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Help around our family farm and food forest in Tamil Nadu, India

India
Last activity : 7 Mar 2025

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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
4 Mar 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 5 days
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7
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2025

Min stay requested: at least a week

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What's this?

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Description
We are a family living at our farm/food forest. Our farm is filled with weeds, insects, birds living in a perfect symbiosis amidst a guava orchid of 3 acres. It is located in the agriculture belt of Tamilnadu, SouthIndia(18kms from Auroville and Pondicherry). we decided to quit our conventional jobs in the city to pursue our shared dream of settling down in a village and being self sustainable.

We follow the principles of Masanobu Fukuoka's Do Nothing Farming. The birds visiting our farm sing their songs while they sow their seeds, the wild rabbits hop happily and dig burrows to fix nitrogen to the soil while the bees pollinate the flowers and give us abundance of fruits. Nature is in perfect balance and laying in her lap without disturbing her is the perfect solution to today's complex problems. We focus on understanding natures beautiful design patterns and working along with it in perfect harmony.

Our Daily routines include Beekeeping, Mulching, grazing goats, raising free range chickens and mimicking the forest principles. We also make Guava Jams, Soothing Green Teas and Herbal powders.
For the past 8 years we havent ploughed our land and we respect the rules of no-till permaculture. so there are many medicinal weeds growing here. You could also know about the weeds with Manga. She is a medical practicioner and is constantly researching on medicinal plants and weeds.

Apart from farming there are plenty of other activities like Natural Building, Bicycling to the nearest Quarry, educating the village kids during their evening class and visiting the nearby Pondicherry and Auroville.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
...
...
What's this?
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
While staying at our farm, volunteers can learn about beekeeping, raising goats and free range chickens, no till permaculture, reforestation, natural building, sustainability.
You can also learn about making virgin coconut oil, fruit jams, herbal teas and soups with medicinal plants.
This is a great opportunity to get to know about life in a Tamil village, experiencing south indian food, music and culture.
Help
At the field, there will be activities like sowing, mulching, watering, preparing seedlings, harvesting vegetables fruits and herbs.

We expect our volunteers to take care of the animals. It includes feeding, grazing the goats, chickens, turkeys, ducks and the dogs. Beekeeping is another important chore at the farm.

We will also need help for natural building and landscaping.
Volunteers will be helping in food preparation 3 times a day.
Volunteers will be expected to help around 20 hours a week.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Tamil: Fluent
Hindi: Intermediate
This host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
Volunteers will be given a space in the ground floor of the building, with a common kitchen. The space also has an attached private bathroom and toilet for the travellers. There is a single bed with a mosquito net, couches, and extra mat and bedsheets can be provided. There is plenty of space in the farm, for travellers to camp. We also have a 600sqft hut where large groups can stay.
Food will be prepared and served 3 times a day. Non vegetarian food is allowed.
What else ...
On their time off, volunteers can visit Auroville, the international town, which is only 20mins away. Pondicherry is also an heritage town to explore and also 20mins away.
Thiruvakkrai temple, Mailam temple, Veedur dam, and the fossil park are some other places to see.
Otherwise, our village is itself a very pleasant place to roam around with many water bodies.
We have buses to pondicherry, and villupuram every 15mins.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two

Host ref number: 782319926853

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Feedback (4)

28 Sep 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Rosa & Kirk)

I have been thinking about writting this review about Rosa and Kirk for SO long.
There are some memories that can't be explained through words, there are some experiences that can't be described as it was felt, and some feelings that cannot just be expressed verbally.
It was such a trippy and dream-like encounter with Rosa and Kirk.
In fact, after… read more meeting few people from around the world, we dint have any new expectations about the next volunteers, all were humble, conscious about the ecosystem, hardworking and creative. But in addition to all the "expected" qualities, Rosa and Kirk held so much of surprise elements.
They were SO unpredictable and full of positivity, like a birthday present. As soon as they stepped inside the farm, we could feel a blast, that eventually continued everyday!
Our family turned vegan during the whole stay, we enjoyed nice meal times. They would cook for the whole family, and it was absolutely from scratch (harvesting, going to the store, anything!) We enjoyed so much the Thai curry, the ravioli night, the cute tacos and of course the breakfast wonders with coconut, bananas, rice pancakes and honey!
They set a fresh ambience in the house, playing their instruments, dancing to any sound at any time.
Rosa and Kirk are so good with the kids, they would entertain them in so many different ways like the drawing and naming game, piggy in the middle. We joined them whenever we could and laughed so much. Even the baby had is special play time, they were extremely comfortable with the little ones, and very cautious. Kids were never bored during their stay.
To make this text shorter and readable, I will list what Rosa and Kirk are capable of, still it is just a glance :
-a uniquely shaped wooden corner table that fit exactly, without using fancy tools, it was impeccable.
-the smooth cement flooring (half of the house and front of the house) the free hand mandala by Rosa on the fresh cement was remarkable.
-the countless paper making sessions, so many experiments with natural colours and different thicknesses, Rosa used the paper to write notes!
-coconut shells with plants hanging from the ceiling, part of indoor decoration.
-the expertise in crocheting is incredible, so fast, so creative and so fun, the mushroom keychains, the big potato bag, the tiny purse, all the hair clips, the beanie cap and the door stoppers!!
-the colouring book for the kids by Kirk, filled with unforgettable drawings and even caricatures of the kids!
-the crafted staircase for the ducks to get inside their tub, so cute..
-all of the animal care, to the goats, birds, dogs. cats especially were treated like sovereigns! Rosa and Kirk are tolerant towards anything
-the house cleaning and tidying was sincere, Rosa and Kirk are responsible guys, helping with everything around the house.

