Metta Garden, Colombo (ECO-V)

Metta Garden is a plot of degraded land in Colombo that the Sri Lankan environmental NGO Eco Friendly Volunteers (ECO-V) has been converting into a garden since 2013. Grounded in the Buddhist idea of metta (loving-kindness), it combines mixed vegetable beds, a butterfly corner, pollinator planting and areas left to native wild plants. Opened to the public in 2015, it now serves as a training site for organic growing and biodiversity.

Neighbours bring kitchen waste for composting and surplus produce is shared locally. The garden has been open to the public since 2015 and hosts organic-growing and biodiversity training for both private-sector and government participants.

Land bought privately by ECO-V's founder Kanchana Weerakoon and dedicated to the organisation's training work from the start. The garden is certified organic under Good Market and runs as a training and awareness base.

It has become a training ground for people trying to grow organic food and earn from it, and the model has spread to several further gardens around Colombo. Taking in kitchen waste and sharing surplus crops keeps a steady exchange of resources going with the surrounding neighbourhood.

Privately owned by the founder and made available for the organisation's work.

This entry is compiled from the public sources, official sites and research below.

• OfficialGardens — Eco Friendly Volunteers (ECO-V) ↗eco-v.org