SINI Brochure 2021

Sarnath International Nyingma Institute
Sarnath Edible Fruit
Forest Project
Beautifying Sarnath with fruit tree planting and helping to feed the
vulnerable.
This project represents a vision to create edible fruit forests in the
Sarnath area to help build food security and counter the pressures
of urbanization, with rapid loss of public green spaces. SINI was
awarded a grant to establish micro green spaces in collaboration
with 50 households and temple communities in the region.
Each household or temple community will contribute a small
undeveloped area (at least 10 ft x 6 ft = 60 sq. feet,) sufficient to
generate enough fresh fruit to feed a family, providing a healthy
nutritious diet along with clean air to breathe.
Plants proposed for each patch are native to the region: bananas,
guava, papaya, lemons, Karanuda (Indian Berry) and pomegranate.
We expect to plant two of each species for a small urban fruit forest
that will produce fruit year round.
For public spaces, the temple communities, and also where the
households have larger spaces, flowering trees will be included,
such as: gulmohar, jacaranda, amaltash, etc. Native fruiting berry
trees like jamun, that are disappearing due to urban development,
will also be included, having the added value of preserving native
species.
This project is coordinated by Navneet Raman, a preserver of culture
and heritage, and SINI’s cultural ambassador to Varanasi, who has
been responsible for planting so many trees on the SINI campus
(https://www.banarasculturalfoundation.org/).
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