Yasodhara Ashram is an environmental & spiritually sustaining non-profit community which hosts over 1000 visitors annually. We have charted a path towards complete environmental sustainability & are in the midst of a comprehensive retrofit of all our buildings.

Projects include:

- Geothermal heating instituted over the past 3 years in new buildings, resulting in a reduction in electricity use comparable to 7 households.

- Solar panel installed in our newest building in 2006 to heat all its water.

- An organic garden established in 1975 to feed our community, supplemented with food purchased locally. Over 80% of our food is both local & organic.

- Hand turned compost piles established in 1975. All food & paper napkins are composted for our organic garden.

- Personal transportation on our 140 acre property is by foot or shared bicycles.

- Clothing is recycled & re-used through our free boutique, stocked by residents & visitors.

- Our Young Adult program (aged 18 – 30) invites youth to apply to come & work here for 2 weeks or longer at no charge & to learn how to work cooperatively & to uphold their ideals in this sustainable community.

- A focus on the elimination of invasive plants on the Ashram property & in cooperation with the local community, through hand pulling weeds.

- Active & passive education of sustainable living strategies to over 1000 visitors who come each year for retreats, working vacations, & workshops.

- Using local transport whenever possible to purchase supplies & for going to medical appointments.

- Using community-recycling mechanisms for cardboard, paper, glass, plastic etc.

Upcoming projects:

- Installing solar panels on older buildings.

- Replacing a wood-&-waste-oil heating system in our main building with geothermal (completion date August 2008)

- Purchasing electric & hybrid vehicles to replace conventional cars & trucks used when purchasing goods & transporting supplies. (starting Autumn 2008)

- Installing clothes-lines for visitors & residents. (completed July/08)