Mool sustainability

Mool believes that human needs and desires are limited, and there is abundance of resources to fulfill them. The challenge is to develop the right understanding of these needs and desires, and pay attention to our relationships – with ourselves, with each other and with what surrounds us. We must appreciate the legacy we have inherited and take responsibility to pass it on to the next generations in an equally good, if not better, condition.

Mool is committed to incorporating the three pillars of sustainability through community participation, generation of economic benefits through farming, and use of eco-friendly materials and practices. These three pillars— economic, social and environmental sustainability—provide a solid foundation for long-term sustainability. Mool aims to make such programs replicable in the following ways:

Graphical representation indicating the relationship between the three pillars of sustainability – economy is constrained by social limits and both of them are constrained by the limits of the eco-system. (Source of the image: Wikipedia)

Economic sustainability

Mool collaborates with an eco-farm Sagg Eco Businesses facilitating technical and programmatic decision-making to explore various aspects of natural farming and other sustainable eco-businesses. This provides Mool fellows and interns the opportunity to learn and test their skills and knowledge to operate a successful small farm or eco business. The economic incentives, localized nature, personal and community wellbeing, and environment friendliness attracts youth engagement and their long-term commitment to Mool and similar initiatives.

Social sustainability

Social sustainability entails participatory consultations and regular engagement with community (including farmers and practitioners of other indigenous methods, trades and skills), science and technology fraternity, and people in public service delivery to improve quality of individual and community experience of life (including in areas of education, livelihood, healthcare and ecology). It also means to explore a sustainable and integrated way of living. These interactions build shared networks and a culture of collective problem-solving. Such positive consequences generate considerable goodwill in the community.

Ecological sustainability

Mool ensures ecological sustainability by using eco-friendly systemic practices based on integration of traditional wisdom and new evaluated knowledge. Optimum use of infrastructure, materials and time are key values for Mool. With these values in mind, Mool uses and promotes zero waste systems, cost-effective earth-building designs for infrastructure, organic practices and materials for farming (such as zero pesticides and organic manure). Through the community wellbeing program, the attention of community is also drawn towards the need to create zero waste systems.

Mool believes that waste is a resource in the wrong place. And seeks to follow the 3-R’s hierarchical policy for zero waste — reduce, reuse and recycle. For example, dry waste is separated into cloth, glass, plastics, paper/cardboard, and scrap metal to reuse in making recycled objects like toys, bags, purses, scarves, quilts, etc. Wet waste is divided into biodegradable (composted) and non-biodegradable materials.