BeForest

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Hobby Farming: 5 Things to Know Before You Start

Anyone can be a hobby farmer - from full-time employees living in cities to part-time workers who are farming for some benefits. In this article we talk about some of the crucial things you should know about/expect from hobby farming before you decide to start your own.

Hobby farming, as the name says, is when you start to farm as a hobby. It is taken up by individuals who are passionate about farming or any activities associated with it and enjoy living in the midst of nature. It is more of a personal project and varies from person to person, farm to farm. There is a limit to what you can achieve as a hobby, in your free time. Hence, hobby farms are generally small in scale. Larger farms require greater time commitment and management.

Anyone can be a hobby farmer - from full-time employees living in cities to part-time workers who are farming for some benefits. It all depends on the resources available and what you want out of the hobby farm. This brings us to the crucial things you should know about/expect from hobby farming before you decide to start your own.

Know the purpose of your hobby farm Do you want to grow veggies for your food? Or some delicious seasonal fruits? Maybe you just need a peaceful place to relax while occasionally reaping the benefits of farm life? Be very clear about why you want to start a hobby farm, what you’ll do with it and what kind of a life you envision. The purpose may also depend upon the resources you have.

Your hobby farm cannot be your primary income source Just like your hobbies cannot be your full-time jobs, your hobby farms cannot function as a traditional farms. Using resources smartly can make you some extra money from your hobby farming. You can also grow some of your own food and save money considerably. However, if you’re expecting it to replace your current source of income, take a step back and reevaluate. Hobby farming is a passion project and not a business.

Be ready to put in some real effort This goes without saying. No matter what the scale, managing your hobby farm will demand time, work and effort from you. So if you can commit the effort, your hobby farm will brim with potential.

You cannot do it alone Maintaining the farm cannot be done by you alone. You will need to hire additional resources to look after the farm in your absence. Even if you are at the farm full-time, you will need help from local farmers to know how it's done. In addition, you will need people to tend to services like water supply/management, housing maintenance and security.

You cannot abandon this hobby once you’re bored Farming is unlike any other passion project you pick up. You cannot abandon your hobby farm once you’ve invested a great deal of your time, money and resources in it. Make a fertile land is not gone to waste if your passion fades. And if it does, be prepared to make alternate arrangements.

Farming is a very personal experience. There is no right or wrong way of building a hobby farm. If you love the farm life, respect nature, food and living beings and have the resources to start your own farm, by all means, go ahead and grow a wholesome hobby farm.

Considering all the benefits farming, In India, we are seeing growth of startups which are encouraging more and more urban people a chance to take up farming as a hobby by offering managed farmlands near Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, and near other Tier 1 cities. In the coming years we hope to see this trend growing further, drawing people away from the concrete jungles of the urban centers.

Suhail Bagdadi is the Marketing & Communications Head of Beforest Lifestyle Solutions, a company providing managed farmlands in India. He holds an Advanced Permaculture Design Certificate from Aranya Agricultural Alternatives and runs a 15-acre alphonso mango orchard along the Konkan coast, which he is converting into a food forest.

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Poomaale Estate: The Magical Monsoons

Kodagu comes to a halt during the monsoons. You will find most people sipping chai on a planter’s chair, waiting for sunset.

But this time we took on a few micro-projects and built some nice makeshift shelters for the veggie beds and compost pits and started the process. While the composting didn’t go as well because of the moisture, we realised we needed to add a lot more carbon than normal to offset that. It’s not called failure if you’ve learned something in the process! But overall, things seem good right now. The leafies are coming out well and the gourds too.

The Blyton Bungalow opened to members and we engaged with folks with tons of hospitality experience to train our team in barefoot luxury (a term we have grown increasingly fond of). A month into the process, the team is doing some great work. We have hosted a few families and the feedback has been phenomenal. We have also leveraged the local understanding of the flora and fauna by picking our naturalists from the local tribal hamlet and training them on the narrative experience. This was an extremely productive exercise, and they were more than eager to learn. https://beforest.co/the-poomaale-estate/

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VINEYARDS TO WIN-YARDS: HOW THE MUMBAI COLLECTIVE WAS BORN

In May 2020, a lady reached out to us asking if it is possible to grow grapes in the permaculture way. I resisted the urge to break into a gyan session about how everything can be grown. Instead, I asked her what her intention was. She told me she wanted to live in a vineyard with a few of her friends who were all wine enthusiasts. They wanted to make their own wine and dreamed of idyllic countryside living. Enter Beforest and that was how the seed of The Mumbai Collective was sown.

