EP 57: The Practice of Inner Gardening with Regenerative Farmer, Educator and Consultant Farmer Rishi

This week, I’m speaking with Farmer Rishi, a farmer, educator and consultant based in Los Angeles working in the field of regeneration. Everything Rishi does is with the intention to help people understand the basic principles behind healing of our bodies: both our physical bodies and our Earthen body.

He’s the founder of Sarvodaya Farms, a nonprofit plant nursery, urban farm and event space that offers hard to find fruit trees, perennial vegetables, and medicinal herbs. Rishi is also the founder of Healing Gardens, which connects people with local private organic gardens and farms, while supporting gardeners and farmers who are healing our earth using regenerative practices. In this conversation, we discuss: Rishi’s journey from computer scientist to owner of Sardovaya farms; his rock bottom and the realization that changed everything; the many lessons that gardening teaches us; surprising advice for the easiest way to get started growing something; the practice of inner gardening; the genesis and mission of healing gardens; and what’s currently happening at Sarvodaya Farms.

As Rishi writes: “May we all leave rich soil, running rivers, and smiling faces with our every footstep.”

“Gardening is a way you experience, you play, you create, you explore with this body.” - Farmer Rishi x Our Nature
“The garden allows for your mistakes, the garden allows for your exploration, the garden allows for your growth.” - Farmer Rishi x Our Nature
“We live in relation and nurturing your relations is really nurturing yourself.” - Farmer Rishi x Our Nature

Resources

Show Notes

Farmer Rishi’s connection to nature as a child
Farmer Rishi’s personal journey from computer scientist to owner of Sardovaya Farms
Rishi’s rock bottom and the realization that changed everything
Farmer Rishi’s overarching mission
The many lessons gardening teaches us
Surprising advice for the easiest way to get started growing something
The practice of inner gardening
The genesis and mission of healing gardens
The many offerings at Sarvodaya Farms
The last five questions

The Last Five Questions

What is your favorite place in nature?
The cliffs near UCSD where you can see over the pacific ocean.
What is the animal, mineral or plant that resonates with you the most?
A squirrel: I like climbing trees, I like eating nuts, I like digging in the soil.
What is one thing we can do right now to connect with the natural world and bring more harmony into our lives?
If you want to find some harmony, feel what you’re feeling right now and whatever you’re feeling, that’s earth.
What’s the greatest lesson nature has taught you?
We live in relation. We’re not individual self-reliant winner-takes-all entities. We live in relation, and nurturing your relations is really nurturing yourself.
Nature brings me…Everything.

Connect with Farmer Rishi: