Going Green in Canada

Deepening Roots was created in 2005 by volunteers from The Art of Living to offer youth a unique, experience-based approach to sustainable agriculture and leadership. Deepening Roots brings together educators in the fields of permaculture, health and wellness, meditation and leadership development to facilitate a three-week summer intensive training program. The core curriculum consists of:

practical experience working in an existing 2-acre organic garden,
workshops in the latest techniques in organic agriculture and permaculture design,
formal exposure to nutrition and wellness.

In addition, participants get leadership training that develops core competencies in communication, conflict resolution, managing stress and team building. This prepares them to effectively face the myriad of challenges of applying the skills and concepts learned during the internship and of promoting sustainable change at a local level.

In 2009, the Deepening Roots staff created an additional education program – a comprehensive, practical and fun weekend workshop in sustainable agriculture and nutrition. The purpose of this workshop is to share the skills and knowledge from the summer intensive training program on a wider scale in local communities around the world. Graduates of the summer intensive training undergo further training to be able to teach this workshop to members of their community. This weekend workshop is formal means for accomplishing Deepening Roots’ mandate of promoting the awareness and practice of sustainable agriculture, creating healthier eco-systems, creating local food security and allowing people to reconnect with nature in a healthy and productive manner.

Vision

Communities around the world are being inspired by youth leaders to:

Transform lawns and community spaces into edible, self-maintaining landscapes
Support local, small-scale organic farms and design community food systems
Eat well and give great value to healthy, nutritious foods
Consume less and reduce their ecological footprints
Learn how to increase energy, awareness and effectiveness through meditation
Live life as a celebration

The Five Elements of Deepening Roots

Deepening Roots is built of five elements: meditation, health & wellness, sustainable agriculture, empowerment and community. Each element weaves through the others to produce the fabric of Deepening Roots.

1. Meditation

As we attend to the environmental and social challenges of our time it is crucial we do so with a focused, centered, light-hearted and committed state of mind. Meditation is a tool to establish and nurture these positive qualities.

2. Health & wellness

With a healthy body and understanding of oneself, a person’s capability expands exponentially. Understanding ourselves as part of nature, we begin to become a resource for others and the environment around us.

3. Sustainable agriculture

How we choose to feed ourselves reflects our relationship with the wider world. Deepening Roots is developing a vibrant, sustainable and dynamic society by promoting innovative sustainable agriculture systems that are relevant to everyone.

4. Empowerment

Commitment, self-confidence, enthusiasm, strength and a willingness to take on the responsibilities of a leader - with a dedication to these qualities, young people can inspire transformative social and environmental change.

5. Community

Learning, sharing and working together in an accepting and inspiring environment is critical to the success of our programs. Together we are generating ideas and solutions that will aid the development of new social and ecological systems.

Videos

Testimonials

Jenny Olah, 2009 participant, current DR Intern

How did this internship make you feel? Off the charts! What more can I say, I want to learn more, do more and see more… I want to share this knowledge and experience with everyone. I can make a difference!

Jenny Olah
2009 participant, current DR Intern
How did this internship make you feel? Off the charts! What more can I say, I want to learn more, do more and see more

Jessica Budgell
2009 participant
I feel I have broken down any barrier between knowledge and action when it comes to gardening

Jessica Budgell, 2009 participant

I feel I have broken down any barrier between knowledge and action when it comes to gardening

Amy Harris
2009 participant
I never thought I would have a spiritual practice I would absolutely make a point of including in my life, and now I do.

Amy Harris, 2009 participant

I never thought I would have a spiritual practice I would absolutely make a point of including in my life, and now I do.

Jeff Toth
Deepening Roots
Being around such passionate, committed people gave me a sense of real community, that I was a part of a larger network which shared my values and vision.

Jeff Toth, 2009 participant, current DR intern

Being around such passionate, committed people gave me a sense of real community, that I was a part of a larger network which shared my values and vision.

Jayne Archer, 2008 participant

This summer has been the best summer of my life. Never before have I been engulfed in so much knowledge, had so much fun and grown so much.

Jayne Archer
2008 participant
This summer has been the best summer of my life. Never before have I been engulfed in so much knowledge, had so much fun and grown so much.

Keren Lifshitz
2007 participant
Since the summer program I have been involved with two local community gardens and I have been working with the office of sustainability at my University. Everything has been inspired by the internship. That was the most amazing summer.

Keren Lifshitz, 2007 participant

Since the summer program I have been involved with two local community gardens and I have been working with the office of sustainability at my University. Everything has been inspired by the internship. That was the most amazing summer.

Manvi Bansal
Gurgoan
It was a moment of utmost pride and nostalgia, to see thousands and thousands of people, of all castes, religion and gender, come together to save what is rightfully and dutifully theirs, Yamuna. Though, by cleaning up the Ghats, does not mean we can now rest and say that our work is done. In fact, it has just begun. We have successfully completed the first phase of the campaign that is awakening the government. Hence, there is still lot to be done!! And I am sure, that socially and environmentally aware people will successfully take this campaign to the finishing line and do the entire country proud.

Manvi Bansal, Gurgoan

It was a moment of utmost pride and nostalgia, to see thousands and thousands of people, of all castes, religion and gender, come together to save what is rightfully and dutifully theirs, Yamuna. Though, by cleaning up the Ghats, does not mean we can now rest and say that our work is done. In fact, it has just begun. We have successfully completed the first phase of the campaign that is awakening the government. Hence, there is still lot to be done!! And I am sure, that socially and environmentally aware people will successfully take this campaign to the finishing line and do the entire country proud.

Kritika Singh, Noida

It’s time we clean up the mess we've created. It’s time we make it so clean we can have picnics, play aquatic sports and meditate there. It’s time that we take responsibility and do what people call "impossible!"

Daniel Goettel, 2007 participant, current DR program assistant

Deepening Roots gave me the confidence and energy to make a real difference. This internship changed me from a person who worried about the environment and social issues to someone who can work effectively for positive change. During the year following my internship, I worked hard to make my school a more sustainable place. I co-founded the sustainability club; educating students and community members about issues such as carbon footprint. I worked with the head of dining services to draft a plan for OIT to purchase local food. I sought a work study with the Oregon Renewable Energy Center, helping them with their mission to expand the use of clean energy. None of these things would have happened without the confidence, skills, and energy I received from Deepening Roots. It helped me change myself and inspired me to change the world around me.

Gaurv Kukreja, Student, Delhi

Our further plan is to organize competitions, road shows, plays to create awareness in the public. We need to unite as responsible citizens of the country & support the government rather than blaming it for all the problems of the nation. We should all join hands & make sure at our personal level that we don’t do anything to dirty the environment or the Yamuna.

Daniel Goettel
2007 participant, current DR program assistant.
Deepening Roots gave me the confidence and energy to make a real difference. This internship changed me from a person who worried about the environment and social issues to someone who can work effectively for positive change. During the year following my internship, I worked hard to make my school a more sustainable place. I co-founded the sustainability club; educating students and community members about issues such as carbon footprint. I worked with the head of dining services to draft a plan for OIT to purchase local food. I sought a work study with the Oregon Renewable Energy Center, helping them with their mission to expand the use of clean energy. None of these things would have happened without the confidence, skills, and energy I received from Deepening Roots. It helped me change myself and inspired me to change the world around me.