The idea of a ‘vine forest’, a term we had invented then, did not have the wind behind it, but the seed took on a different form with folks reaching out about creating a food forest. This was the first time we received calls from people who were excited to know if Beforest was coming to Mumbai, which was a pleasant surprise for us. ‘Vine-forest’ transformed into a more overarching ‘food forest’ and we put a shoutout about creating a farming collective near Mumbai.

Skip to two years down the line, we have identified a beautiful location in the Khopoli region that reminds us of the Highlands of Central India by J. Forsyth. The winding road that traverses through idyllic villages, makes for an excellent cycling track (especially in the winter) and then gives way to a small valley. This valley gradually meets a slow rise that eventually becomes a tabletop with mind-blowing views of the horizon. The beauty of this place is that you can see the sun – horizon to horizon – sunrise to sunset.

Contrary to conventional planning, we love terrain difference, especially when it is stark. Every time two different terrains touch, it presents an opportunity – to collect water, explore the microclimate and create an experience which opens our horizons to what is possible. This is what excites us because it presents an opportunity for a better way of managing the landscape and we look forward to enabling the dream of our seed community in Mumbai.

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Managed Farmlands: 4 Benefits of Investing for Urban Farmers

Managed farmlands are farms run by organizations in collaboration with people who aspire to own a farm, but are unable to for various reasons. This article talks about the benefits of such managed farmlands.

There is a farmer in all of us. From wanting to grow our own little veggies in the backyard to frequent farmhouse trips on the town’s outskirts, we have all wished to live the farm life and enjoy everything it has to offer. The wish of owning and living on a farm, however, comes at a price. Acquisition of farmland is tricky. You’ll need people to work on the farm full-time. You’ll need the right resources to run your farm. You’ll need to study what is right for your farmland and how to grow it. And the list goes on.

Here’s where the concept of managed farmlands fits in. Managed farmlands are farms run by organizations in collaboration with people who aspire to own a farm, but are unable to for various reasons. The focus of the organisation is to look after the production and operations at the farm on other’s people’s behalf. This way, urban farmers can reap the fruit of farm life without having to leave their full-time jobs. Below are the various benefits of investing in managed farmlands.

Letting experts take the lead Most managed farmlands are designed and operated by experts. They study the land and determine what is right for it keeping in mind your aspirations for it too. They know what they’re getting into and allow you to feel secure with your investment.

2. Part-time effort, full-time benefit Money is not the only thing you will be investing in your managed farmland. You’ll be spending some time participating in building the farmland and understanding its needs. The effort is however much less compared to a full-time farm job. The returns will be as much as what you would expect from any farm.

3. More yield with fewer resources A major part of running managed farmlands is resource efficiency. Growing more from fewer resources can be done by careful planning and experimentation. Designing the farm from the preexisting knowledge and keeping room for playful experimentation gives more yield with fewer resources, as opposed to conventional farming that relies heavily on fertilizers and an excess of natural resources.

4.Becoming a part of a larger farming community Collaborating with other organisations can open up a whole new network of like-minded individuals. Associating with them can make you feel like you’re a part of something bigger than yourself. A community can help you get inspired and keep your energy alive.

Urban farmers face several challenges when it comes to owning a farm. Managed farmlands are a boon to a shared farming experience, where farming experts, locals, and city-dwellers can create a place of self-fulfillment. And there are organisations which offer managed farmlands for sale. Larger farmlands are even more beneficial as they home a ton of valuable resources that can be shared by a group. Splitting costs and sharing the benefits is a great way to create a more sustaining managed farmland.

Suhail Bagdadi is the Marketing & Communications Head of Beforest Lifestyle Solutions, a company providing managed farmlands in India. He holds an Advanced Permaculture Design Certificate from Aranya Agricultural Alternatives and runs a 15-acre alphonso mango orchard along the Konkan coast, which he is converting into a food forest.

