Thanks for visiting my website! I'm Sadhu, the founder of Govardhan Gardens, a natural living and  self-sufficiency farming project near Mayagüez,  Puerto Rico.

I've always been interested in a natural, simple lifestyle, but was only recently able to acquire land in order to fulfill my old idealistic dream of living in nature and being as self-sufficient as possible. When I acquired my land, it was mostly a wild jungle, and it took me quite some time to get at least some basic cultivation going. I had no idea how to survive at first, but eventually I started a tropical rare fruit nursery, which has become the central focus of my work for now.

It is obvious that we're living in a time where money and power dominate practically every sphere of life, but fortunately there are still people who don't care much about that and just act on higher principles. I put up this website to expand the project's mission into cyberspace: to move beyond the boundaries of my farm and community, and to connect with and mutually inspire people with similar goals and ideals around the world. Self-sufficient, natural living is deeply fulfilling, but it's certainly not an easy way of life. Therefore, like-minded people should stick together and find new ways to connect - which helps make this lifestyle more viable.

Since Govardhan Gardens is a relatively large plot of land, much of what I write here is from the perspective of a farmer. Many of the issues I touch upon, however, have more to do with living in harmony with nature, than with mere conventional farming. It is also my intention to broaden the term "farming" to encompass this idea.
 

 Helping to introduce a new era of farming in the tropics!

Puerto Rico's agriculture has followed the same trend that prevails almost worldwide: a few monocrops that are ”protected” and treated with an array of pesticides, chemical fertilizers and herbicides. The average modern farmer has little concern for or understanding of nature, hardly knows about the medicinal or insecticidal properties of plants, is not self-sufficiency oriented, and can't conceive of preparing his own natural medicines and household products from plants growing on his farm.

It is not surprising therefore, that farming hardly attracts the younger generation - it is usually equated with hard, monotonous and dirty work and little profits. Much of the farm land on the island is sold, broken down into smaller plots and subject to erosion or neglect.

I am convinced, however, that farming can be an exciting and fulfilling way of life. It is important in this regard to understand the role of a responsible and creative agronomist. Click to see my full article in Agrotemas (the island's leading agricultural newsletter), Natural Lifestyle and Nutritional Healing in the Life of an Agronomist, which was the introduction to a monthly series about the healing properties of locally available fruits and which explains some of the required changes in the world of farming.

If the current trend continues, almost all the island's food will be imported from other countries - despite the fact that the island could easily be self-sufficient. So far, only a handful of fruit and vegetable crops are cultivated; at the same time, the climatic and soil conditions would allow us to grow literally hundreds of new crops. The key to self-sufficiency is a thorough understanding of nature and the determination to patiently establish a diversity of fruit, grain, vegetable and herb crops, as well as shade trees, natural windbreaks, plants that control erosion, repel dangerous pests, etc. Ultimately, it is a matter of loving nature, and understanding the importance of biological diversity and environmental health.

Here some new roles a tropical farmer can play in society, and some additional services I provide:

• offer seedlings of fruit trees, shade trees, herbs, etc.

• provide immediate community with organic produce

• transform my farm into an attractive sanctuary/botanic garden

• contribute substantially to keeping the island an environmentally safe place

• be an herbal and general health advisor

• exchange practical experience and teach about gardening, natural living and organic farming

• serve as advisor for potential landbuyers

• design tropical fruit orchards for private collectors and botanical gardens

Govardhan Gardens is a constantly-evolving project, so check back here regularly to see what's new, email me, or if you're on the island, stop by and have a look....in case you have problems with my coqui.net address, please
write to: Govardhan_Gardens@yahoo.com. Hope to see you soon!

- Sadhu