India's Water Revolution #7: 50 YEARS of Permaculture @ Auroville

Permaculture instructor Andrew Millison journeys to India to film 50 years of permaculture in the epic eco-township of Auroville. We tour a number of sites within the vast project, including the Sadhana Forest, a series of check dams in the Auroville canyons, and the biological water treatment systems prevalent throughout the community. Guided by a number of Auroville residents, we visit the work and see the effects of a region-wide reforestation and groundwater restoration project that has dramatically improved the lives, economy, ecology and stability of this visionary settlement!
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[@gonnagetya1433]

Politicians keep talking about trickle down concepts that just don't work. I think your series of videos has shown that Trickle UP works even though you have not focused on it. Bringing the poorest of the poor up a step even the smallest one will enrich the whole community. The fact that it's based on water makes it even more appropriate. Good job, great series.

[@robertgraham1088]

I just binged watched the series on India. It is so nice to see positive environmental success stories given all the bad news about the current state of Planet Earth. Thank you for producing these.

[@Lord.Dakshinamurthy]

Me too :D 🔱 I always come back when. I drink.... Hope to recreate this in my village one day :D

[@nicholaslittle2312]

100%

[@Kyle_Hubbard]

Damn, I've already binged all seven episodes. These videos are incredibly interesting it's just a shame that they come out well few and far inbetween.

[@amillison]

Thanks and so glad you like the series. I wish there were three of me to do the enormous amount of work it takes so I could get these out quicker! It'll be a while now before I publish anything else, but I'm working on having the infrastructure to film and edit videos more quickly.

[@Kyle_Hubbard]

@@amillison I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.

[@Kyle_Hubbard]

@@amillison Hi Andrew. Been quite some time but I check into the channel every so often. Been some months now but I'm back. I hope this doesn't come across as pushy as that isn't my intention. I was just wondering if further videos of this series have been pushed back for some reason. To reiterate what I said over a year ago now I really loved this series and I remember it every few months and check for new videos.

[@amillison]

@@Kyle_Hubbard I was finished with the India series at 7 videos. I had filmed an 8th, but had decided against making the episode because I didn't have great footage. The organization is providing me with drone footage so i am making one more india episode coming up: "Ancient Underground Canal resurrected". Sould be out within a couple of weeks :-)

[@Kyle_Hubbard]

@@amillison Ah OK. No worries. Look forward to the last video of the series. Keep up the great work.

[@thientramnguyen1141]

Hi Andrew Millison! I'm from Viet Nam and I'm very grateful for your videos about permaculture. I hope that you could let me translate your videos to Vietnamese, so many people in my country can be inspired by you. Not many people in my country can completely understand English videos. I will quote the source and the original link. So, thank you very much from all of my heart! I look forward to hearing from you!

[@amillison]

Thien, You can definitely translate. Can you make an SRT file for me to attach to these videos? You can see, this video is already translated into 5 languages. Send me an email: [e-mail] if you would like to coordinate this.

[@RolfStones]

I've been at Auroville, it's quite amazing what they're doing over there. I've been to Hiware Bazar in Maharashtra too, though a smaller project, it is well worth visiting.

[@lookup5610]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGHdYnpsqMynh5Y

[@dmarsub]

I've been there a decade ago after a big storm hit the area. They are some tough cookies.

[@cristiaolson7327]

I live in the drought-prone state of California, and I wish more of our municipalities would look at these types of solutions for water capture and storage. We get rain in winter, but when all of it is stored in lakes and ponds, instead of feeding the water table, it evaporates. Wells have dropped steadily around the state for decades. We need catchment and recharge ponds to bring the water table back up, and more water recycling to reduce how much we draw from the wells. At least I can try to implement some of these methods on a small scale, such as making my own property more water-retaining to reduce the amount of irrigation required to grow my garden, and if I ever get the money to do so, I'd like to build grey and black water management systems for my home that can recycle the water for irrigating. If more of us do just a little to help mitigate the problems, hopefully it will add up.

[@crystaldragon471]

"If we all did a little, then a lot would get done" ~Mishka I'm in the Mojave Desert, and I'm saddened by our government(s) remaining ignorant to these solutions. I started practicing small-scale rainharvesting and permaculture after watching these videos nearly three years ago, and have been completely dedicated to it. I've abandoned all other interests in favor of growing my own food without irrigation, and restoring the montane plant community I live in; regenerating native grass and ground cover, and restoring a seasonal mountain stream that runs through my yard. It has completely rewritten an otherwise sad, barren ground with a dying population of native ponderosa pine and gambel oak. It's the kind of place you wouldn't expect to find in the Mojave, and it sounds lush in comparison to the surrounding low desert, but it is a sadly suppressed landscape full of people who just want to pave paradise and put up a parking lot. They don't even realize how much damage is done, and how simple it would be to reverse the problems that are draining our wells and degradating the soil, that nourishes the trees that made this place paradise to begin with. Now, we just live in constant fear of wildfires, landslides and floods, dying plant and animal populations, and a constant concern for a dying aquifer (which has notably collapsed at least once). It feels like I'm the only person within 100+miles that even cares to be part of the solution, so I aim to make as big of an impact as possible. Some of my neighbors think I'm an abomination for digging swales and building stone walls in the stream, but they have nothing to say now that the entire hill (1.25 acres) is growing lush grass and the canyon forming in our backyard has turned into a level sediment trap which is gradually transforming into a grassy pasture (all the while, their perfectly raked up plot is losing top soil with every rain, and very little vegetation grows). I'm not prideful about it. I just hope to encourage anyone who is thinking about doing this work to ignore the haters, and do it because you know it is the right thing to do. I wasn't going to wait for anyone to help, rather, I wanted to set the example for my community to ponder. There are those who have come to see what I'm trying to do and listened to my suggestions, but most people just don't want to make the effort. Perhaps desperation will be the tipping point, but it's all the better the sooner we get this work underway. Don't hesitate. Just do it! 💝

[@natalym2270]

Pakistan -India south borders do not have to be a DESERT …. Thanks ! Love guiding us !!

[@himanshusingh5214]

You can upload videos of your Farm.@@crystaldragon471

[@dzikiges]

Some people in California using this knowledge and enjoying water in their gardens without problem .

[@arifali6762]

Great job it gives hope for all. Israel is another great example of bringing plants into the land. ❤️ from 🇺🇸. Nameste to all.

[@briannacooper2628]

This channel gives me hope for healing our world and cultural practices. Thank you!

[@robertmitchell8630]

Rest of India needs to do this model in every. Village town city 🏙️

[@kanekirana9530]

Everywhere isn't shortage of water in India.. Many areas suffer from excessive water too

[@ayatollahvladimirputin3844]

Trees can prevent floods

[@poojan423]

@@kanekirana9530 but it's still a good thing to increase forest cover, use waste lands, conservation of water.

[@Mclovin96X]

some states in north llike dirty . no matter what govt do they dont change , they like filth

[@debodatta7398]

Sad part is ancient cholas and other Tamil dynasties had these methods and were masters at creating artificial lakes and conserving and reusing water. Then after 300 years of European colonization many of these methods were lost and forgotten.

[@AG-gv9cb]

ok.. how about air pollution? did west cause that too? Its about time we stop blaming others very common thing we indians do

[@luisvarney4949]

So this whole video is talking about bringing old Culture back - not Bill Mollison's invention. Yeah. Turn Permaculture into a verb.

[@moguldamongrel3054]

@@AG-gv9cb I don't think your ancestors had heavy industry... And since the west didnt have any safeguards for their own pollution until recently... Yes would be the answer to your...dumb statement.

[@moguldamongrel3054]

@@luisvarney4949 Nah it's just why tees attempt at seeming smart.

[@AG-gv9cb]

@@moguldamongrel3054 Learn some decent english first. what have you done in ancient culture to bring back? Most recent prosperity India has gotten recently its all from servicing the corporate west./.from cell phones to internet, from electricity to air/car transportation Its all western invention. Again we blame west for out problems witch we failed to solve to hide our failures...nice try anyways,.