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Beforest Collectives

Beforest enables permaculture-driven sustainable farm collectives, for people who would like to live sustainable life in terms of food, water, and power, Beforest helps them in realizing their dream of living in nature. For realising this, permaculture must be practiced across large tracts of land. Beforest looks to work on 150+ acres of land for practicing permaculture-based collective farming.

By rejuvenating the soil and increasing the groundwater levels, Beforest makes the ecosystem ready for growing varieties of trees and plants to take care of the needs of the community. For people who would like to live such a life anchored to nature, but do not know how to go about it, Beforest presents a viable and sustainable way of making it happen.

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Food Forests: Pathways to Sustainable Agriculture

What is a Food Forest?

Food forests are agricultural systems where numerous diverse food crops are grown within any given patch. They’re called food ‘forests’ and not food ‘farms’ because they are designed to look, function and feel like forests.

Why forests? For the simple reason that they are epitomes of natural ecosystems. They are resilient, adapt to changing weather conditions, and need external support. All forest elements - trees, vines, shrubs, animals, insects, even soil and water - speak a common language and rely on each other to survive and grow. This makes the forest ecosystem self-sustaining.

Characteristics of a Food Forest

Food forests are designed to mimic the processes and patterns of nature. Naturally, they will include all the characteristics of an actual forest.

Lush greens wherever the eye can see

Several, intertwined, dense layers of trees, shrubs, vines and ground covers

Diversity of plant and animal species

Coexistence and inclusivity of all life forms

Three-dimensional growth of life, including the underground

Presence of several micro-ecosystems of varying scales within the forest

The biggest visual characteristic of a food forest, however, is that it looks drastically different from modern monoculture farming. Typically, in a food forest, no two patches will look the same. In addition, the plants grown are primarily edibles.

But unlike forests, food forests do not grow on their own. Well, not initially. Permaculture farming methods are applied to design a food forest. Deep land studies and analyses dictate the best course of action for the land that is in tune with the landowner’s aspirations for their ‘food garden’.

How do Food Forests Aid Sustainable Agriculture?

Modern agriculture has been suffering due to climate change. It is also heavily market-dependent. Hence farmers are forced to grow more on less land. This leads to the excess use of fertilisers that ultimately degenerate the soil.

Food forests, on the other hand, make use of permaculture farming principles. It is a regenerative approach to farming where all activities work towards restoring the land’s nutrients and capacity. Albeit a slow process, it guarantees self-sustenance over a few years of nurturing. As they say, good things take time!

This approach to farming provides a promising solution to sustainable agriculture. Here’s why food forests can be the key.

1.Regeneration of Soil Health A curated selection of native species eliminates the need for using fertilisers. Furthermore, plants of various sizes can help strengthen the root network. Groundcover plants/ low-growing shrubs protect the soil from sun and harsh weather. This prevents soil erosion and restores the carbon in it.

2.Inclusion of All Life Forms Just like in the jungle, several species of animals and plants coexist in a food forest. Any design that threatens the life of another specie is modified/eliminated. Animal- friendly designs like bio-fencing and temporary shelters are encouraged.

3.Efficiency of Resources Food forest designs include smart water channeling, relying on renewable energy for power and building permanent structures from local materials. This reduces the carbon footprint too.

4.Reduced Need for External Inputs When there’s a goldmine of agricultural inputs on your own land, why look outside? Planting species that act as natural pest controls, and using the waste from one facet as a valuable resource in the other are just some of the many ways food forests reduce the need for external inputs, slowly inching towards complete self-sufficiency.

Considering all the benefits food forests offer, In India, we are seeing growth of startups which manage such food forests and offer managed farmlands near Mumbai and other metro cities to people looking to live an alternative lifestyle. In the coming years we hope to see this trend growing further, drawing people away from the concrete jungles of the urban centers.

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In March 2019, We started with a dream to create a coffee estate that functions like a tropical forest, a place that helps the surrounding forests thrive. Forest-friendly estate, we called it. Quite frankly, It seemed too ambitious then but we were super eager to see how far we could reach. With a little reckless faith, we forged ahead and found ourselves amongst fellow believers.

18 months later we are proud to say our first wilderness collective - The Poomaale Estate is now fully subscribed- a community sharing the vision of a landscape that hits the sweet spot of ecological restoration and economic viability - a truly sustainable model for the western ghats. As we welcome 2021 with great hope and expectation, We couldn’t have asked for a faster turnaround. In our first year, our practices have ensured that

every packet of bewild coffee saves 65 lt of water.

