Project Activities

M.A. Center Gardens

"Look at Nature. Nature is a textbook from which we must learn. Each object in it is a page of that book." — Amma

Volunteer in the gardens and orchards

Immerse yourself in the contemplative atmosphere of the beautiful rural MA Center ashram and be of service as well. All the gardens are maintained using organic methods. We periodically invite school children and families for service learning days which give city/suburban youth opportunities to experience the country fresh air, peace, and wonder of the diverse nature found here.

You can choose between the community vegetable garden, the orchards or the ornamental gardens. .

Community Vegetable Garden

The veggie garden is located within the hub of ashram activities. New and experienced gardeners from our community meet together with the cooks to determine what to grow and how much. The gardeners then decide together how to lay out the garden to accomplish their goals for the year. The objective of the garden is to grow food to be used by the residents and gardeners, the Saturday night satsang meals and for Mother’s Kitchen cooks. Fresh produce and cut flower bouquets are also sold during the Saturday night satsangs to raise funds to maintain the garden.
If you are interested to join in the fun and service, please email to macentergardens@ammachi.org

Amma’s young adult group for ages between 15 and 30, AYUDH, is in the beginning stages of establishing an organic seed-saving garden adjacent to the community garden. For more information about this lively project, please contact Sri Vidya at sri1283@gmail.com

Orchards, aka, “Amma’s Fruit Forest”

The original orchard which was begun in 1989 has close to 100 fruit trees including apples, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, plums, figs, lemons, oranges, and avacados. Recently Amma asked us to plant another 1000 fruit trees, mainly apples! We are exploring many of the cutting edge organic methodologies. Along with growing organically and incorporating permaculture methods in the design, we are following the science of Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web, which advocates a healthy balance of soil micro organisms for healthy growth of the trees, rather than adding organic chemical fertilizers. Water catchment and management techniques like swales and keyline plowing are being implemented as well. This exciting project is new since 2008. If you would like to join us, please email to greenfriends@amma.org.

Ornamental Gardens and Rose Garden

The ornamental gardens surrounding Amrita Prayer Hall were designed to be complementary to the surrounding foothill landscape, and to be low maintenance and drought tolerant. They provide shade and flowers which frame peaceful seating areas for the thousands who come to visit throughout the year. The Rose Garden provides the Prayer Hall with a steady supply of roses for altar bouquets and flower petals for offerings. More volunteers are always welcome to help keep the trees, shrubs and perennial plants thriving. For more information, contact macentergardens@ammachi.org and specifiy the Prayer Hall or Rose gardens in the subject line.

"Nature is a huge flower garden. The animals, birds, trees, plants and people are the garden’s fully blossomed flowers of diverse colors. The beauty of this garden is complete only when all of these exist as a unity, thereby spreading the vibrations of love and oneness. May all of our minds become one in love." Amma

Circle of Love Letters

When love awakens, the ego disappears. Then, human beings realize their oneness with each other - Amma

Circle of Love Letters needs some letter writers. This seva involves writing letters of love and support to people in our communities who are sick, grieving or isolated. You sign up for 2 months and write a letter each week to between 2 and 4 people. Please contact Aikya: aikya@yahoo.com if you would like to help.

Ride Bart to Saturday Programs

Wouldn’t it be nice to tell friends and those just meeting Amma that our Saturday night satsangs are BART accessible? With Castro Valley BART just ten minutes from M.A. Center this is a do-able project. Many of us drive by the BART station every Saturday night on the way to satsang. It would take only a bit of organization to lend a helping hand and assist those from SF and the South Bay who want to use BART to attend Saturday satsang. Both BART riders and volunteer drivers can call Thomas at (510) 326-5757 for details.