Midway between Miami and Orlando, the Sustainable Kashi Ashram is an interfaith intentional community that combines yoga, meditation, and permaculture projects on 80 acres land on the eastern coast of Florida. Founded in 1976, the community’s teachings are based on Hindu philosophy, but participants of any religion – or none – are welcome to visit and volunteer at the ashram.
Sustainable Kashi offers several ways to get involved. Each year, the community hosts a Permaculture Design Course, in which participants learn about natural building, composting, agroforestry, and more, and leave with a certification in permaculture. Kashi also welcomes short- and long-term volunteers, and is a member of WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms).
According to Terry Meer, the Permaculture Director at Kashi:
“With 80 residents, water catchments, 3 different composing systems, alternative energy systems, 7 intentional gardens each with different unique growing styles including no till, bio-intensive, perennial food forest, and a medicinal mandala all using no chemical fertilizers or pesticides, Sustainable Kashi offers the perfect site to learn and observe a functioning model of community abundance. We currently teach workshops and retreats with ecology themes. Sustainable Kashi also offers a volunteer program in which dedicated students can camp in our off-grid eco-village and learn some hands on skills for sustainability.”
Want to learn more about Kashi Ashram? Check out the first episode of “Intentional” Season 1 – a web series that profiles intentional communities all over the U.S. – or visit Kashi’s website.