Elephants, deer, birds are now in abundance throughout the estate.

The estate is also home to several rare tropical forest trees.

This is only the beginning and we have a long way to go. We wish you a very happy new year and thank you for your continued support in this journey. You can follow us on Facebook (https://facebook.com/Beforestfarming) and Instagram (https://Instagram.com/beforestfarming) to stay updated on the latest from the beforest stable.

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We’re Almost There!

The seed community of the Bhopal collective was officially kicked off on Sep 4th 2022. We are now zeroing in on options in and around Bhopal and have our shortlist ready. Due diligence has started on our top choice and we should be through with the finalisation this week. In parallel, we are also looking to create the on ground team for the collective, a new Estate Manager, field officers, section officers and supervisors. So if you know any interesting folks with great management skills and an inclination towards sustainability please do refer them to [email protected].

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WHO BENEFITS FROM THE INDIAN SEED ACT?

Seeds encapsulate life and they act as a blue-print for plants that germinate from them.

With proper nurturing, a good seed can blossom into a beautiful tree. But how to we identify good seeds? Indian farmers have been aware of the importance of good quality seeds since ages and they used to keep aside a good part of their produce as seeds. But with big companies pouring millions of dollars in R&D in improving seed quality and hence the productivity of crops, it has become imperative for a third party inspector to audit the quality of seed being delivered to farmers.

To ensure farmers have access to good seeds and to prevent malpractices in seed sale and cheating of uninformed farmers, the Government of India passed the Seed Act in 1966. With the passage of this law, a seed inspector was appointed by the State Government for the verification of seed quality being sold. Moreover, anyone dealing in seeds can apply and get certification for the same by a certifying agency.

At Beforest, we lay strong stress on procuring good quality seeds and saplings and nurturing them properly to realize their full potential in our nurseries, across our collectives. Our endeavour is to fall back on native species which are common in the localities where our collectives are situated.

Nature is the most efficient researcher and implementer. With every passing generation, the plant tries to produce seeds that are more resilient and adapted to survive in the climate prevailing near the surroundings of the parent plant. Therefore, native varieties become sturdier for the given environment and it is also advisable to use them in that locality only. And, hence sowing native species forms one of the pillars of permaculture practices.

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The Growing Trend of Farming as a Hobby

We are inherently all farmers at heart. Farming and agriculture have been the backbones of our society. Without farmers, we would not have access to food, one of the most essential elements to survive.  

Some scientists believe that farming started about 12,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest professions. Prior to farming, we lived by hunting animals and feeding off wild plants. This meant that people were centered around a certain piece of land and as it ran out of supplies, in this case, depleted of wild animals and plants for food; they moved on to greener and more thriving pastures. 

With the advent of farming, people did not need to move or travel to find food as they began to live together In permanent settlements as clustered communities, usually around a water source, growing crops and raising animals on nearby lands, thus transitioning from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a more domesticated one. As communities grew, the land under farming increased to cater to this growing population.  

As time moved on, people moved from farming to the numerous other professions that came along. Small living clusters became a part of kingdoms and then countries. As urbanization gained momentum and technology evolved, more and more people began to give up farming and move to cities for better economic prospects. 

For a long time, giving up the plough and farm for a white-collar job in a glass building became aspirational. However, this trend seems to now be accompanied with many wanting to return to the land, at least partially and roll up their sleeves and give the land another go.    

For urban folk, this yearning is often fulfilled in the form of hobby farming. This could range from running a small kitchen, balcony, or terrace garden (depending on the availability of space), growing herbs and seasonal vegetables to owning a small tract of land, often as a weekend getaway where one can practice farming with varying degrees of commitments or without the expectation of it being a primary source of income. The owners of hobby farms usually have a main source of income, like an office job, business, or retirement income.

For some, hobby farming could eventually evolve into taking up full time farming, depending upon how comfortable and reassuring they feel with their ability to run the hobby farm. 

