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Tat Tvam Asi Organic Plantation was formed in response to founders love of nature. Amidst all the deforestation , habitat loss of wildlife, poaching we wanted to secure a piece of land where our activities would give back equally if not more then it took from mother nature. As a result the founders Vishal Mehta and Aditi Mehta established their base in Bhadra Tiger Reserve and started an Organic Farm modelled on sustainable Principles of Permaculture with its aim to conserve and promote biodiversity through Organic/Agro Forestry, Annual Reforestation, water/soil conservation, Off Grid Living and Sustainable tourism.

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Our 25 acre Off grid Permaculture Farm is located on the Bababudangiri range at an altitude of 1400 mts above sea level surrounded by biodiverse shola grasslands and montane rainforest in the heart of Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. The farm is a bio diversity hotspot, home to over a 120 plant species over 200 species of birds and host of other mammals and reptiles with over one third of the farm left completely untouched for wildlife.

 

We have strived to develop this organic plantation along the principles which are in sync with mother nature. Aiming to strike a balance between time-tested traditional practices and modern scientific approaches. Our philosophy is really simple " Leave this planet in a better condition then we inherited it ".

 

We welcome and encourage all forms of organic farming and follow the principles of permaculture or natural farming; which results in sustaining alive and healthy soils which is the foundation of a strong agri-ecology. We let humans, plants, birds & animals and insect species all to live together in harmony. We employ nature to do our farming. You will ask how?

 

First, lets start with some basics. Although a coffee plant can grow upto 30 feet tall, it is still considered to be a shrub. Often, the shrub grows into multiple stems by branching at it’s base. The plant is an evergreen, that’s how nature made it. Also, the fact is that arabica coffee is a shade-loving plant and thrives at high altitudes. So, what's our secret? Nothing really, we just follow the rules of nature. We use nature as a catalyst and all things natural to grow our crop. All our coffees are shade-grown under native tree canopy. This leads to the ecology participating in the growing process and also adds to the bio-diversity value, the natural canopy attracts many resident and migratory birds to our farm. They feed on pests and insect, thus reducing the dependencies on chemical pest and insect control methods, ultimately leading to naturally grown coffees.

 

Our farm is mammal friendly. Home to many bats, rabbits and the giant malabar squirrel,civet cats,macaque, deer etc. Again the canopy of native trees provides ideal habitat and food for a host of species. Apiaries on our farm  become our natural pollinators along with the native bee population. And hence, all our coffee flowers are naturally pollinated.

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We have endeavored to develop this plantation along the principles by which Nature “manages” land and water resources.  The methods we follow are based upon:

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1. Maintaining a Forest - like canopy above of native trees, and a dense ground cover of weeds between the crops and dense mulching helps to conserve fragile top soil. 

2. Step Farming /Contour Terracing on Steep mountain slopes which prevents soil erosion thereby increasing fertility.

3. Water Conservation - Our Water conservation efforts are focused on making swale and check dams. A check dam is a small, sometimes temporary, dam constructed across a swale, drainage ditch, or waterway to counteract erosion by reducing water flow velocity

4. Making our own compost from food and other organic waste such a water hyacinth/weeds from estate,indigenous cow breeds to replenish the soil after heavy monsoons.

5. One of the features of a natural forest that we have tried to conserve here on this plantation is the rich biodiversity prevalent under the canopy of rainforest trees. By leaving uncultivated sectors of natural “weeds” and fauna, we have been encouraging several predatory populations to flourish .As a result, we now have excellent populations of spiders, wasps, dragonflies, frogs, lizards, snakes, and birds, all of which contribute towards building up of a diverse and healthy ecosystem.

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