Conserving medicinal plants is critical to the local (in situ) development of our traditional
knowledge. We ensure the in situ conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants in a
number of ways outlined below.
Dharam Bageechi: Some of us have been given land by
the village or own a protected area on which to grow
medicinal plants in a wild setting, which we call
dharam bageechi. Dharam is translated into English as
meaning selflessness or selfless service, and bageechi is
orchard. Thus dharam bageechi literally means
“gardens of service.” While we look after the areas, we
see them as a community resource upon which we
draw to treat community members. By closing the area
to grazing, many medicinal plants grow, leading to their
regeneration to naturally abundant levels. We also
specifically propagate certain species that are not
initially found within the dharam bageechi or that are
particularly endangered.
Home herbal gardens: We each have our own herbal
gardens at our houses in which we grow the most
important plants. Often these gardens are up to half an acre in size. We feel that every home
should have an herbal garden and promote the growing of the most widely used plants for
common ailments by villagers near their homes and along the verges of fields. Presently
there are already over 10, 000 home herbal gardens in Rajasthan, but we want to promote a
further increase in numbers.
Conservation farming: Through Gunis’ knowledge, some of our community members have
begun to grow medicinal plants for the local and regional market. While being distinct from
Gunis, we include medicinal plants conservation farmers in this group. We are able to buy
low cost plants directly from the farmers. The farmers constitute 20 to 30 families who
employ indigenous farming methods, including no use of pesticides or herbicides that affect
microorganisms and other life forms beneficial to the environment.
Guni Ashram: In addition, JJVS also runs a Guni
Ashram in the area in which they propagate many
important species of medicinal plants and trees for
donating to villagers. We contribute in our own way
by providing specimens of the rarer species to them.
Sacred
sustainability:
Our
bio-spirituality
determines the way we interact with nature. In
addition to ensuring that we provide space for the
conservation of medicinal plants, our customary laws
relating to harvesting are derived from our values that
emphasize the sacred importance of sustaining our
ecosystems.
We mostly harvest a plant in the morning and before
collecting from a plant, we offer customary prayers.