Ecovillage & Sanctuary
Located in the heart of the Alpine valley, the 'Ecovillage & Sanctuary' project spans the area of Terra Vecchia and parts of the village of Bordei. While Bordei remains a vibrant local community, our activities and retreat center are situated in a dedicated ecovillage zone within Bordei, distinct from the rest of the village. The Ecovillage is the centre for social activities and retreats, while Terra Vecchia houses the sanctuary. Together, they form a unique ensemble for social activities, a restaurant, relaxing and contemplative stays and retreats that invigorate body, mind and soul.
The Ecovillage
In Bordei we organize seminars and host a variety of social activities and retreats, such as Yoga, Tai Chi, Mindfulness, Ayurveda, wood carving, gardening and alternative medicine. The organic farm and gardens provide some of the produce for our fine vegetarian restaurant Osteria Giardino Bordei, directed by Pietro Leemann. In the majestic surroundings, we placed two large geodesic domes for seminars and yoga classes. You are invited to host your own retreat here or join any of our retreats.
Sanctuary of inner fulfilment.
The Sanctuary
The Sanctuary at Terra Vecchia is an oasis for communal living with a clear purpose, offering both short and long-term stays. The Sanctuary, led by Swami Shri Rupa Madhava Maharaja (V.I. Streisand), is imbued with a spirit of devotion, simplicity and an openness to all spiritual paths, with a focus on bhakti (loving devotional service) and kirtan (spiritual chanting). Guests are invited to participate in the daily activities and follow one of the seminars on offer, or simply spend some time in the peace and quiet of the place. The Terra Vecchia Sanctuary works with various educational organizations (such as the Oxford University) to create an authentic spiritual learning experience.
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Sustainability
The Ecovillage & Sanctuary Terra Vecchia Bordei is based on the concept of sustainable development of the UN (Brundtland Report, 1987, World Commission on Environment and Development, WCED) and on a harmonious relationship between nature, people and the environment. Man is meant to watch over nature and its inhabitants with mindfulness and responsibility, which also corresponds to the Vedic concept of “Dharma.” This balance creates space for the development of inner qualities. With the Ecovillage & Sanctuary Terra Vecchia Bordei, new paths are being innovatively taken in the two Ticino villages towards a culture that is suitable for our grandchildren. In the area under the influence of the Fondazione Terra Vecchia Bordei, and in particular in the Osteria Giardino Bordei, vegetarian food is to be cooked and only organic food is to be produced. This particularly applies to the foundation’s own Organic Mountain Farm with 21 hectares of land. Environmentally friendly and economically sensible measures are at the forefront of the operation of the properties: heating is provided by wood from the surrounding forests and solar energy. All properties are to be made more energy efficient in the next few years