On-demand Course
Suggested Study: 8 Weeks
Part of the AVA Membership

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Join us on an introduction to sustainable gardening!

  • Part of the AVA membership!

    Late winter and early spring is the perfect time to begin or deepen your gardening journey!

    All materials are available with the AVA membership. We recommend that you plan for one week per lesson but you can adjust the pacing as needed.

  • Bonuses!

    Includes special swami satsangs on Vedanta and Amma’s teachings on Nature.

    There's also instruction in the garden with practical lectures, articles, meditation, activities, exclusive access to recordings of previous live calls, quizzes and more!

  • Community

    Enjoy our online gardening community forum. Share and exchange knowledge with like-minded sustainable gardeners.

    Watch replays of live Q&As and discussions with instructors.

    Get inspired by other students assignments.

THE COURSE CURRICULUM

Welcome Letter
Opening Prayer
Intro Q&A with Swami Shantamritananda Puri and Amritaculture Team
Contact Us
Community Discussion Board Link and Information
Community Board Guidelines
Amma's Message
The Origin of Green Friends: Satsang by Swami Jnanamritananda Puri
Amritaculture Core Principles and Practices
Amritaculture Core Principles & Practices Text
Meet the Teachers
Garden Art: Amma the Giving Tree
Animation: Amma Says
Syllabus and Course Overview
How to Use this Course
Gardening Groundwork
Garden Tools and Organic Materials
Growing Sprouts
Meditation Offering by Swami Jnanamritananda Puri
Survey: Tell us about Yourself
Replay of Week 1 Live Q&A
Satsang by Swami Shantamritananda Puri
Garden Tour - Amma's Rudraksha Farm
Lola's Song
Observe Your Surroundings
Water, Prayer, Slope and Climate
Resources & Diversity
Making Connections and Stress Free Gardening
You in the Garden
Learning from Nature
Larger Cycles that Impact the Garden
Garden Art: Circle of Life
Local Factors that Impact the Garden
Local Factors: Part 2
Creating a Garden Meditation
Garden Art: Making Connections
Assignment: Making Connections
Expanded Assignment: Sun & Shade Map
Quiz for Creating a Garden Space
Replay of Week 2 Live Q&A
Closing Prayers for World Peace
Satsang by Swami Shantamritananda Puri
Seeing the Guest as God
Did You Eat?
The Forest Floor
Layers of Healthy Soil
How to Create Healthy Soil
The Origins Of Organic Farming
Soil
Ancient Soil
Fertile Soil
Soil Aggregates
Soil Meditation
Soil Exploration
Assignment: Soil Exploration
Quiz: Know Your Soil
Replay of Week 3 Live Q&A
Closing Prayers for World Peace
Satsang by Swami Shantamritananda Puri
How We Started
No-Dig Beds
Raised Beds
Pit Bed
Pit Bed: The Making Of
Pit Bed Fruition
Patio Garden
Planting into Containers without Potting Soil
Beds and Containers - Parameters
Beds and Containers - Parameters, Part 2
5 Kinds of Garden Beds
Growing Food in Containers
Beds & Containers Meditation
Quiz for Beds and Containers
Assignment: Garden Bed Exploration
Replay of Week 4 Live Session - Group A
Replay of Week 4 Live Session - Group B
Replay of Review Week Live Q&A
A Chance to Catch Up
AmritaCulture Review Week Session B
Satsang by Swami Shantamritananda Puri
Starting and Safety
Building the Bed - Part 1
Building the Bed - Part 2
No-Dig Bed Fruition
No-Dig Beds
Microorganism Review
Mulch
How to Make a No-Dig Bed - Method #1
How to Make a No-Dig Bed - Method #2
No-Dig Beds Meditation
Quiz: No-Dig
Assignment: Build Your Own No-Dig Bed
Replay of Week 5 Live Q&A
Satsang
Starting to Plant
Hands in the Soil
Direct Planting into No-Dig Beds
Planting from Cuttings
Planting
Planting Charts
Preparing Your Beds
The Process Itself
Planting with the Heavens
Planting Meditation
Quiz: Planting
Assignment: Plan a Bed for Planting
Replay of Week 7 Live Q&A
Satsang
Bonus Satsang!
Tulasi Puja
Tulasi & Lotus
Garden Puja
Adjusting Our Attitude in the Garden
Adjusting Our Actions in the Garden
Guided Planting Puja
Guided Planting Puja - Audio
Garden Prayer
Garden Art: Planting Puja
Puja Creation Contemplation
Replay of Week 7 Live Q&A
Replay of Week 7 Live Discussion
Satsang
Satsang
Meditation
Stay Connected! Amrita Virtual Academy Private Facebook Group for All Classes
Bonus: Thanksgiving Retreat Special
Audio Correction: Chandrika's Section of Thanksgiving Special
Closing Prayers for World Peace
Student Presentation - Anupama & Michael
Balcony Garden Connections - Anja
Connections - Cristina
Sun and Shade Map and Making Connections - Rachel
Making Connections - Anandadevi
Making Connections - Mitra
Soil Exploration - Allia
Soil Exploration - Subhadra
Siol Exploration - Bari
Soil Exploration - Kamlesh
Garden Bed Exploration - Kristin
Garcen Bed Exploration - Jorg
Garden Bed exploration - Divya
Garden Bed Exploration - Mangala
Garden Bed Exploration - Allia
No-Dig Bed - Yavonne
No-Dig Bed - Jorge
No-Dig Bed - Yogesha
Garden Bed Plan - Geraldine
Garden Bed Plan - Jacqueline
Garden Bed Plan - Kathryn
Garden Plan - Ravi
Student Presentation: Garden Puja - Geraldine
Student Presentation: Turtle Farm - Anaswara
Bibliography
Garden Tools and Organic Materials List
Week 2: Getting Started - In the Garden
Week 2: Getting Started - Practical Lectures
Week 3: Soil - In the Garden
Week 3: Soil - Practical Lectures
Week 4: Beds and Containers - In the Garden
Week 4: Beds and Containers - Practical Lectures
Week 5: No-dig - In the Garden
Week 5: No-Dig - Practical Lectures
Week 6: Planting - Practical Lectures
Week 6: Planting - In the Garden
Week 1: Sprout Combining for the Home Scientist
Week 1: The Importance of Rinsing Sprouts
Week 1: Sprouting Recipe
Weed of the Week #1: Tulasi Care
Weed of the Week #2: Dandelion - The Bitter Miracle
Weed of the Week #3: Nettles
Weed of the Week #4: Rose Hips
Weed of the Week #5: Violet
Weed of the Week #6: Burdock
Weed of the Week #7: Comfrey
Weed of the Week #8: Red Clover
Soil Health and Human Health
Human Health and the Soil Connection
Wild-Crafting Herbs
Wild Plants: How to Use Them in Daily Life
What are Weeds and What Do They Tell Us About the Soil?
List of Weeds and the Soil Conditions They Indicate
Climate Zones
Mediterranean Vegetable Sowing and Planting Charts 2
Planting Chart - Cold Climate: Australia
Planting Chart - Subtropic Climate: Australia
Planting Chart - Temperate Climate: Australia
Planting Chart - Tropical Climate: Australia
Planting Chart - Tropical Annuals (with additional information)
Companion Planting Chart
NPK of Organic Plant Materials
NPK - Manures
NPK of Organic Materials - Other
NPK of Different Kinds of Ash
Planting Chart - Northern Climate
Bio-Dynamic Planting Calander Example
Sprout Q&A from Oct 17, 2002 Live Session Presentation
Chemical-free Lawn and Landscape Bed Care
Natural Pest and Disease Management
Ponds
Wicking Beds

