Mehr Fardoonji, a pioneering figure in organic agriculture and an early advocate for yoga in Britain, has died at the age of 95. She dedicated six decades to developing and managing Oakcroft organic market garden in Cheshire, one of the first farms to be registered with the Soil Association, while also teaching yoga to supplement her income.
Early Life and Education
Born in Lahore, then part of British India and now in Pakistan, Mehr faced hardship early when her father passed away when she was five. Her mother, Dinah, relocated the family to Britain for education. Mehr attended Great Moreton Hall boarding school near Congleton, followed by Mary Datchelor Girls' School in Camberwell, southeast London. She later graduated with an economics degree from the London School of Economics in 1953.
Journey to India and Social Work
After graduation, Mehr embarked on a solo overland journey back to India, spending several months traveling and even working in a kibbutz in Israel along the way. She trained as a village worker at Sevagram, Gandhi's ashram, and spent four years in Shantipur, in the Himalayan foothills. There, she assisted in settling 63 landless labourer families onto cooperative farming land, showcasing her commitment to social justice and sustainable livelihoods.
Return to England and Oakcroft Farm
In 1959, Mehr returned to England and settled with her mother at Oakcroft. She transformed four acres into a thriving organic market garden, which included extra accommodation for visitors and workers. Beyond farming, she was a skilled potter, knitter, and spinner, fostering a community where many workers became lifelong friends. In 1990, she married Nicholas Gillett, a Quaker teacher and peace activist who joined her at Oakcroft.
Activism and Teaching
Mehr was an active member of the Chester branch of Women for Peace, regularly protesting against cruise missiles in the 1980s and supporting the Greenham Common women with supplies and moral support. She also taught various courses, including yoga, for the Workers' Educational Association, and collaborated on the 1974 book Practical Yoga with June Johns, contributing to the British yoga revolution.
Legacy and Personal Life
Remembered for her warm smile, humanity, decided views, indomitable spirit, and concern for the planet, Mehr ensured her land at Oakcroft would be preserved for organic farming by bequeathing it to the Soil Association upon her death. Her husband, Nicholas, predeceased her in 2008. She is survived by his five children from a previous marriage, 11 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
