A family run farm bordering the Bannerghatta National Park[BNP], Bangalore, Anemane sits atop a granite boulder edged by the forest. When we began about thirty years ago it was a degraded Ragi growing dryland with soil that was tired and worn due to unsustainable methods of farming and granite quarrying. It took us a while to infuse new life (and the effort is ongoing) through soil and water conservation, well tried organic methods of mulching, crop rotation etc., Biodynamics and a good measure of patience. The forest was never a silent spectator. Through a natural process and active participation from us, the scrub and deciduous vegetation spilled over into the land so the borders look wild as any jungle and serve as a home or hunting ground for small and large mammals, at least a 140 species of birds and scores of insects.

Through the years we have had to learn from our wild neighbours about crop selection, the hard way. From coconut palms, mango and fruit orchards, to ragi, paddy, other grains, and vegetables, we have explored whatever the land could take but could not sustain, as there was always someone across who wished to share the bounty, elephants taking the lion’s share and the rest, tucking into items of their choice, wild pigs, going for tubers and groundnuts, peacocks and other birds for grains, hares for the vegetables and so on. The rest was ours! We are currently on the next level of trials with mainly citrus orchards, herbs and kitchen gardens in closely guarded spaces.

Essentially, we share with you the experience of living with other -than -human fellow beings.

As professionals we each pool our skills to offer: