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In 1992 we finally opted out of the corporate world in Bombay for a long planned involvement with agriculture and rural development at the very edge of the Thar Desert. We now live on our 40-acre farm in eastern Rajasthan, 90 kilometers from Delhi where Ajit demonstrates to marginal farmers how to maximize their yields by using various combinations of fruit trees, crops and vegetables. Fuel and fodder trees are planted as wind breaks. When we bought the farm in 1983 it was degraded sandy land, completely denuded with just a single Pipal tree. Today there are over 65,000. |
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In keeping with our commitment to environmentally appropriate living, the farm is completely organic and has been certified for the past 2 years by SKAL of Holland, as `Organic One'. We are now moving one step further in the organic revolution and are working on experiments in the production and documentation of the use of bio dynamic preparations which are high potency, low cost, organic inputs that vastly enhance agricultural output. |
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Our philosophy of living with nature extends to the home we are building which is based on natural forms and materials, and is built without any steel or cement. It consists of a series of catenary domes, built without formwork, of fired brick and an ancient mortar recipe based on lime waste - the result, covered area cost a mere forty rupees a foot. The forms of nature, the compression strength of an egg, animal burrows, the beehive, natural caves and so on, inspired the catenary domes. The ground plan of the house conceived by emulating the beehive, is a series of hexagons, the most efficient and cost effective method of enclosing space. The catenary form, as opposed to the hemispherical dome, also uses the least amount of building material in its support structure and is said to be the most stable form of construction able to withstand even strong earthquakes. The limewaste mortar is also extremely strong and has a very much longer life than cement.  While Ajit works agriculture, Royina focuses on social development and works with women and children. She also writes. |