Rewarding them was never enough. We would feel contented after doing something for them, but within the next hour, Rosa and Kirk would impress us with another skill and work of art.

Rosa is Fire and Kirk is Wind. A pleasant combo.

PS: Kirk Baba said "Calm down, you just got stung"

(Excellent )

9 Aug 2024

Left by Workawayer (Rosa & Kirk) for host

We stayed at Manga and Prajeeth's farm for about 2.5 weeks, after which it was very hard to leave! From the moment we arrived we were warmly welcomed into the family. Their home is so lovely, and exists out of them, their two daughters and the baby, and then there's of course the cats, ducks, goats and chickens. Even though we did work, it didn't… read more

(Excellent )

8 Mar 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Maddalena)

Maddalena came to the farm during the rainy season. She dint wait for us to pick her at the bus stop, when she called she was already at the gate. She landed with her cutest smile and got our attention with her backpack that was bigger than her.
Maddy spent two weeks at the farm, but
we grew a good bond with her. She was a sincere worker, always… read more waiting for the instructions and eager about knowing about the upcoming projects. She would never say no to any kind of chores, she would be standing in the field the next moment.
Although we couldn't have flowing water all the time, Maddy would be waiting, checking for the water, and doing dish washing before we could ask her. The vessels were shining!
We got impressed looking at her strength and endurance when she broke open more than 10 coconuts in a row for the oil making, when she carried the wood for the fire, when she would sweep the huge goat shed. She would work in silence, and the final result was always impeccable.
She made coconut chutney, guava jam, peanut butter, virgin coconut oil.. And she made paper with banana stem fibre! Never wasted a minute.
Because of the rain, we had the dogs and few chickens sleeping inside the house.. but Maddy never had any complaint, she was so kind hearted. She never missed feeding all of animals, and she even let a young chick visit her at bed every night.
Despite all the tiring work during the day, the evenings were dedicated to the kids. They would just kidnap her, torture her with cuddling, jumping on her shoulders and shouting in her ears. They were calling her Spiderman, so she had to perform few stunts hanging upside down. The rope broke and Maddy fell on her back (got hurt on her elbows and hip) but they were all bursting out laughing about it.
I have to mention the partying late nights, watching random movies on tv, laughing about the day, playing guitar and singing. And especially the barbecue nights chilling around the fire. All the unlimited cookies we had! Memorable moments!
We asked her to plaster a wall outdoor, she did a wonderful job decorating it with flowers and painted them.
In conclusion, we miss Maddalena, she was so gracious and charming like a humming bird blending with nature. We hope to meet her someday, in her own farm as she promised.
Wishing her Love on her adventure.
PS: We harvested her radishes and still have some veggies coming, feels like you are still here Maddy!

(Excellent )

19 Dec 2023

Left by Workawayer (Maddalena) for host

I spent two weeks on the farm with Prajeeth, Manga and their beautiful children.
I really felt at home, in a place where peace and tranquility reign.
I loved everything about this place: the kindness and generosity of the family, all the help they gave me, playing with the girls, the evenings spent talking, laughing and playing the guitar, the… read more

(Excellent )

