TOUCHING HEARTS IN 38 COUNTRIES AND COUNTING

We are delighted to welcome 38 countries as members of our Auroville.com family! When we launched this project we did not expect the little packages from Auroville containing handmade products from the Auroville Community to reach so far and so wide. Not only do the products reach far and wide, but they carry their special message. Auroville products often have a beautiful story behind them and each month we will share a few of these stories with you. This month we share the story of Wellpaper. Newspapers are part of daily life but who expect they could be made into magnificent crafts and empower women!

THE WELLPAPER STORY

"WELL means "Women's Empowerment through Local Livelihood" The project is a social enterprise model and an empowerment center for women from the surrounding villages of Auroville, India. Its two main goals are to provide livelihood for women and to develop and promote products made of recycled materials. Following completion of a 4-6 month training workshop, the groups of local women produce the products in their own profit sharing workshop in the villages. Though promoting recycled products is an important part of the WELL project, that is not where it ends. The WELL project, besides providing alternative livelihood to these women, also empowers them socially to a great extent. It is already impacting their lives and that of their families in a significant way. By buying these products you not only support an environmentally aware project, but also improve the local women's quality of life."

Explore the wonderful range of Wellpaper products online...

BEAT THE SUMMER HEAT WITH SANDALWOOD AND ROSE

For thousands of years Sandalwood and Rose have been used in India to cool the mind and calm the heart. Sandalwood is indigenous to India and has a highly prized aroma that is known for it's ability to aid transcending the mundane and fixing the heart and mind on the Divine. It has been used as an aroma for meditation in monasteries throughout Asia.

Rose is the queen of flowers, the Mother called it "Love for the Divine", it truly is Love for the Divine for such a heavenly scent can only be made by the hand of Viswakarma, the "architect of the universe".

As India and the entire Northern hemisphere is basked to summer heat, why not cool and calm your mind and heart with rose and sandalwood products from Auroville.com.

THE AUROVILLE HANDBOOK  

This useful little book is a guide to all that happens in Auroville. It is sold in Auroville and is a treasure of information to those coming to explore this project in alternative living. If you're planning a visit to Auroville soon, or are curious about the inner workings of Auroville, it's a great book to order, this month we feature it. It's also a wonderful gift for a friend or or that matter anyone interested in sustainable living and intentional spiritual communities. Read more...

NEEM - THE VILLAGE PHARMACY

Neem is heralded as a "village pharmacy", it is said that where the neem trees grow, no diseases can take root. Modern research has shown that the bitter alkaloids present in all parts of the neem tree have amazing bacteriostatic and immunostimulant effect. Auroville is home to many thousands of Neem trees that are scattered through the reforestation project that blankets the city of Auroville. It is here that wild harvested Neem products are being produced and now available online via Auroville.com. Find out more.

AUROVILLE CASHEWS

In the early days it was discovered that Auroville is a very perfect place to grow the Cashew fruit trees which are indigenous to South America. Auroville grown cashews are grown 100% organically without any fertilizer or pesticides, they are a living example of sustainable agriculture that does not harm the soil, the insects, the birds or us. Neem is used as part of the program for protecting the fruits from pests. If you have not tasted them yet, now is the time.

THE MOTHER IN PHOTOS

This month we are having special book of "Photos of The Mother". From a collection of 12,000 photos of the Mother, this book presents a selection of 186 photos focusing more or less exclusively on one particular element: the expression of the Mother and the vibration that is radiated by her physical appearance. No touch up or repair was made to keep the forceful expression of the pictures.

BOOK OF THE MOMENT - MOMENTS OF MAGIC

"Anna Brahma" - Food is God (The Creator)

This Auroville produced cookbook is published to support organic farming within Auroville. "Real health needs organic food, organic food needs organic farming". These thoughts gave Dr. Beena the idea to publish a cookbook using the knowledge and recipes of Aurovilians from 35 nations. The book is interlaced with wise sayings and stories. The recipes are wonderful. Dr. Beena has dedicated this cookbook to "the brave farmers of Auroville".

A MAGICAL MUSICAL JOURNEY

Nestled in a corner of Auroville is a factory producing musical instruments of world class quality. Not only is production happening there but training of unskilled workers to become skilled instrument builders also happens. You will be amazed at the variety of instruments (some traditional to these planes and other from far flung places) that you will find. We've also added sound samples for each instrument so you can "listen" before your order. Visit Svaram's page on Auroville.com.

TREE PLANTING UPDATE

We want to extend a huge thank you to all customers who added trees to their "cart". To date we have planted 1107 trees and counting. The actual planting will take place as the first rains come and the funds are allocated and will be under management of the Auroville Forest Group, who not only plant trees but also take care of them as if they were their own child! Many tree planting programs around the world plant the trees then move on but in Auroville it's a different story, all trees planted are cared for and nurtured and regularly visited by forest group workers. We look forward to sharing pictures of our tree program after the rains for all to enjoy and see "your
 trees.

OUR SUMMER COMPETITION

In our first every competition we're offering a hamper of Auroville products to the lucky winner. To enter the competition simply contact us naming any 5 indigenous trees of India.

AFFILIATE PROGRAM LAUNCH

This month we launch our affiliate program for any Webmasters out there, we have an automated system so that you can put a banner on your site linking to ours and earn commission or credits towards Auroville purchases. The system is very smart and in a few clicks you can generate a banner like this one:

Visit the Affiliate welcome page...

DONATE ONLINE AT AUROVILLE.COM

Supporting a project in Auroville has never been easier! You can now at the click of a mouse donate online. All donations are automatically credited to the account of the project of your choice at the official Auroville Unity Fund. Simply enter the name of the project you wish to donate to in the relevant box and within a few days the funds will reach the designated project.