[@quinto190]

Fantastic video series! Watched all seven parts of "India's Water Revolution". Mainstream media documentaries about other countries here in Germany usually can't even get close, because they focus so much on negative things... it's like they want to show, how bad everything is in other countries compared to Germany. Not solution-oriented like permaculture...

[@facthub9964]

Yeah if they show you good work going in world people will uproot the government

[@donaldinho1099]

Fascinating coverage of very positive, life giving projects.

[@lookup5610]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGHdYnpsqMynh5Y

[@nirajnihlani7499]

Great work sir. It's like a crash course. I have watched all of them in short period of time. You've beautifully articulated the practices into words, visuals and maps. Thank you very much for such interesting work.

[@amillison]

Yes, the whole series is a complete curriculum! Glad you enjoyed :-)

[@jigishapatel9354]

Hello Andrew ! We met at your visit at Aranya. I was doing my Pdc. I had mentioned about my daughter’s school near Pune. It was set 25yrs on a barren land on 71 acres. Sahyadri school kfi foundation. The school is harvesting a lot of water ... they are working with ACWADAM in Pune. Also in lot of small ways school is teaching children to wash their own utensils in three stages... use there clothes for two days.. The school will arrange for your stay and pick up whenever you are in India. It will be a pleasure. Also the school has a seed bank and is promoting organic farming in near by community...

[@amillison]

Jigisha, Yes, I remember you and I was sorry that our schedule was so tight in Pune that we could not visit the school. But Pune will definitely be on our route next time because we will want to visit the Suhana Spice family again and I want to see more sites of the Paani Foundation. We are hoping to come to India again in late November of this year, so I will be in touch. Take care, Andrew

[@gilliqbal13]

World needs this more than concrete jungle. Much respect

[@akashayyagari6167]

I would recommend you to visit Kanha shanti vanam,near hyderabad. It was a barren land in 2015, and now has more than a few million trees! would love to see what techniques they have used!

[@briangarrow448]

Another great story from your channel. I have spent decades building and running wastewater and stormwater control systems and look at these projects as worthy of the highest level of monetary support by NGO’s and government agencies.

[@Paraclef]

The whole ocean must be resorbed to restore the old original garden.

[@paritoshshah4968]

I binged all 7 episodes of urs in 1 shot. Amazing work u have done to bring this in digital media showcasing it to the world how water can be saved n restored.

[@amillison]

Awesome Paritosh. The series is designed so the information builds each episode so watching it all at once like a movie is a good way to do it. I'm working on more content right now so stay tuned :-)

[@krishnasai2446]

This was an amazing series, binged the entire thing in one go, it's a shame that most people in India are oblivious to the great work happening in our own country. Thanks for making me aware of this.

[@growthefoodyoulove9300]

Namaste Andrew! These videos in India are the most inspiring projects I've seen in the world. I hope to take my permaculture design certificate soon, move to dome land and get started on a project like this. Thank you for the inspiration!😁

[@Muddyboimiami]

🙏❤️🙏🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@thedailydump7407]

Permaculture and the tools you teach are clearly the answer to saving local ecology! And I see that they could bring purpose and meaning to the lives of many unhappy and unfulfilled people.

[@paulking54]

Would love to revisit India and check out Auroville. Massive respect to the project.

[@davideforesti7556]

Thank you Mr Millison, this series was amazing really, one of my favorite on youtube. Maybe next time you could go to Brazil to follow the syntropic farming revolution, best wishes from Thailand.

[@A--zo2mm]

Permaculture is our salvation, period..!

[@Liescomefromtheright]

It's but one of many that needs to happen at an accelerated rate.

[@Muddyboimiami]

🙏❤️🙏🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@sdaggers4526]

Fav series on yt! Liked before watching commenting for the algorithm

[@ronaldronald8819]

I have bin there many years ago. Stayed with Josh and Anita's botanical gardens for a while. Miraculous how desert was transformed into beautiful forest.

