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8 Jun 2025
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Description
This used to be our family home. Spread over almost an acre, my mother toiled with our help to create a lush fruit forest. We have mangoes, jackfruits, coconuts, mulberries, mangosteen, rambutan, custard apple, lemons, bananas, nutmeg, turmeric, chilly and more- not on an industrial scale, but for a home: one to three trees. I say this because lately I find volunteers disappointed at the farm, expecting straight paths, and 10s and 20s of each fruit tree. This is a farm that was supposed to deliver for our home, and for our loved ones. We did not pre-plan the whole farm, it organically developed one sapling at a time.
After my parents moved out, I found little time to dedicate to farming and happened to chance upon the work of Masanobu Fukuoka and tried my hand at implementing those ideas here. The idea is not to till the ground, and let nature take its course.
The house was built in 1991, and there are termites taking up residence in the wood in the house. The plumbing work needs a revival, and some of the electric too.
My hope is I can turn this into a place which showcases nature-friendly and adjusted practices. Can we show different ways of living in the modern society, or atleast can we try exploring these questions?
To this effect, I have ben trying to get some consistency going in making bamboo threads, mud bricks, plastic-waste treatment setups, outdoor cooking and more
We welcome you to come leave your mark.
We are riverside, so have kayaks. You may ride those waterways and tell stories of it, I can share the same to remind people about what used to be our old roads, where human life was bubbling, but now these rivers are abandoned, neglected- maybe a good thing?
If nothing else, we always have some cooking, weeding and harvesting going. If you are okay with some occasional bent-over- some deep cleaning too
I also host a monthly ENVIRONMENTAL FILM CLUB, on third Friday's of every month at the Kerala Museum in Kochi, you may join me for some creative awareness raising activities or just helping out with the event.
At our Family home (non-riverside/non-workaway):
You may meet my mother — calm and grounded — who guides our rhythms.
And Joel, my brother who plays a harmonic, who teaches us to slow down and notice the sound of joy in small things. There is my passionate and easily excitable father and my 97 year old grandmother.
Our riverside home:
This house once welcomed travelers. Now, it dreams again — of soil and sap, of art and awareness, of becoming more than shelter.
It waits for people like you — wanderers, questioners, makers — to come leave your imprint on its evolving soul.
Main Themes Now
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Zero-till farming & mulch
Upcycling
Bamboo and coconut experiments
Natural building ideas
Solarpunk sketches
There’s a fireplace to be built.
Fences to rise from reclaimed aluminum.
Walls that want natural murals, not paint.
Other Projects:
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Join us in raising awareness in remote hamlets: free education, forgotten histories, new futures.
Spend a dawn with an inspiring local trust caring for the mentally challenged — feeding, bathing, listening.
Ride a kayak through sunrise and help open ancient waterways for stories and sap.
Paint with earth. Dream with us. Or suggest a project that stirs your soul.
🌀 Who We’re Looking For:
Not just volunteers. But collaborators in questioning.
How do we live lightly?
How do we honor those forgotten by the climate movement?
Can a backyard become a lighthouse?
Can art be a seed?
🥥 If the breeze carries you here, you’ll find:
Local farm-store produce to nourish you
Trails known only to old-timers and riverbirds
A secret toddy spot where the sweetest sap flows like honeyed time
Nights by the fire, mornings by the mist, and conversations that ripple outwards
🎒 More About Me
I’m a wandering educator, a barefoot philosopher, a flâneur in muddy fields.
I’m building — slowly and with laughter — a bridge between art, science, and the urgent whisper of the planet.
Let’s explore Tao and Tamil, Vipassana and Kalari, bamboo and binary stars.
Let’s create something meaningful — together.Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Elderly Companionship
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
General Maintenance
Interests
GardeningHistoryMusicPhotographyWritingPlant careCultureSustainabilityDIY & craftsCooking & foodCarpentryBooksArt & designArchitectureAnimalsOutdoor activitiesYoga / WellnessMountainNatureHikingDancingCyclingBeachCultural exchange and learning opportunities
You can get an immersive look into the village life. I am drawn to the old ways, including the history of this land, which I love to share. Trips to the local toddy shop, eateries and view points is my routine- you may join when keen.
Help
As far as farming goes, we follow zero-till farming or Zero-effort farming (:)), which is not really zero-effort but close enough. We try to let things grow as they want to, with minimal intervention, creating a vibrant eco-system. We do try to create a little space around our harvest plants like turmeric, black pepper, passion fruit etc
Building mud, bamboo, clay structures, incorporating sustainable waste - management and energy systems like biogas systems etc are all part of the plans for the future. I am also keen to try many traditional recipes for farming, mosquito repellents etc.
Being riverside, we have kayaks to ride the water roads. No surprise here that water roads are way more fun than tar roads. Also water roads during sunrise and sunset is magic. Interested individuals could help with clearing the waterways near our home among other things.Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Hindi: Fluent
Malayalam: Fluent
Arabic: Beginner
Spanish: BeginnerThis 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
We have a 3 bedroom house (with attached bathrooms): A room for myself, a room for workawayers and a room for my parents and family who drop by occasionally. There is also a separate space in the back, with an old kitchen, sleeping space and eastern toilet- which we hope to revitalize soon enough.
As far as eateries close by, we do have a generational breakfast place by the house- open from 6 AM to 9:30- 10:00 AM.
There is also lunch served by Kudumbshree (women's collective) about 500 meters away. It has been especially good lately, they start serving at noon upto 2 PM- sometimes 2:30- 3PM. Also they are open Monday through Friday (some Saturdays).What else ...
Kumarakom backwaters are very close to us, so is Kottayam town. There are buses every 15 minutes There is a lot of history and scenery in the area that I can direct you to. Thazthanagady Juma Masjid, CMS College, Thirunakkara Temple, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary among many others. Also our place is equidistant from Thekkedy, Varkala, Allappey etc (about 2-3 hours from all these places). You can reach Allappey by ferry boat (costs about Rs 20/ ticket) and get a nice 2-3 hour boat ride through the lake.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We do have a good internet connection
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
We can take in pets. There is plenty of verandah space and field in the front which would work well.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (8)
The main challenge was misaligned… read more
Auf seinem… read more
Words can't do justice to how amazing the place is. It’s a serene spot where you can enjoy the view over the river,… read more
Tabea is always keen to help-… read more
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The main challenge was misaligned… read more
Auf seinem… read more
Words can't do justice to how amazing the place is. It’s a serene spot where you can enjoy the view over the river,… read more
Tabea is always keen to help-… read more
Jeffrey is a… read more
His dog Loki was a joy to look after and we already miss him a lot.
Would love to come back at some point , Jefferey’s hospitality was amazing!