Meet Your Instructors

Lola S.

Aum Namah Shivaya Dear Friends,
My name is Lola and I am so happy to be an instructor for the Amritaculture courses. For years Amma has been giving me seeds, plants, and saplings. Now everyone is discovering the joy of growing and eating food from land that is infused with our own love and efforts. We’ve seen people inspired all over the world by Amma's call to action. Amma Herself has recently created a garden on Her own roof. Looking forward to connecting with you soon!

Yours truly,
Lola

Seetala D.

Aum Namah Shivaya,
My pranams to everyone here interested in gardening. My name is Seetala. I’m so excited to garden with all of you. If each one of us shares what little we know, we can all learn to grow more food not only for ourselves but for our communities. I believe that gardening is one of the best things we can do for the planet at this time. Regenerative agriculture not only helps vegetables grow but the practices also help heal the environment in general.

I have been gardening in this way for over 25 years in several different climates and will be offering step by step instruction in practical gardening techniques. Come join our classes and be a part of bringing Amma’s global growing community closer together.

With Love,
Seetala

Chandrika

Hello everyone!
By Amma’s grace, I was given this opportunity to teach the Amritaculture meditations. I’ve been gardening since I was a teen and guiding retreats and meditations in Nature for about 10 years. Amma has been mentioning growing our own food and living sustainably for a long time. I am deeply grateful to be a small instrument in her hands for spreading that message. The aim of all these practices is to go deep within and experience the true Self which resides in our hearts and in all of creation. I am looking forward to sharing this experience with all of you.

With a joyful heart,
Chandrika

"May the tree of our life be firmly rooted in the soil of love.

May good deeds be the leaves on that tree. May words of kindness form its flowers, and may peace be its fruit. Let us grow and unfold as one family united in love."
- Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi)

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