[@udeshikadesilva1130]

Hi Andrew. Your videos are so fascinating and inspiring. I thought I'd share an idea with you because you had invited people to let you know if they know of other sites. I'm from Sri Lanka and I'm actually doing the Permaculture Design Course at OSU at the moment by the way 😀, and I want to tell you a bit about the ancient irrigation systems of the dry zone of Sri Lanka, where, by collecting rainwater in large tanks, we are able to grow rice crops twice a year (as you know rice needs copious amounts of water) even though it's a dry zone. There are many large tanks as well as the small ones that are still in use today. Of course, it's a large scale project and what's interesting was that the systems that were developed in ancient times are still holding steady and is the lifeblood of the region even today.

[@amillison]

Udeshika, so glad you are in my current class and I just looked at your portfolio and location earlier today when answering your question about your watershed. I actually do want to visit Sri Lanka, as a couple of the sites I'd like to visit in India are further South in Tamil Nadu and we were looking at the map and seeing how close they are to Sri Lanka. But I did not know what there was to visit and so now I'm very interested in these ancient irrigation systems. Can you share more about them with me, and locations so I can look on satellite images? [e-mail] . Looking forward to visiting :-)

[@ZokcoPokco]

Andrew Millison can we see update on this?. I love what you do!

[@replica1052]

(when every living cell holds an ocean within - water wants to flow slow)

[@kf9346]

Thank you for these. These videos came up in my suggestions for some reason. Although I have always LOVED the topics since being a kid, I can not really watch any nature, animal, environment shows or documentaries anymore because I can't handle the sadness of it all... but these episodes on the positive and restorative projects people are investing in... WOW! Thanks for helping restore my hope!

[@TruthKindness]

Restored my hope too!

[@farmaanandaa]

Would love to have you visit us at Aanandaa Permaculture Farm in North India. While the scale is not as large as some of the projects you have covered, I think it captures what one family can do within their own capacity. Manisha, has also been a PDC student at OSU :-)

[@amillison]

Yes, I know about your farm and I would love to visit. I have watched your videos and know Manisha took our course. When India opens back up to foreigners, I would like to visit.

[@farmaanandaa]

@@amillison we look forward to that, and would love to host you!

[@siddhantk4985]

I'm from India and never knew this place existed ..😮 Anyways thanks Andrew through ur channel I learned many knew things about water conservation ..

[@saugod]

Andrew thanks for sharing these videos with us. I was browsing YT for videos on permaculture, when I stumbled upon your videos. Your work is amazing, from videography to editing and narrating. These inspirational and wonderful stories would've been unheard if not for you.

[@amillison]

Thanks so much and I'm really glad that you appreciate not just the information but the artfulness :-)

[@karthikckrishna]

This is model project on which we should base our cities on....demonstration of perseverance and good people at work.....rare to find these days...

[@titlighosh5947]

Thank you for educating about an important movement in my own country since media are busy doing god knows unnecessary things.

[@barnabyvonrudal1]

The guy who built the check dam is amazing

[@chahineyalla4838]

I read that Spain used to be covered in forests. Now, desertification is visible even from space. It would be wonderful to try and reverse that.

[@joaovitormendes696]

i swear this is my favorite youtube series

[@jonathanbethune9075]

Fantastic. That made my day. A miniature cosmos, very Indian.

[@FrancoisTCS]

My in laws origins from a small village in Tamil Nadu plateau, and the villagers struggles with water management I have been told. I need to look into this with other more influent family members.

[@TheDR93]

Keep up the good job so much people can benefit from watching this. I learnt a lot and I'm liking and watching as much videos as I can.

[@dipaksarkar7802]

I am waiting for your return back to India again. And also want to be a part of your journey.

[@jaik9321]

Auroville 🎉🎉 way to go such a unique place in the world

[@AYoung-rt9ij]

I love it keep it coming! I live in reno. A high desert. I have watched jeoff and bill, and i certainly enjoy all the indian influences. It is quite a world we live in. Just convince the neighbors...lol.

[@aryanyadav3690]

Hats off to Govt of Auroville 🙏🏻

[@blakegranquist481]

More people need to know about this stuff! I’m very grateful to have seen this! Thank you!