Why Hobby Farming 

A hobby farm can be a fulfilling way to spend more time outdoors 

An opportunity to disconnect from the hectic lives of urban jungles 

Destressing activity 

You can grow your own sustainable and healthy food

Reduce carbon footprint by growing food more locally 

Hedge against the rising cost of food 

A potential additional source of income  

Sensitizes you to understand the effort that goes into growing food 

Understand the impact of seasonal changes, pest control, how to manage a farm 

Depending upon the scale and efficiency, some hobby farmers have also been able to monetize this effort. To cater to this rising interest, there has been an increase in the number of managed farmlands near Hyderabad and other metro cities across India. Some states like Karnataka have made owning farmland easier, while others have seen a spurt in the development of farm plots catering to hobby farmers. An interest in farming has also helped revive awareness about indigenous food staples and efforts towards their preservation, the need to save soil, revive water bodies and preservation of natural habitats. 

In a world of rapid destruction of natural resources, this could prove to be a small contribution towards the preservation and revival of nature.

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What Are Food Forests and Why Are They Important

We live in trying times! Modern industrialized farming has created unbalanced monocultures with the relentless use of chemicals, resulting in not only poisoning nature, but also ourselves in the process. These have resulted in large tracts of land being destroyed through soil erosion, increased salinity, and the destruction of supporting ecosystems.

It is not just the soil and ground water, but also the skies that are bearing the brunt. A recent report claims that rainwater across the world has become undrinkable due to ‘forever chemicals’ linked to cancer.

Monocropping has had a negative impact on biodiversity – from increasing the number of pests to wiping out companion plants which otherwise acted as a counter to these problems. In contrast, alternative solutions such as food forests have the potential to provide healthy food, sufficient livelihoods, and environmental balance.

Forests and Food Forests Before we get to food forests, lets first understand forests.

When I think of forests, I think of lush, multi-coloured, abundant wilderness with rich biodiversity full of trees, plants, birds, and animals, all co-existing within the same space and thriving with the least effort. Forests have healthy soil that is 'spongy' enough to store water from one monsoon till the start of the next one. No one goes about watering plants or preventing pest attacks in a forest. Likewise, there is no mowing, weeding, spraying or digging required. No use of harmful chemicals of any kind. The diversity of plant and predator makes it almost impossible to wipe out a forest with infestation.

Forests exist perfectly well on their own. Now, imagine if everything in these amazing, lush, abundant, forests was edible … you would call it a Food Forest.

Food forests are based on permaculture design systems and aim to replicate the structure of a natural forest to grow food more efficiently. A food forest can have up to 7 layers of food growing within the same space.

The 7 Layers of A Food Forest 1.Canopy (Large fruit & nut trees) 2.Low Tree Layer (Dwarf fruit trees – Up to 4 meters tall) 3.Shrub Layer (Currents & Berries) 4.Herbaceous Layer 5.Soil Surface (Ground cover crops) 6.Vertical Layer (climbers, vines) 7.Rhizosphere (Root Crops)

Any remaining space is occupied by ground cover plants which form a living mulch that protects the soil, reduces water loss to evaporation, and prevents weeds growing. A food forest may not necessarily have all seven layers, but it does have multiple layers, and even more importantly, it is a virtually self-sustaining living ecosystem.

It is estimated that while traditional farming needs 370 hectares of land to feed 500 people, a food forest can do this in 70 hectares.

Advantages Of Food Forests 1.Higher yield and productivity, with year-round produce 2.Natural mulch, compost & fertilizer 3.Natural pest control 4.Biodiversity 5.Resilience ecosystems

A Food Forest is built to replicate a real forest — only that we fill it with the food plants and trees that we want. To do this on your own could be a long and tedious process. However, considering the growing interest in sustainably produced food, there has been an increasing interest for individuals, especially from crowded metro cities like Mumbai, wanting to set up or collectively participate in growing and supporting food forests. To cater to this need there has been an increase in companies offering managed farmlands near Mumbai that are themed around natural food forests managed by experts along with the participation of members who can decide on their level of participation.

This is an encouraging step in fixing challenges like food security, encouraging biodiversity and building resilient ecosystems.

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Urban Farming in India

Urban folk are increasingly on the lookout for food that is nutritious, easy to procure, seasonal, and has a low carbon impact. Urban farming can be the answer to these challenges as well as a stepping stone towards running a full – fledged farm someday.

