Our Values
Inspired by the work of the great naturalist Henry David Thoreau and the design principles of permaculture, every inch and each corner of Walden is a testament to our continuous commitment to follow the ethos of ecological ethics.
We are of the belief that Nature is not something to own and relish. Nature is what we are and belong to. Every aspect of the building of this repose has been given the utmost thought and effort to reduce carbon footprint. This is in tandem with our dedicated responsibility toward the natural world.
Sustainable Design
Every structure in the vicinity has adopted the use of local and sustainable materials to create optimum energy efficiency. This way we have been able to reduce fuel consumption that would have been required were the materials hauled from faraway places. From the mud for the walls to the sheesham trees for the furniture, everything has been sourced locally. The architectural design ensures maximum access to sun light during the winter while preventing the harsh sun rays during the summers. The east facing windows lets in the purvai or winds from the east to facilitate good ventilation. Our cottages’ mud walls act as nature’s best insulators, offering sufficient warmth in the winters and a cooling effect during the summers. There are multiple ingenious methods applied in the making of Walden to reuse construction material and reduce any debris. For example, shuttering wood has been reused as under-deck wood, waste steel has been used to make a spiral staircase and table legs, etc.
We recharge the surrounding groundwater level through rainwater harvesting combined with rain chains, swales and ponds. Every small detail is kept in mind to prevent polluting the area as much as possible. We do this by using the waste generated in the kitchen and agricultural land to feed the farm animals, make manure or other recycling activities.
The farm, itself, is our crown jewel. It is the pride of the community that fosters the growth of the produce that fills every plate for every meal we have. As practitioners of permaculture, one of the most natural and sustainable form of farming, we use the landscape to our advantage. The farm works in sync with nature. The poultry gives us eggs and meat also eats and rids us of the pests from the vegetable gardens. Bees take nectar from the flowers of various fruits and crops to increase our yield by pollination and give us honey.
Community Engagement
We get to leverage all farming activities with the local community. As we operate without any synthetic or chemically-induced tampering. No fertilizers or pesticides are used given their harmful impact to the surroundings and human consumption. The will and dedication of the community has maximized the impact of non-industrialized farming.
In addition, the seeds we use are indigenous (native and natural varieties). By not using hybrid seeds, we achieve lesser yield in terms of quantity but make up for it in terms of nutrition which is our primary concern. While permaculture is a more labour-intensive farming methodology than modern mechanised ways used nowadays, but it generates more employment and reduces carbon emissions . Thereby, we are able to boost the local economy and the landscape with these conscious choices.
Artisanal Interiors
Giving our guests the most comfortable stay is our number one priority. From the linen to the wall décor, everything has been tastefully handpicked and curated to showcase traditional artisans and emerging talent. Our love for the handmade craftsmanship extends even to the fabric used for throws, rugs and cushions. All of these have been sourced from artisans from Punjab and other parts of India.
We believe in a minimalist attitude when it comes to styling our décor as it reflects our ideas of simple living by minimizing clutter and consumption.