A Journey of Tradition, Gratitude, and Natural Harmony
Every morning, I rise with the sun and walk out to the rain gauge, a simple yet profound ritual that begins my day. At around 7:00 am, I stand there, quietly listening to what the skies have to say. The rain gauge isn’t just a tool; it’s like a message from nature, guiding us on how to care for the land. We never force our hands here. When the rain blesses the soil, we follow its rhythm and plant. Whether it’s coffee seedlings or native shade trees, each planting feels like a conversation between us and the earth. It’s as though we’re being invited to participate in something much larger than ourselves.
This farm wasn’t always like this. I inherited it from my father, uncle, and grandfather—who taught me everything I know about coffee farming. For a while, I followed their footsteps in practicing what we call Green Revolution methods. But over time, I felt a quiet voice inside urging me to change direction, to let the farm return to something more natural. I can’t explain it easily—it wasn’t a sudden decision but a gradual understanding that we needed to align more with nature’s way. Now, the farm thrives as part of the forest around it. Trees, birds, and animals coexist with our crops, and I often feel we are merely caretakers of this beautiful ecosystem.
There are two days every year that remind me how deeply connected we are to the land and to each other. Pongal, the Tamil Harvest Festival, is one of those days. On January 15th, we gather in gratitude—thankful for what the earth has provided. We dress in new clothes, prepare sweet rice, and offer our thanks to nature. The sense of unity that comes from celebrating together fills us with strength for the year ahead. The other is Ayutha Poojai, also known as Farm Implements Day , when we honor the tools that help us work the land. We bathe and adorn them as if they are sacred partners in this journey, for they too play a role in this delicate balance.
For me, there’s a quiet joy in planting. It’s more than just placing a seed in the ground; it’s like painting a living landscape, one that will grow and change with time. I often think of it as creating the “architecture” of the farm. Each row, each tree is placed with care, with the future in mind. It’s not something we rush—each decision is made thoughtfully, and when it all comes together, the feeling of contentment is indescribable.
We are blessed with land that faces north, receiving the warm morning sun and the cool mist that often hovers over us in the afternoons. The slopes here are steep, offering the perfect conditions for our coffee. I often stand at the top of the farm, looking out over the rows of plants, and feel a deep sense of gratitude. This land is a gift, and I feel responsible for nurturing it in the best way I can.
But it’s not just me who feels this way. Our team is the soul of this farm. We are more than colleagues—we are a community bound together by a shared love for the land. Every celebration, every meal we share strengthens that bond. I believe that when people work with joy and purpose, the results speak for themselves. That joy finds its way into the coffee we grow, and it’s something you can taste.
We’ve made it a point to be transparent in how we farm. We document much of what we do, not because we seek praise, but because we want people to see the journey behind the coffee they drink. It’s not rare for customers to tell us that our coffee tastes like no other. I believe they can sense the care, the patience, and the respect we’ve poured into it.
For over a decade now, we’ve been practicing natural farming, and the results are evident. The soil here is alive—it smells rich and sweet, filled with earthworms that tell us we’re doing something right. We mimic the layers of a natural forest, leaving the soil undisturbed and allowing it to grow richer every year. We’ve used no chemicals for ten years, and our plants have built their strength naturally. They thrive because they are part of a larger, living system.
Our coffee, I believe, reflects this journey. It’s not just the result of a process—it’s the culmination of years of love, respect, and quiet dedication to doing things in harmony with the earth. We’ve developed our own ways of processing, ensuring that every step honors both the plant and the land. The coffee we produce is a gift from this place, from this community, from nature itself. You have to experience it to understand. It’s the taste of something much deeper than just coffee.
On our farm, every drop of rain, every planting, and every harvest is an act of gratitude. Passed down through generations, we’ve embraced natural farming, allowing the land to thrive as part of the surrounding forest. Our team works in harmony with nature’s rhythms, creating coffee that is not just cultivated, but cared for with deep respect. From honoring ancient traditions like the Tamil Harvest Festival to nurturing the soil through regenerative practices, our farm reflects a philosophy of patience, joy, and connection with the earth. With coffee & love, Mahesh
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Author: Mahesh Narayanan, The Natural Farmer, Instagram: @thenaturalfarmer_/
All photos in this story were photographed at Mahesh's farm by Praveen Ponraj
Editor: Praveen Ponraj, Climate Wave Coffee
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