A natural cure!
Volunteers come to Karuna to make a learning experience about themselves, the world and about 'Insight Design', a creative, holistic approach to natural living, or as some say, the 'Art of Living'.
These adventurous, inquisitive visitors, or 'seekers', arrive from all over the UK, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. At Karuna we apply physical work, as 'practice', like Yoga practice(Kama-yoga), or/ and movement meditation, to transform our mundane activities into a divine, meditative learning experience, which feeds Mind, Body and Soul.
Working with others in a focussed, meditative way, can be, a wonderful experience. Working together, in nature, feels good, it allows us to celebrate and learn together. We all need to physically apply ourselves on a daily basis, to stay fit and healthy.
Applied 'Insight Design', at Karuna - serves as a 'healing Portal', which is partly designed specifically to support, heal, and assist people through numerous 'practical ways', on different levels.
These wonderful, caring helpers, get away from their stressed, town or city lives, and focus on serving mother earth, within the large, established Bio-Diverse, Forest Garden. Hopefully they tap into and allow, simple creativity within, to flourish.
In more recent years the majority of volunteers, posses little or no skill, let alone expertise, in manual work, or basic off grid living. But if they are committed to engaging, expression, personal expansion, and have a desire to bring positive change into the world, they can still learn many things from this holistic approach to Natural living.
We share experience and knowledge about, natural remedies and healthy food, how to grow, care for, harvest and prepare your own.
We provide excellent vegetarian/vegan meals, accommodation, energy, wisdom and knowledge.
Visitors often share in housekeeping tasks, such as, cooking, cleaning and washing up.
We offer much, to those who enjoy labouring, and contemplate, and celebrate so many aspects of Natural, Holistic living.
Becky; a recent visiting volunteer learning about herbs, and how to process them.
Fuzz; an amazing, highly 'experienced' Land-worker and repeat, volunteer.
Fuzz has become a good friend and supporter, of our Forest garden, research/maintenance work. An incredibly hard worker. We feel privileged to work side by side with him, in the young, established woodlands.
Yulia visited us this summer - Karuna was a fresh, unique, experience for her.
Below; What she wrote about her service and experience; She is clearly expresses her gratitude!
"I stayed in Karuna for five nights, and it was an eye-opening, inspiring, and soul-fulfilling experience. Janta and Merav have created a truly special sanctuary, transforming a piece of grazing land into a spectacular forest filled with a diverse range of trees and plants. It was an honour to wake up each morning, step out of my caravan, and be greeted by the trees, feeling their energy restore my body. Janta and Merav are compassionate, generous, and loving individuals with an abundance of knowledge and strength. They provided insightful conversations on the practice of growing, managing, and connecting with the land to achieve a flourishing, healthy state—for both the land and the human condition. I've never eaten so well as I did here; Janta's juices are like an elixir of life, and the fish and calamari dish on the last night was unforgettable. *The work is physically demanding and suited for someone with strong stamina who enjoys connecting with the Earth. I loved my time working with Merav in the potato fields, grappling with nettles, getting to know her better, and revelling in her humour. At the end of the day, you feel whole and content, knowing all that hard work is transformed into energy for the land to cultivate and flourish. I am deeply grateful for the experience I had in Karuna. Thank you, Janta and Merav, for welcoming me into your magical haven and showing me that there is a different way to live—one that comes from a place of love and care. I wish you all the best and hope your future ideas materialize. I hope to see you again!"
Our beautiful, special friend, Saffron, returns to visit a few times each year, 'Borek' is one of her gastronomic specialities. She makes both Vegan, and Vegetarian version in the same large tray. Her line of work is pretty much sedentary, but she still thoroughly enjoys work making direct contact, with her hands in the soil, and is not afraid of hard work in the fields. When she's not working, she makes good use of her time here, reading, practising breath work and Yoga Asanas.
Usually lots of weeding to do about the site. Many people enjoy their weeding experience. We do our best to keep work varied, and most of the time we work together.
Jade; Watering the plants in the Polytunnel. She specifically requires physical work daily, as part of her lifestyle. She came and experienced volunteering with her brother, Ben, (a classic car restorer), both excellent workers.
Visitors to Karuna experience many aspects of Insight Design.
It's Not ALL about hard graft, there is plenty of pleasurable, relaxed, light work to do. Such as Berry harvesting. Volunteers must be prepared to connect their minds, with their body and the land. Much of the Forest Garden design, is managed through physical effort, generated from the heart and mind. Preferably, without exertion being too much of a big deal. The enjoyment off, labouring helps us understand, who we truly are.
As Karuna is a site for healing, naturally, we welcome all kinds of musicians.
But, they also have to be prepared and be capable of carrying out, various aspects of land work.
Saffron, loving our dog 'Hoshi', who had 7 pups, we got lots of help from many dog loving, visitors who helped caring for this amazing, special breed.
Some people, may experience the opportunity to test themselves.
Possibly engaging, in arduous tasks, that they might have never engaged with, ever before. Which can be a highly empowering self discovery.
Happiness in doing! Deep down satisfaction, through experience!
We sometimes offer opportunities to learn about various building techniques. For the most part, we practice Alternative, Natural building.
Making Nature loving connections!
Roots- Radical-Free expression, a journey into sound healing!
'Olugbala Kokumo', Good friend and Inspirational Drum'n' Music facilitator.
Olu, has led sessions around the Karuna campfire for 15years.
Student filmmakers offered their support, creating numerous campaign videos.
A couple, from the US, were very interested in getting 'stuck in', and learning how to process Clay for 'Low impact' building projects. Part of the process for Earthen plaster & flooring.
Labouring in many different ways, to complete different tasks, is both highly exhilarating and therapeutic. Off-grid living can sometimes be labour-intensive. You need to be 'fit and healthy', and enjoy making connections, between you and the land. Students, and those in sedentary day jobs, often find this kind of work very satisfying, it's certainly character building.
Sadly, some people have lost, or even, not made, that essential, deep connection with their body and mind.' Self motivation', is paramount.
We've observed in ourselves, and others, a great sense of achievement through 'right effort'.
Fire tending is great fun! For land workers, this has been a traditional skill. We Cary out such tasks on dry, wind-free, Moon lit evenings.
Learning to cultivate, care for and harvest crops.
Naturally ALL food grown at Karuna is 'Organic'. Food grown, looks and tastes great, and is highly nutritional.
Happy people, learning the art of 'Herbal' wine making!
Practical 'Juice therapy'. The inherent restorative power of the organism to cleanse and overcome disease.
Alan -The Clay Wizard. Who taught us the Art and passion, of working with clay.
Apple juice and cider making.
Those who live to Express, NOT to Impress!
This group has made several generous donations, to help with important structural developments at Karuna.
*Mega thanks, to all those who have selflessly given, Love, friendship, time, energy and donations to support our work over the years.
Blessing to You ALL!
Quack On!
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