KRISHNA McKENZIE

Krishna McKenzie was born in Wiltshire, England and educated at the Krishnamurti school in Hampshire. He has lived the last 26 years in the International township of Auroville, Tamilnadu, South India, where he started and runs Solitude Farm and Organic Cafe. He is joined by his wife Deepa from Tiruvanamalai, and their two children, Chandni and Chakor. He is widely recognised for his work in permaculture, natural farming, local food and nutritional cultural identity. As well as being a farmer he is also an actor, educator and successful musician with his Indian fusion band Emergence (see below for links to Emergence videos). Krishna also runs the popular Lively Up The Earth Festival in Auroville.

Krishna McKenzie established Solitude Farm in Auroville, India in 1993. He practises Masanobu Fukuoka’s Natural Farming principles and passionately teaches the celebration of organic local foods and Mother Nature, essential for sustainability and the resolution of the global ecological challenges we all face.

People Food Music

People Food Music is the essence of Krishna’s 26 years’ experience in The International Township of Auroville. Inspired by the Japanesse Zen master and farmer, Masanobu Fukuoka, he started Solitude Farm in
January 1996 and has demonstrated that simply by honouring organic matter, (leaves, weeds, branches and so on) the soil has taken on a wonderful fertility, which can also be called Mother Nature, Gaia, Patchamama, Bhoomi Dev (as she is known in India) and many other names. By honouring her gifts – Local Food – many projects have emerged from the farm, including the organic cafe, a basket service, seed bank, nursery, education, festivals and, most importantly, celebration as the golden key of Permaculture. Honouring each other’s creativity, valuing community, recognising that music and arts are the adhesive that binds our communities together: this is People Food Music.

Practically, People Food Music is a talk with live music and a photo presentation, with options of permaculture workshops, cooking workshops, Indian vegan dinner and an exploration of what we can do to create change when we see our that world IS in crisis.

Krishna can work with children, urban garden groups, transition town movement groups, vegan groups, restaurants, policy makers and anyone who loves this Mother Earth and want to learn what they can do to make a profound change in their lives in relation to where their food comes from.

Deepa, Krishna’s wife, offers henna and teaches how to make the sacred morning offering of Kolam and rangoli with chalk and rice flour, bringing some of the beauty of Indian culture with her, as well as teaching Indian cuisine.

Krishna McKenzie and Masanobu Fukuoka

Natural Farming and Nutritional Cultural Identity

“Where does our food comes from? We eat three times a day but have no idea where our food comes from, who grows it, how it is grown, processed, packed, stored or transported.”

“The loss of the relationship with where our food comes from is a symptom of the deeper loss of our relationship with Mother Nature. This loss is at the root of all the problems we face in the world today: ecological, nutritional, social, cultural, medicinal, educational and economical. Industrialisation and our pursuit of economic gain at whatever cost, together with our confused values mean that we do not recognise that the well-being of the earth and our own well-being are one and the same. By using locally-sourced food we undermine industrialised agriculture, one of the main factors contributing to­­­­­­­­­­­­­ climate change.”

Characteristics of local food

• It can be grown easily – no chemicals or machinery needed
• It uses less water
• It is non-exclusive – economically more accessible
• It has no ecological cost
• It has higher nutritional and medicinal values than agribusiness food
• It has cultural, educational and technical value

“Each civilisation on this planet, with its unique culture, artistic expression and myths emerged because they honoured Mother Nature and had a relationship with where their food came from. The relationship is a nutritional cultural identity, our relationship with Mother Nature, without which sustainability, permaculture and veganism are but concepts in our minds. Eating, growing, sharing, educating and celebrating local food is something we can all start today. Eating local food is an act of love to our planet and possibly the most profound action we can take towards resolving our present crisis.

Emergence Music On Video

Krishna’s band ‘Emergence’ (YouTube)

Solitude Eco Music Festival (YouTube)

Krishna McKenzie on Video

TEDx Talk – Panchgani

TEDx Talk – Mayo College

Eat Local Week, Solitude Farm, Auroville

Documentary of Krishna’s work at Solitude Farm

Solitude Farm Cafe Cooking Video

Media Coverage

At 19, He Moved From UK to Puducherry. Today, His Organic Farm Is Smashing Stereotypes! The Better India

Rooted to Mother Earth Deccan Herald

Meet Organic Farmer from England Who’s Breaking Stereotypes in Puducherry Times Now News

Passion for Organic Farming Brings UK National to Puducherry Business Standard

Website

www.krishnamckenzie.com

Krishna McKenzie is available internationally for interviews, talks, music gigs and lectures.

Please Contact Greenwave Promotions Ltd for bookings and further information.

Projects page