing in rice and beans, to the more raw food tastes of the karma yogis.

Coconut palms are one of the main food trees being planted on the land. Eric added a delicious childhood favorite of his, ‘ants on a log’, to the coconut delight of ‘agua de pipa,’ (coconut water) and its soft unripened coconut meat. ‘Ants on a log’ are carrot sticks layered with peanut butter and sprinkled with raisons that symbolically serve as ants.

By the end of our first week of planting, several hundred small trees dotted the landscape of the food forest, from fruit bearing species to nitrogen fixers. Branches of ‘Madero negro’ and ‘Poró,’ stand naked in the fields, soon to take root and sprout leaves, becoming trees in themselves in a matter of a few months.

To culminate the planting activities, biodynamic ‘Preparation 500,’ was sprayed on the planted fields by the karma yogis visiting for the week.

A lift to the lodge in the tractor is an opportunity hard to pass up after long days in the field . Great joy and reverence is felt by all of us who participated in this blessed event. Many others will be joining in the ashram’s agricultural projects in the following months.

For permaculturalists, the food forest tries to replicate the integrated working of the natural forest where each member species works for the good of the whole and the whole works for the benefit of each individual. For a Sat Yoga community based on ‘Prema-culture’ or Sacred Love, the natural integrated wholistic system also orders the functioning of the realized sangha, where harmony, beauty, wisdom, and integrated diversity fueled by Divine energy and love are the governing principles.

We pray and meditate for the self-realization of our natural state so that we may become true stewards of nature, once more.

As the food forest breaks ground for our agricultural projects, the first retreat cabins lay the foundation for the ashram’s building projects. Six bamboo and wood cabins are planned for completion by September. Retreats will soon be scheduled for the end of the year.

Retreating to the clouds is nearing reality at the Sat Yoga Ashram. In the nebulae of hill tops, the ethereal meets the ground of being.

Our Zen style cabins with high ceiling bamboo roofs will delight all those earning for a return to the beauty of simplicity.

Forest cut by previous owners for cow pasture are presently being reforested.

Hundred’s of  native trees have been purchased for planting a wildlife corridor that will unite the existing forest, as well as, providing a radius of protection around the sources of the ashram’s springs.

The first seedling went into the ground under the loving care of  our Sat Yogi, Tamara, coordinator of the reforestation project,  and our fellow farm worker, Don Rafa, an old time farmer from a neighboring town.

We’ll be returning to the ashram land later this month to continue the planting of reforestation trees and oversee the progress of the food forest and cabin construction.

As well as the seedlings left maturing in the plant nursery. Stay tunned for the upcoming update on our latest karma yoga trip that took place on June 21rst.

May we manifest on the Sat Yoga ashram land a ray of Divine love and light for all of humanity.

Namaste and many Blessings