[@jellainedelcampo5695]

Yes, I have been waiting for a new video. Love this series, ty so much!

[@lookup5610]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGHdYnpsqMynh5Y

[@erothegardener]

Truly incredible. I can only imagine how inspiring it must be to visit there. Has anyone else reading this been to Auroville? How was it?

[@shan19key]

It is an amazing place like no other on earth. You should visit !

[@-Rickster-]

Love your series on permaculture and India! Amazing things I see, hear and love.

[@1MonthNoRegrets]

Great work Andrew! I guess one great Indian Water Steward to capture would be Rajendra Singh!

[@1MonthNoRegrets]

woop never mind. Saw your Rajendra video :p

[@PanagiotisVarsamis]

Perfect work Andrew, thank you so much. Can't wait for season 2

[@TheVigilantStewards]

wow this has been great!!! I've really enjoyed seeing Pandi and all of these! We hope our family can do something like this... Auroville looks like a good place to go study herbal medicine and share our own

[@jonasholzer4422]

This was one of the most interesting and inspiring series I've ever watched. In my hometown in Germany we don't really have drought issues yet (although the area comes closer and closer to it every year) but especially du to the raised frequency of extreme rain events we had more and more flood problems. Just last year my hometown and another town where I lived for a few years had huge floods. Now that I've seen these genius water management strategies I started thinking about how these techniques could mitigate future floodings in my hometown and also help refill the aquifers. My hometown (or rather village) is located in a small valley, the hillsides are mostly covered with completely open farmland. When heavy rains hits the area (especially in winter, when the farmland is completely baron) the water rushes straight down into the village and floods our local brook. Now theoretically, ditches like the ones shown in this series could be dug along the borders of the different fields which run horizontally to the hillside to catch water and prevent it from rushing straight down. these ditches could additionally be fortified by planting local shrubs like fruit trees, and other biodiversity friendly species. This would not only add a possibility for locals to harvest apples, pears, nuts etc, in fall but also slow down the harsh winds that often brush over these hills and create living spaces for local wildlife. I think this idea would really be worth looking into as it would be a cheap way of solving a lot of problems. I should try to introduce some people back home to this concept. I would love to kick of a project like that

[@JustForfun-ok4ed]

More and more people like these needed.

[@HistoricalProf730]

''Kireet Gerard Jak'' salute to u sir, great work sir great work

[@jessiperry60]

god bless india

[@lookup5610]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGHdYnpsqMynh5Y

[@senthilkumarn4u]

I live in Chennai but never knew Auroville was once a desert.. Great info Andrew.. inspirational..

[@buhu446]

another great video bro, I get instant happy when hearing this intro again lol. and it's funny to see a fellow Dutchman (Gerard Jak) in the series!

[@replica1052]

in mathematics a dead planet earth is still 100% - corruption leads to incompetence (monotheism comes from mathematics) * funny ! *

[@reksie7816]

Seems to me a lot of Dutch people are involved in permaculture projects. I wonder why

[@lovecatspiracy]

Amazing and inspiring. Thanks so much for your top notch content!!!!

[@GaiaCarney]

@amillison - Thank You for creating & sharing this video series on India’s Water Revolution! I celebrate these awesome human works 🕊

[@bachanizulfi]

Very nice sharing and learning episode. High regards to all who have done this and shared such a amazing piece of information and inspirations.

[@lookup5610]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGHdYnpsqMynh5Y

[@maphrang1182]

All I can say is hats off to you for all the information on the water project in India. I'm from India but know nothing about all these projects (7 videos) you have shown. Thank you

[@cedrigo]

Very inspiring

[@payalk2898]

There are so many others Water Projects you can cover like Sonam Wangchuk in Ladakh for Ice Stupa Laxman Singh of Lapodiya Rajasthan Shyam Sunder in Piplantari, Rajasthan They do so much more than catering to Water Outside India : Fog harvesting cloud catchers in Peru

[@yannicklenormand7815]

Yet, 8 people didn't like this. unbelievable.

