Volunteer Work Period for Sustainable Living (16 Jul – 13 Oct @ Dharmalaya)

What:  Volunteer service work opportunities
Activities: Earthen building (primarily interior work), organic gardening, and tree planting
When: 16 July – 13 October 2015 (Volunteers may arrive and depart anytime during this period, with a minimum stay of one week)
WhereDharmalaya Institute, Bir (Ghornala)
Languages: English & Hindi

 Description: Volunteer opportunities at the Dharmalaya Institute, open to both residential and non-residential participants (though, during the monsoon, we highly recommend staying on the Dharmalaya campus). During this period, volunteers have the opportunity to learn the arts and methods of sustainable living in the Himalayas by doing physical work related to earthen building and organic gardening.

Due to frequent rains in the monsoon period, most of the work will happen indoors. This usually includes:

  • Various aspects of traditional earthen building (e.g. interior mud plasters, tile work, wood/bamboo work, and fine finishing work)
  • Organic gardening and natural landscaping (as weather permits)
  • Possibly some tree planting

Dharmalaya is a beautiful place to get your hands dirty and learn about sustainable living and Himalayan culture in the process.

For more information see dharmalaya.in/events/2015/3/28/monsoon-volunteer-work-period-16-jul-13-oct.html

 

Open Volunteer Period for Sustainable Living (10-30 May @ Dharmalaya)

What: Informal, minimally-structured volunteer opportunities
Activities: Earthen building, organic gardening, and natural landscaping
When: 10-30 May 2015 (Volunteers may arrive and depart anytime during this period, with a minimum stay of one week)
WhereDharmalaya Institute, Bir (Ghornala)
Languages: English & Hindi
Who: No formal facilitation, but as-needed guidance from Dharmalaya staff and artisans, e.g. Sidney Rosario, Raj Kumar (‘Raju’), et al.

 Description: Informal volunteer opportunities at the Dharmalaya Institute open to both residential and non-residential participants. During this period, there is no structured educational or training programme as such, but there is plenty of physical work to do — including earthen building (adobe, bamboo, etc.), organic gardening, natural landscaping and possibly some tree planting — and Dharmalaya is a beautiful place to get your hands dirty and learn about green living and Himalayan culture in the process.

For more information see dharmalaya.in/events/2015/3/1/open-volunteer-period-10-30-may-2015.html

 

Open Volunteer Period for Sustainable Living (15-29 April @ Dharmalaya Institute)

What: Informal, minimally-structured volunteer opportunities
Activities: Earthen building, organic gardening, and natural landscaping
When: 15-29 April 2015 (Volunteers may arrive and depart anytime during this period)
Where: Dharmalaya Institute, Bir (Ghornala)
Languages: English & Hindi
Who: Facilitated by Mark Moore, Raj Kumar (‘Raju’), Naresh Kumar Sharma, et al.

Raising the roofDescription: Informal volunteer opportunities at the Dharmalaya Institute open to both residential and non-residential participants. During this period, there is no structured educational or training programme as such, but there is plenty of physical work to do — including earthen building (adobe, bamboo, etc.), organic gardening, natural landscaping and possibly some tree planting — and Dharmalaya is a beautiful place to get your hands dirty and learn about green living and Himalayan culture in the process.

For more information see Dharmalaya’s volunteer page, read the FAQ, and then complete the volunteer application if you’re interesting in joining.

Sustainable Living Work Retreat (25 Mar – 4 Apr @ Dharmalaya)

2012 work retreat

What: Service-Learning Retreat with SanghaSeva
Topic: Living in Balance: Contemplation, Compassion, and Sustainability
WhereDharmalaya Institute in Bir, HP, India
When: March 25 to April 4, 2014
Language: English
Facilitators: Zohar Lavie, Nathan Glyde, Mark Moore, Mai-Linh Leminhbach

Description: Residential service-learning retreat program at the Dharmalaya Institute. Possible workshops and groups sessions include the following:

  • Hands-on education in traditional earthen architecture of the Himalayas
  • Organic gardening and permaculture landscaping
  • Meditation and yoga/movement
  • A mixture of silent practice and group connection and activity

Please note: Space is limited, so advance registration and deposit are required.

For details and registration, please visit the SanghaSeva website.

Open Volunteer Period at Dharmalaya (1 Dec 2013 – 15 Mar 2014)

What: Informal, minimally structured volunteer opportunities for sustainable living
When: 1 December 2013 through 15 March 2014 (Participants may arrive and depart anytime during this period)
Where: Dharmalaya Institute
Languages: English & Hindi
Facilitators: Raj Kumar, Naresh Sharma, et al (plus Mark Moore from 1-15 March)

Description: Informal volunteer opportunities at the Dharmalaya Institute open to both residential and non-residential participants. During this period, there is no educational or training programme as such, but there is plenty of physical work to do — including green building, organic gardening, natural landscaping and possibly some tree planting — and Dharmalaya is a beautiful place to get your hands dirty and learn a bit about green living and Himalayan culture in the process.

