Indralaya Program and Retreat Center

Contact: River Augenstein - Resident Manager

River@indralaya.com - (360)376-4526

360 Indralaya Rd. Eastsound Washington

Indralaya is a three-season program and retreat center located on beautiful Orcas Island of the famous San Juan Archipelago. Our site is on 78 acres of mostly forested land, with almost a mile of coastline and several small beaches. Approximately two-thirds of the property is maintained as a nature preserve with walking trails and remnants of old growth forest.

Our mini-farm consists of over fifty fruit trees and a large vegetable garden. We manage the site using Bio-intensive cultivation practices and the principles of Permaculture. All of our fruit and produce is used to provide meals for our guests and staff in the course of our program season. We harvest rain-water to supplement our irrigation needs, as well.

We also maintain a large vermicomposting operation and have a flock of twenty-six laying hens. In addition we add value to many of our farm products by preparing jams, applesauce, chutneys, fruit butters, desserts and lots of cider in our large commercial kitchen. Much of our fruit surplus is also dried in dehydrators.

We accept workers from March to mid-November with stays as long as three months and as short as two weeks. We have over 30 cabins on the site, of which two, at any one time could be available for volunteers. Our cabins are rustic, but sufficient, with wood-stoves for heat. Heated, modern, shared bath facilities are available for volunteers and are located in easy proximity to cabins. Our year round temperatures are very mild, despite our northerly location.

In addition to the farm work we almost always have construction and cabin raising opportunities available for those skilled in these areas. By special arrangement, prospective workers can participate in projects of this nature.

Workers will be expected to work five hours a day, six days a week. In the slower times during Spring and Fall, we can move to a six hour a day, five days a week schedule. Transportation is available to the extent that we often make trips into town (1.5 miles) for supplies etc. It is also quite safe and easy to hitch-hike on Orcas Island. English is spoken almost exclusively and pets are not welcome. Parents, with children will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Three full meals a day are provided, but we adhere to an ovo-lacto vegetarian diet and meat is not allowed on the premises. Gluten-free, dairy free diets can be accommodated in many cases, and to an extent. During non-program times, workers will be expected to prepare their own meals, though we provide the food.

Indralaya is run in association with the Theosophical Society, a worldwide organization which promotes harmony amongst all people, encourages the study of comparative religion, philosophy and science and strives to investigate the unexplained laws of nature. www.indralaya.com