Mehr Fardoonji

Notice

Mehr Sorab Fardoonji, of Oakcroft Gardens, Malpas, died at home on Sunday, January 11, age 95. Gandhian, grower, teacher, cook, and potter. Above all, a friend to so many. From the early 1960s on she pioneered Organic Gardening while also teaching yoga and philosophy to legions of students in Cheshire with the WEA and at Oakcroft itself.

SERVICE

Please follow this link for the details of the Funeral Service and woodland burial details on Monday 26 January

It's also intended to have a memorial in Chester at a future date which will be announced.

Please see further down the page for a video and to sign up for any future updates, and we also invite you to share memories of Mehr.

Donations

Mehr's preferred charities to support are as follows:

For reference, Mehr's husband, Nicholas Gillet, who pre-deceased her, supported:


Memories

We're trying to collect some memories, If you feel it appropriate or can think of any contacts who wish to share memories please ask them to send them:

Either WhatsApp them to Mehr's Memories: +447441130330 - pictures, voice notes, messages, clippings etc. Or alternatively, email: mehr@oakcroft.org.uk

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Video

Mehr describing Oakcroft Organic Garden on Vimeo.

Bio - TO BE UPDATED

Mehr Fardoonji, the founder of Oakcroft gardens (history of Oakcroft) as an organic market garden, was born in India and came to England at the age of 7 with her mother and brother. After finishing her studies, she returned to India by land at the age of 23.

In India, she worked for 6 years in the Gandhi movement. In Gandhi's Ashram she read about Albert Howard and the organic movement and was convinced that land was the basis of life and organic farming the only way to the health of land and people.

Mehr then worked in Vinoba Bhave's land gift movement (Bhoodan) and eventually lived for 4 years in a Bhoodan village in the foothills of the Himalayas

At 29, Mehr returned to England for family reasons and travelled the country, and worked in 3 different market gardens to gain experience.

In 1962 Oakcroft was bought for her and her mother by her brother.

To help support the garden Mehr taught adults through WEA classes in various subjects and still teaches yoga with philosophy.

The land at Oakcroft is precious to Mehr and she wants it to remain organic and be growing vegetables and fruit for a growing market.

Mehr lived in the house with her husband Nicholas Gillett, who was a Quaker Teacher and author. Together they planted 1 acre of Woodland at the south of the holding.

Also see our photo gallery