| Saranagati Village is a community committed to simplicity, sustainability and spirituality. Since 1982 we’ve owned our beautiful 3500 acre valley in the rain shadow of British Columbia’s Coastal Mountains
For the pleasure of their spiritual master, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, in the 1980’s some young and idealistic men and women in North America left their homes in the cities and headed for the countryside—a spiritual frontier where they could depend on the godly gifts of nature. After much searching, this small group found many acres of open fields, foothills, forests, three lakes and a creek, cradled in the rain shadow of British Columbia’s Coastal Mountains—a valley that was once a summer hunting ground for native Indians and in the 1930’s became the home of Chinese immigrants. The city-born neo-pioneers pooled their money and made a down payment on the land. In 1990 they paid it off and now fully own Saranagati, the valley where one is invited to live in harmony with nature and with one’s higher, spiritual purposes.
Here they have built their own homes; piped in gravity-fed water from the mountain creeks; created their own electricity from generators, solar panels or hydro systems; set up a K-12 school for their children; gardened; farmed; and had festivals, feasts, parties, plays, puppet shows, musical dramas, readings, retreats, discourses and daily Deity worship. Here they offered their spiritual master their very way of life for they had created it under his directions. Together we are working to improve the our bhakti, work the land and build an ecovillage for our community. | |
Population Open to new adults: Yes (A land share must be purchased) Open to new children: Yes Gender Balance: 45% M 55% F Open to which gender(s): All genders welcome Ethnic Diversity: 10% identify as 'people of color' | Government Decision Making: By a group of elders or other leaders Identified Leader: No Answer (Board of Directors) | Labor and Money Financial Style: Members have independent finances Labor Contribution: Expected Join Fee: Yes (A share must be purchased in Saranagati Land Holidng Inc.) | Land and Buildings Rural Area: 3500 acres (1416.4 hectares) Land Owned By: The community | Food, etc. Percentage of Food Grown: 6-20% (this number is expected to grow as we move toward self-sustainability) Share Community Meals: 1-3 times/month (Weekly Sunday gatherings at the temple) Dietary Choice or Restrictions: There are some dietary restrictions (We are a vegetarian community) Dietary Practice: Vegetarian only | Social Factors Shared Spiritual Path: Yes (We partake of the perennial spiritual process of bhakti, the yoga of selfless and loving service for the pleasure of the Creator, His creation and His created beings. Our spiritual guide is His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder and mentor of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, more commonly known as the Hare Krishna movement.) Which Spiritual Path(s): Other (Vedic, Hare Krishna devotees) Educational Style(s): Private school at the community | |
