By the lakeside, a natural pace of life beckons. The sounds of nature are always present, and the water’s surface down the way takes a different character each day. Sometimes the water sparkles, like gemstones in the sun. Other days, the lake is still and serene, when only the surrounding wildlife creates ripples and movement of its surface. All of it blends together to create a feeling of peace, contentment, and grounded solace. This is the spirit of Santosha.

We decided to name the lakeside property Santosha for this reason.

Santosha literally means “contentment, satisfaction”. It is also an ethical concept in Indian philosophy, particularly Yoga, where it is included as one of the Niyamas by Patanjali.

Santosha was acquired in 2005 by my parents, who at the time thought the lakeside tract may make a good investment property. Over the years, as my own interest developed in soil health and permaculture, and as my mother’s expertise with gardening flourished, Santosha has become a place for my family to embark on a journey to deepen our connection with earth, food, health, and the environment.

Aside from a small duplex on the property, the land was overgrown with brush. First steps were taken to clear the land of the unwanted shrubs, and then we decided to plant various fruiting trees. Naturally, we have been motivated to grow varieties that we find particularly tasty: mango, pomegranate, star apple, lychee, tamarind, just to name a few.

Along the way, we’ve already learned so much. Through this hands-on education, we’ve chosen to approach and care for Santosha through a permaculture philosophy. Not only has this process been humbling, it has, at every step, challenged us to pay close attention to the land, learn from nature, take risks, think creatively, and enjoy the process.