[@NewArchipelago]

Great video. I visited Sadhana forest a long time ago, good to see they're still going strong. I also heard they started another project in Kenya! Have you heard of the Bhungroo water infiltration method? I wonder if that's being implemented much.

[@jimmadison4257]

Beyond amazing series! Really really well done. Beautiful maps and graphics. Binged it all back to back. Really important information for any homesteader or even anyone with land who wants to create a microclimate and optimize their greenery and water usage. Really proud of ya bud!👏

[@amillison]

I so appreciate the kind words! Thank you for letting me know you're enjoying my channel, stay well and cheers :-)

[@ariadnepyanfar1048]

What an inspiring and hopeful series. Thank you for showcasing the positive work that Indians are doing to improve their climate, food, and livelihood security.

[@shreyaslahoti7542]

This is brilliant!

[@allanturpin2023]

Thanks Andrew. Great series. Hope for more.

[@stanlibuda96]

Great vid, great series, great channel. Thanks!

[@quantumthinker3248]

This is unbelievably beautiful

[@a.z.c.681]

Great series. The segment from Auroville at 56:00 was very interesting to see. That rejuvenation, reenergizing of the water at that property took a long journey from Austrian forester/genius Viktor Schauberger's ideas. Yes all those water gadgets you see there are his inventions.

[@OviHentea]

Wonderful work, thank you for assembling the series!

[@kpatel7995]

Outstanding.Very proud of all the wonderful people. Thanks.

[@MayankJairaj]

thanks for making these videos Ive binged watched your channel in three days lol one of the best Indian series I've seen

[@ryananderson8642]

Wow, Andrew! Such great and inspiring content, projects, and culture! I love that you share and spread these incredible practices that we lack so much in our occidental world! Your open eyes and heart are so beautiful and I wish that you can enlighten more life-changing stories around the world. Take care and looking forward to seeing and hearing from you

[@amillison]

Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement! It is truly and honor to engage with different cultures and share their innovative knowledge with others :-)

[@MartinSlort]

Oh yes! Thank you very much for your video’s!

[@s.santhamani6971]

Wonderful coverage, Would love to see more like this. Keep up your work.

[@yomama1254]

Thank you for your efforts! This has been a great season.

[@luciboras]

America can benefit from this new way of thinking. Ancient knowledge with modern tech

[@neil2043]

Thank you so much for this wonderful coverage of something so important and I feel extremely grateful to be able to have the opportunity to witness history in the making.

[@Skeptic236]

Fantastic! Thank you for the technical explanation of how it all works.

[@j.s.boehme8991]

Thanks, Andrew. Very inspiring. You're the best!

[@gt122388]

Thank you so much for bringing this to light!

[@MyFoodForest]

I found your channel through your garden tour video/ and now I see that you have been in Auroville! I grow an abundance of food in my permaculture garden around my house---in Auroville

[@madhavip0273]

I've watched all the videos in the series, it's amazing! please do more of this. Love from India

[@theasianwitch]

your documentaries are super dope! thank you!!

[@joaovox]

Great good news! Thank you for your work! Always useful to learn about some earthworks details...

[@lookup5610]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGHdYnpsqMynh5Y

[@mattt5027]

Thank you for a great series

[@Reinier020]

Awesome series, this really gives hope and guidance to a green future

[@StefanoCreatini]

Amazing coverage. I appreciate all the hard work you put into this video. Great info on large scale permaculture.

[@berternie2212]

Thank you!

[@blacktorch3268]

Great series. thanks

[@time-is-life]

i love your videos :-) something smaller scale then auroville is tamera in portugal

[@lookup5610]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGHdYnpsqMynh5Y

[@markrowland1366]

Permaculture founder Bill Molenson died a week before today. 29 January 2022, in Hobart Tasmania Australia. Permaculture one, was published 1977.

[@suginami123]

Fabulous. Permaculture is the key.

[@lindanueva4742]

thank you, love auroville

[@Basantshahjeet]

Amazing video.thank you.

[@pjaro77]

Thank you very much for the whole documentary series.

[@maheshsunderaraman7043]

Just fantastic. Mesmerising. Thanks Andrew for the wonderful series with all the information