8 Week Course. Self-Paced. Part of the New Amrita Virtual Academy Membership.

Join us on an introduction to sustainable gardening!

  • Enrollment is open!

    You can enroll at any time—there is no cut-off date. Late winter and early spring is the perfect time to begin your garden!

    All materials are available upon enrollment. We recommend you plan for one week per lesson but can adjust the pacing as needed.

  • Bonuses!

    Every week we’ll have special Swami satsangs on Vedanta or Amma’s teachings on Nature.

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

  • Instructor and Community Interaction

    Regular access to instructional team through e-mail. Bonus live session with instructors included (stay tuned for details).

    Gain access to an exclusive online community of like-minded sustainable gardeners. Share and exchange knowledge.

Course Curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome Unit

    • Opening Prayer

    • Welcome Letter

    • Replay of Introductory Q&A Live Session with Swami Shantamritananda Puri and Amritaculture Team (Oct 3, 2020)

    • Contact Us
  • 2

    Community Discussion Board

    • Community Discussion Board Link and Information

    • Community Board Guidelines
  • 3

    1.1 Intro to Amritaculture

    • 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

  • 4

    1.2 Intro and Groundwork

    • 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
  • 5

    2.1 Getting Started

    • Satsang by Swami Shantamritananda Puri

    • Garden Tour - Amma's Rudraksha Farm
  • 6

    2.2 Getting Started - In the Garden

    • Lola's Song

    • Observe Your Surroundings

    • Water, Prayer, Slope and Climate

    • Resources & Diversity

    • Making Connections and Stress Free Gardening

    • You in the Garden
  • 7

    2.3 Getting Started - Practical Lectures

    • Learning from Nature

    • Larger Cycles that Impact the Garden

    • Garden Art: Circle of Life

    • Local Factors that Impact the Garden

    • Local Factors: Part 2
  • 8

    2.4 Meditation and Review

    • 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
  • 9

    3.1 Soil

    • Satsang by Swami Shantamritananda Puri
  • 10

    3.2 Soil - In the Garden

    • 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
  • 11

    3.3 Soil - Practical Lectures

    • Soil

    • Ancient Soil

    • Fertile Soil

    • Soil Aggregates

  • 12

    3.4 Meditation and Review

    • Soil Meditation

    • Soil Exploration

    • Assignment: Soil Exploration

    • Quiz: Know Your Soil

    • Replay of Week 3 Live Q&A

    • Closing Prayers for World Peace
  • 13

    4.1 Beds and Containers

    • Satsang by Swami Shantamritananda Puri
  • 14

    4.2 Beds and Containers - In the Garden

    • 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
  • 15

    4.3 Beds and Containers - Practical Lectures

    • Beds and Containers - Parameters

    • Beds and Containers - Parameters, Part 2

    • 5 Kinds of Garden Beds

    • Growing Food in Containers
  • 16

    4.4 Meditation and Review

    • 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
  • 17

    Review Week

    • Replay of Review Week Live Q&A

    • A Chance to Catch Up

    • AmritaCulture Review Week Session B
  • 18

    5.1 No-Dig Beds

    • Satsang by Swami Shantamritananda Puri
  • 19

    5.2 No-Dig Beds - In the Garden

    • Starting and Safety

    • Building the Bed - Part 1

    • Building the Bed - Part 2

    • No-Dig Bed Fruition
  • 20

    5.3 No-Dig Beds - Practical Lectures

    • No-Dig Beds

    • Microorganism Review

    • Mulch

    • How to Make a No-Dig Bed - Method #1

    • How to Make a No-Dig Bed - Method #2

  • 21

    5.4 Meditation and Review

    • Meditation

    • Quiz: No-Dig

    • Assignment: Build Your Own No-Dig Bed

    • Replay of Week 5 Live Q&A
  • 22

    6.1 Planting

    • Satsang
  • 23

    6.2 Planting - In the Garden

    • Starting to Plant

    • Hands in the Soil

    • Direct Planting into No-Dig Beds

    • Planting from Cuttings
  • 24

    6.3 Planting - Practical Lectures

    • Planting

    • Planting Charts

    • Preparing Your Beds

    • The Process Itself

    • Planting with the Heavens
  • 25

    6.4 Meditation and Review

    • Meditation

    • Quiz: Planting

    • Assignment: Plan a bed for planting

    • Replay of Week 7 Live Q&A
  • 26

    7.1 Garden Puja

    • Satsang

    • Bonus Satsang!
  • 27

    7.2 Garden Puja - In the Garden

    • Tulasi Puja

    • Tulsi & Lotus
  • 28

    7.3 Garden Puja - Practical Lectures

    • Garden Puja

    • Adjusting Our Attitude in the Garden

    • Adjusting Our Actions in the Garden
  • 29

    7.4 Meditation and Review

    • 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
  • 30

    8.1 Amritaculture Course Wrap Up

    • 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
  • 31

    8.2 Student Assignments

    • 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
  • 32

    Resources: General

    • Bibliography

    • Garden Tools and Organic Materials List
  • 33

    Resources: Full Text from Videos

    • 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
  • 34

    Resources: Sprout Articles

    • Week 1: Sprout Combining for the Home Scientist

    • Week 1: The Importance of Rinsing Sprouts

    • Week 1: Sprouting Recipe
  • 35

    Resources: Weed Articles

    • 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
  • 36

    Soil Articles

    • Soil Health and Human Health

    • Human Health and the Soil Connection
  • 37

    Wild Herbs

    • Wild-Crafting Herbs

    • Wild Plants: How to Use Them in Daily Life

    • What are Weeds and What Do They Tell Us About the Soil?
  • 38

    Resources: Charts and Lists

    • 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
  • 39

    Resources: Q&A

    • 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)

Join AVA Membership