India - Matrikunj

This week we got to visit one of my favorite places on Earth - and one of the reasons why I came back to India:  MATRIKUNJ!  

Matrikunj is a sanskrit word that means "the Mother's sacred place", and a sacred place it truly is.  It was where I really first connected with farming as not just an occupation or hobby but as a way of life and a spiritual practice: a way to connect with Nature, or Mother, who nurtures us and provides us with endless abundance.  I've never been to a place where you can really feel that loving, nurturing presence so intimately!  Just being there and walking through the jungle-like overflowing green of fruit trees, rice paddies, traditional Tamil-style structures, coconut palms, and sugar cane, you feel a sense of joy and presence come over you that is truly wonderful.

The farm manager there, Baburam, is a farm guru if there ever was one.  He is so united with his farm, the land, the soil, the plants, the animals, it's truly inspiring.  Just sitting with him, you can feel the power and peace of nature flowing through you.  He's a bit hard to understand at times, but he's so wise and insightful, it's really worth the extra effort to figure out what he's saying.  What a gift to get to spend some time with him!

It was so wonderful to get to come back to Matrikunj, where I lived for 2 of my 6 months last time I was in India, and also get to share the experience with Aphyna!  Here are just a few photos of our time there so far:

Baburam, Johnny (one of the 5 farm dogs that chase away porcupines, snakes, and intruders), and I walking out to the fields!

The indigenous Indian cows there are really beautiful, and totally different from the species we have in the US.  Aphyna loves them!!

And this calf really loves baburam!

Two of the tamil workers that staff the farm working the rice paddy - we got to help with the weeding, too! It was so fun squishing around in the ankle-deep mud.  I love how they're still wearing beautiful saris!

Getting ready to take the plunge.  It's such a beautiful place!

And one of the best parts of Matrikunj: the FOOD!  They always feed us completely from what they produce on the farm: tropical fruits and vegetables, and lots of delicious rice.  Here's Aphyna posing with one of the most delicious papayas ever.