Since there is no formal instruction during this period and there is no organised programme, one simply jumps in and does whatever needs doing on a given day, learning by watching others and then doing it yourself. In such an unstructured or loosely guided situation, sometimes one needs to ask for help if one needs it, so a certain degree of self-motivation and initiative makes for the best experience. It also helps to bring a healthy sense of flexibility, since the work to be done might vary from one day to the next, depending on circumstances. If that appeals to you, you’re welcome to come and go anytime between 1 December 2013 and 15 March 2014. Please note that this is the winter season, so bring warm clothes.

For more information see Dharmalaya’s volunteer page, read the FAQ, and complete the volunteer application if you’re interesting in joining.

Volunteer & Learn: Sustainable Living in the Himalayas (1-30 Nov)

What: Informal volunteer and service-learning programme

Topic: Sustainable living in the Himalayas, including green building, organic gardening, and natural landscaping

When: 1-30 November, 2013 (Participants may arrive and depart anytime in this period)

Where: Dharmalaya Institute, Dhanaari Hill, Ghornala Village, Bir

Languages: English & Hindi

Facilitators: Mark Moore, Raj Kumar (‘Raju’), Naresh Sharma, et al

raising the roofDescription: Informal, semi-structured programme at the Dharmalaya Institute open to both residential and non-residential participants. We will be doing fun, physical work, including green building, organic gardening, tree planting, and more. There will be plenty of opportunities for learning, application, questions, and relaxation (we can also offer an optional meditation programme for those who are interested, at least through 30 November, and possibly later). Feel free to come and go anytime in November 2013 (and you can stay even longer if you wish to participate in our Open Volunteer Programme).

For more information see Dharmalaya’s volunteer page, read the FAQ, and complete the volunteer application if you’re interesting in joining.

Sustainable Living in the Himalayas: Volunteer Programme at Dharmalaya (15 Feb – 10 Mar)

What: Informal volunteer and service-learning programme
Topic: Sustainable living in the Himalayas, including green building, organic gardening, and permaculture landscaping
When: 15 February to 10 March, 2013 (Participants may arrive and depart anytime in this period)
Where: Dharmalaya Institute
Languages: English & Hindi
Facilitators: Mark Moore, Raj Kumar, Naresh Sharma, et al

Description: Informal programme at the Dharmalaya Institute open to both residential and non-residential participants. We will be doing fun, physical work, including green building, organic gardening, tree planting, and more. There will be plenty of opportunities for learning, application, questions, and relaxation. Feel free to come and go anytime between 15 February and 10 March.

For more information see Dharmalaya’s volunteer page, read the FAQ, and complete the volunteer application if you’re interesting in joining us.

Sustainable Living in the Himalayas: Volunteer Programme at Dharmalaya (7 April – 31 May)

What: Informal volunteer and service-learning programme
Topic: Sustainable living in the Himalayas, including green building, organic gardening, and permaculture landscaping
When: 7 April to 31 May, 2012 (Participants may arrive and depart anytime in this period)
Where: Dharmalaya Institute
Languages: English & Hindi
Facilitators: Mark Moore, Naresh Sharma, et al

Description: Informal programme at the Dharmalaya Institute open to both residential and non-residential participants. We will be doing fun, physical work, including green building, organic gardening, tree planting, and more. There will be plenty of opportunities for learning, application, questions, and relaxation (we’re also doing an optional meditation programme for those who are interested). Feel free to come and go anytime between 7 April and 31 May. (And, if you don’t mind getting very wet, you might even stay on longer during the monsoon tree-planting season if you like.)

For more information see Dharmalaya’s volunteer page, read the FAQ, and complete the volunteer application if you’re interesting in joining us.

Living in Balance: Sustainability Service Retreat (Mar-Apr 2012)

What: Service Retreat at Dharmalaya with SanghaSeva
Topic: Living in Balance: Contemplation, Compassion, and Sustainability
Who: Zohar Lavie, Nathan Glyde, Mark Moore, et al
When: 22 March – 4 April, 2012
WhereDharmalaya Institute

Residential program at the Dharmalaya Institute. Possible workshops and groups sessions include the following:

  • Meditation
  • Hands-on education in traditional earthen architecture of the Himalayas
  • Organic gardening and permaculture landscaping
  • A mixture of silent practice and group connection and activity

For further details, or to register, please visit the SanghaSeva website.