2 Mar 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Oriana)

We are glad to be part of Oriana's adventure around the world.
It was such a pleasure having her roaming in the farm, she cannot sit for long, she has to be working few things at a time. So determined and so energetic. For me (Manga) it was all about matching her power, executing chores after chores and still being there for all the animals and… read more the crazy kids.
Oriana would be waiting for me(Manga) every early morning, standing in the kitchen, or somewhere in the farm wearing her hat. She covered all types of work at the farm, indoor that includes dishes (really endless), sweeping, arranging things, dusting, cleaning the stove on a daily basis, And outdoor work that includes, all types of harvest, breaking coconuts, carrying banana bunches, drying many varieties of local medicinal herbs for teas. Since I taught her the banana fibre basket, she would carry whole banana trees on her shoulders and process all of it.
Oriana was so humble to the animals, she would never wait for any instructions to feed them and make their spaces clean. She was so caring hugging every single goat and dog. She did her best to make everyone comfortable. She is an extreme nature fanatic when it comes to saving the butterflies, spiders, even ants from the sugar container, and trying to be friends with the mice!
Oriana is a gastronome, she was eager in understanding Tamil cooking, and she would participate in all the food preparation. She knows how to appreciate new flavours, we had a good time experimenting fermented drinks with mango ginger, guava, pineapple.. we even made tepache, and it was delicious. During the last week, we were honoured by Oriana's exceptional cooking. She made us travel to Mediterranean land, Mexico, Poland and other countries through her authentic dishes. She is an expert in fine dining. I have to mention her impeccable Punjabi Naan and paneer butter masala. We were fed like king and queen.
Apart from all the farm chores and projects, we had so many memorable moments like the tap dance class with the kids (such a good dancer!), the crochet classes (you cannot find a better coach), the crazy customised workout sessions (very knowledgeable trainer), yoga and meditation (an acrobat!). Oriana can manage many things at a time, so effortlessly with lots of patience and focus. I could see her potential when she hosted a session with the Bees for outsiders, when we made arrangements for my daughter's birthday party and when we prepared the kids for the school skit.
To conclude, let's say that Oriana is a superhero wandering around the world, looking for places to use her superpowers. I (Manga) can actually write a book about this encounter with her. Once you have her, you cannot let her go, at least from your heart!
We are missing all the breathtaking laughing moments.
Hoping to meet her again for another adventure. Wishing her Love and Lots of craziness.
PS: cannot forget that broad smile, that cute Disney princess laugh, all the sarcasm, and the best is her priceless facial expression when she is shocked (straight out of a cartoon). You can be my Cinderella and I can be your Fairy godmother! (Manga)

(Excellent )

26 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer (Oriana) for host

I spent almost two months living with Manga, Prajeeth, their two beautiful and lively daughters and their sweet baby, and I only wish it could’ve been longer! Every day here was like a dream. So peaceful, no stress, no worries, just enjoying being in nature and breathing the fresh air and listening to the sounds of all the birds. It’s the kind of… read more place that makes you want to get up early and stay awake just a bit longer because every time of day has its own beautiful charm: the misty glowing sunrises, all the buzzing bees and sleeping dogs and chickens hidden in the foliage in the afternoon, the bright pink sunsets, and the clear starry skies at night. There’s lots of beautiful wildlife to spot here, like peacocks, owls, green parrots, and so many interesting and pretty insects.

Manga and Prajeeth are the most fun and down to earth people around and they immediately became my true friends. They are so knowledgeable, so patient and happy to teach you and guide you how to do whatever it is you want to learn. They are also very easygoing and don’t micromanage at all, so if you’re happy to work independently and try some things on your own then this is also great.

I feel that I never did any work at all for the whole two months, since the work schedule was extremely flexible and I was only doing whatever I wanted to do when I wanted to do it. I really felt just like an honored guest in their home, being so well taken care of! Manga is an amazing cook and her food is even better than restaurants. The volunteer room is also so beautiful with huge windows overlooking the farm. I had the time of my life enjoying eating so much delicious south Indian food and learning so much about Tamil culture and about the plants here (I’ll never forget about those jackfruit seeds!!)

But, although it doesn’t feel like work there’s lots of daily things to do and lots of ongoing projects to contribute to! Every day we can feed the animals, take the goats out for grazing, collect eggs from the chickens, and contribute to the household by helping with cleaning, cooking and playing with the kids. I also did various projects like: splitting beehives, collecting herbs to make into teas and tooth powders, planting seeds, preparing garden beds for planting, making paths for water, harvesting fresh vegetables and roots, pruning guava trees and picking so many ripe yummy guavas, making guava jam (and guava cider ;) ), harvesting banana trees and using the whole tree for weaving, paper making and cooking, making baskets from various plants growing on the property, transplanting cuttings of woody plants, making coconut milk from freshly harvested coconuts, restoring and repainting the floor, made a simple chicken nesting coop, the list goes on and on. We also put on a birthday party and worked with some cute school children to perform a skit about protecting nature.

There is so much to do here, all of it very fun and easy. I can’t wait to return here!! <3

(Excellent )

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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)

Cultural exchange:
(5.0)

Communication:
(5.0)

28 Sep 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Rosa & Kirk)

(Excellent)

9 Aug 2024

Left by Workawayer (Rosa & Kirk) for host

(Excellent)

8 Mar 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Maddalena)

(Excellent)

19 Dec 2023

Left by Workawayer (Maddalena) for host

(Excellent)

2 Mar 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Oriana)

(Excellent)

26 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer (Oriana) for host

(Excellent)

16 Oct 2023

Left by Workawayer (Leticia & Sammy) for host

Time runs when you are in the right place, and Manga and Prajeeth's farm is surely the place to be. A place full of life, joy and love, just like its owners. My partner and I were lucky to stay here for 10 days but we are already looking forward to coming back.

We harvested guavas and made guava jam, mulched some parts of the garden, took care… read more

(Excellent)

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Help around our family farm and food forest in Tamil Nadu, India

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Host rating

Last replied

Reply rate

Feedback

Email verified

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Find your perfect host

Availability

Details

Description

Types of help and learning opportunities

UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

Help

Languages

Accommodation

What else ...

A little more information

Can host digital nomads

Space for parking camper vans

How many Workawayers can stay?

Feedback (4)

Photos

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