Planting forests in Tamil Nadu, South India
Green Sakthi unifies reforestation, social empowerment, zero-waste management, education and environmental sustainability in India.
Sakthi (pronounced shakti) is a Sanskrit word that means feminine energy or power.
Green Sakthi is committed to deepening the relationship between people and nature.
With 20 years’ experience and under local auspices, Green Sakthi plants indigenous trees, empowers local women workers, promotes sustainable farming, zero-waste and continuously educates in local schools.
Our goal is to green Tamil Nadu, India, by creating more forests, supporting local farmers with donations of fruit trees, and teaching '5-layer food forest' methodology and collecting 1 tonne of rubbish every day. We support women’s empowerment through employment and leadership. Additionally, we have a bee & small animals protection program and are committed to educating children about the importance of nature and its conservation.
Green Sakthi Membership
Green Sakthi Membership
Become a Member!
With a Green Sakthi Membership, you get to help us plant trees for you!
For as little as $10 per month, your Green Sakthi membership supports planting & maintaining indigenous trees in our forests, a one acre edible forest, supporting local women in jobs, local farmers with tree donations and hands on educational programs with our local schools in Tamil Nadu, South India.
As we bring new life into the surroundings, the environment has brought be an oasis of tranquility and spiritual peace. We now count 20 species of butterflies, over 25 species of birds and our next aim is to bring more bees.
We are creating more forests in Tamil Nadu, South India over the next 20 years
When Green Sakthi began in 1998 (under the names of SAGAR & SAAP) in the rural village of Thirumalaikodi in Tamil Nadu, there was no electricity, nor public transport, the natural area was arid, neglected, dry and hot. The soil itself was compact and extremely difficult to work with. Because of the lack of trees, intense heat was radiating from surface areas due to the hot climate. There were only small shrubs in the area. The Kailasa Giri Hills that are now lush and fertile were then completely barren. The Green Sakthi project is presently reforesting and afforesting in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.
Women’s Empowerment
At present we employ 180 women in our tree nursery, forest regeneration program and zero waste management.
We are also supporting women leadership, with our supervisors Agricultural Science graduates, Sanjani, Vedha and Monisha.
Zero Waste EXNORA
EXNORA: Zero Waste Management Program was established in 1997 in conjunction with the environmental organization of the same name from Chennai. The project uses the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ principle, with each item segregated by hand and all biodegradable waste turned into compost.
We collect 1 ton of waste per day.
Education: Green Sakthi Club
Open to students from grades 5 to 8, Green Sakthi Club is a program all about hands-on green education. Tree planting, vegetable gardens, tree maintenance, drawing nature, picking up rubbish - you name it! Anything and everything that creates awareness for the health of our beautiful planet and gets our hands in soil is exactly what Green Sakthi club is all about. We have already had the pleasure of educating over 6000 students to date!
Food Forests
We are creating ‘5-layer food forests’ to support land regeneration and food production on our campus in South India. The fruits and vegetables we grow in our food forests are organic and will be used in our kitchens where we feed 5000 people everyday at no cost.
This is a pilot project teaching local farmers to replicate it on their own farms and increase their annual income.
Tree Nursery
Our Tree Nursery is home to over 100 000 indigenous saplings and is the cradle of all our programs. This is where we grow saplings from seeds and nurture them to 5 ft with our own compost before sending them out to be planted.
Bee Keeping
We have bee hives for the purpose of pollination and also conduct weekly bee keeping lessons at no cost, every Saturday in our Siddha Medicinal Forest.
Medicinal Forest
Our medicinal forest is a 16 acre sacred grove surrounding Sri Narayani Holistic Centre in Vellore, South India.
We are planting medicinal trees, shrubs and herbs in accordance to the Siddha medicine, the world’s most ancient living medicine. Medicines made from these trees and plants grown here are used to treat people at the holistic centre everyday.
Small Animals Protection Program
Protecting small animals and the environment, making life safer for animals and humans.
Our program includes caring for stray dogs and cats with rabies vaccinations, birth control, medical are and feeding.
Our bird sanctuary is located in the Siddha Medical Forest.
Become a member today!
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"Planting a tree is the greatest service you can do for Mother Earth, as every living being on this planet will benefit"
-Sri Sakthi Amma