Kerala accommodation, India

Planet

The Midlands of Kerala are the place where spices, food and fruits were naturally grown in homestead forest gardens that were eventually lost to rubber plantations. Spices were moved up to the hills where the forests were cut and plantations were established, thereby damaging the ecosystems in a significant way (monoculture plantations e.g. tea, coffee, pepper and rubber).

Here we are making an effort to bring back the glory of the Midlands by establishing a homestead forest garden (bio organic farming) and growing spices in their natural habitat. This is quite different and environmentally more aware than growing spices and crops in the cleared forest ranges in the mountains or the dense mangrove forests in the backwaters as a monoculture.

We are also trying to conserve the bio diversity of the region by raising lots of medicinal herbs in the garden itself, a self financed economically viable conservation initiative by the family in the region. We also use solar power for water heating, bio gas for cooking, low energy bulbs in the rooms and outside, minimal use of concrete, hedges for fencing instead of walls and grow bamboo for use on the farm.

As part of the conservation activity, we also preserve the recipes of the region and use them on a day-to-day basis which helps sustain the diverse food traditions of the region. The cost of your stay is plowed back into the farmstay, and all the products and services are locally sourced thereby benefitting the local community. We offer something different for travellers seeking authentic experiences.

People

Owned by Mrs.Mathew and is now managed by Jacob Mathew