A 68-year-old woman rejuvenates barren land in Faridabad, turning it into a therapeutic farm sanctuary
In the heart of Faridabad, India, a one-acre plot and a terrace have been transformed into a vibrant, chemical-free farm by Sarla Garg. This green oasis, a product of two decades of dedication and perseverance, serves as a beacon of hope for sustainable agriculture.
Sarla, a humble farmer, often greets visitors with a smile and offers saplings, a testament to her commitment to natural farming. She waters her plants once every five days, but credits the earthworms for doing the rest. Her farm is a living testament to the power of nature, and a stark contrast to the common misconception that chemical-free farming is less productive.
This transformation began two decades ago when Sarla's husband was in a coma and her family's auto parts business was struggling. In 2004, she learned to make bio-enzymes at the Art of Living Ashram, which became the seed for her farming journey.
Sarla's dedication to natural farming extends to her family. Her son, trained by her, tends the soil with her. Neighbourhood kids come to learn composting from Sarla, furthering her mission of spreading awareness about sustainable farming practices.
Sarla pooled savings with 11 others to start a community farm, where they grew five-kilo radishes from cracked, barren land. After the shared land was reclaimed, Sarla turned her own terrace and a one-acre plot into a demo farm, using multilayer cropping to harvest 125 kg of rice.
The Art of Living Natural Farming movement, under Gurudev's vision, has trained over 3 million farmers in 23 states. This movement is more than just farming, it's healing the land, body, and self. It promotes natural, chemical-free farming, indigenous seed preservation, and sustainable agriculture to empower Indian farmers and revive rural ecologies.
The movement's impact on Indian farmers includes training over 3 million farmers across 23 states, focusing on climate resilience and soil health. It has empowered 1.15 lakh farmers in suicide-prone districts, thus addressing agrarian distress. The conversion of 56,157 acres into chemical-free, climate-resilient farmland has improved crop yields and sustainability.
The movement also promotes water conservation projects like JalTara, which uses simple water recharge pits and fruit trees to raise groundwater levels, increase crop yields by 42%, and boost farmer income by 120% in participating areas with a 100% success rate. Large scale environmental restoration, including planting 100 million trees and over 38 lakh Lakshmi Taru medicinal saplings, has been achieved through this movement.
Farmers like Sulabai Chavhal from Maharashtra have reported substantial improvements, going from barely harvesting to building full godowns of grain after adopting these practices. These natural farming and water management approaches have transformed critical water-scarce regions into areas with restored safe groundwater levels, enabling year-round farm employment and improved rural economies.
Sarla's farm is a reflection of this transformation. Rosemary, rocket leaves, kale, cherry-sized tomatoes, brinjal, strawberries, and turmeric grow on her farm. The farm uses Jeevamrut, cow dung, mulch, and no chemicals. Sarla even uses Agnihotra ashes to prevent seed spoilage.
The farm's fencing is see-through to allow people to see the difference in her organic farming methods. Sarla walks barefoot between rows of leafy greens and claims that the soil kills germs and helps in pollination. Her grandchildren often play on the farm, and she takes pride in her family's good health, stating that there are no cases of coughs, colds, BP, or blood sugar in the family.
Sarla plants avocado trees for her grandchildren, a testament to her vision for a sustainable future. Her farm is not just a farm, it's a lifestyle, a commitment to healing the land, body, and self. It's a reminder that with dedication and the right practices, we can create a healthier, more sustainable world.
This article was first published on May 14, 2025.
- Sarla's farm, a vibrant organic oasis in Faridabad, not only showcases the power of natural farming but also represents a fusion of health-and-wellness, environmental-science, and fitness-and-exercise, as evidenced by the healthy produce grown and the good health of her family.
- The Art of Living Natural Farming movement, a pioneer in sustainable agriculture, emphasizes nutrition through indigenous seed preservation, promoting healthier food options for the nation while simultaneously contributing to the development of environmental-science through large-scale reforestation and water conservation projects.