There has been an increasing concern and awareness amongst consumers about the quality of food produce, the distance it travels and its ability to retain its nutritional value. The use of chemical fertilizers and the uncertainty of hygienic growing conditions and transporting has fueled a desire to procure and consume produce that is grown closer and under conditions that assure consumers of their hygiene, growing methods and freshness.

Besides quality of produce, a certain section of consumers is concerned about the carbon impact of the process, while some are concerned about food security. For some, who do not have access to or aspire to own a farm someday, urban farming can be an alternate solution to growing healthy food and, in the process, also pursuing a de-stressing and fulfilling activity, making it a good choice for something to make you feel better after a hard day’s work!

With growing population and urbanization, fertile lands are diminishing and an increasing number of farm labor is moving to cities. Urban farming is a probable solution for efficiently using the land available for feeding people as they not only take minimal space but also provide fresh produce.

So, what is Urban Farming? Growing or producing food in heavily populated areas like cities is referred to as Urban Farming. It involves the practice of growing produce like fruits and vegetables using various methods like container or terrace gardening, vertical gardens, aquaponics, hydroponics and aeroponics systems, and controlled-environment agriculture to grow crops.

It is a way to take advantage of limited space and grow healthy food for yourself or your family. Typically, it applies intensive production methods, using natural resources and repurposing urban wastes (e.g., food waste as natural fertilizers or to make comport) for yield a diverse array of land-, water-, and air-based fauna and flora to achieve food security; health; livelihood for individuals, households, and community members.

As the produce is grown locally, it reduces the time between harvested and reaching consumers, saving time, reducing travel and transportation costs, and preserving nutritional value.

Some Types of Urban Farms

Commercially Run These include green houses, vertical farms and set ups like aquaponic, aeroponic and hydroponic systems

2. Individual or Community Run These include terrace, balcony or backyard gardens, green walls and street landscaping

Advantages of Urban Farming

Creates edible ‘green’ city landscapes

Grow food within limited spaces

Addresses the growing local food trend

Help boost the local economy

Healthy communities

Reduces packaging and transportation costs

Higher food quality and reduces food wastage

Urban farming at a personal level also offers the additional benefit of acting as a stepping stone for those interested in moving towards taking up full time farming by putting you at ease with your perceived ability to confidently grow some form of produce, understand seasonality, managing weeds, pests, nourishing crops, watering and troubleshooting other challenges.

While challenges such as identifying, buying, and managing farmland remain, they can be addressed through the various options that have sprung up in the form of managed farmlands in India. These are ideal for those interested in pursuing farming either as a full time or a part time activity, without the operational challenges, but under the guidance of experts from various operational aspects of the process.

So, if you would like to know if you have a green thumb, repurpose a used coffee cup or any packaging material, add some soil and drop in some seeds from a fruit or vegetable from your kitchen and nurture that seed into a plant to get started with your urban gardening adventure!

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We have been repeatedly requested to do something close to the maximum city over the last one year. So here it is. If you have been thinking about making that move towards farm living or have been looking for a farm close to mumbai, the mumbai collective is a great option for you. This is a beautiful undulating landscape interspersed with tabletop mountains, characteristic of the sahyadri ranges. The patch is sparsely wooded and has a waterfront. We look forward to setting up a thriving food forest system. The collective is open for subscription and we are looking for the first 10 seed community members who would play a crucial role in defining the character of the collective.

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EARLY BIRDS

The seed community is now closed. In a brilliant show of faith in brand Beforest, 25 early adopters have come onboard the Mumbai Collective and taken their first steps towards sustainable living. In a kick-off meetup held in Mumbai, we met up with our members where we walked them through the next steps including structure creation, asset transfer, payment schedules, and more. The meeting was well attended and super exciting as we were meeting in person with our seed community for the first time. We will be activating our legal, on-ground and design partners for work on this collective.

The seed community now comprises of entrepreneurs, doctors, senior advocates, and businessmen. It gives us great pleasure when we realize that this has happened in spite of not really doing in-person meetings.

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The Increasing Trend of Hyderabadi Professionals Taking Up Farming

Like with the rest of India, farming has historically been one of the major economic activities in Telangana. The region mainly depends on rain-fed water sources for the irrigation system with crops ranging from rice to others like cotton, sugar cane, mango, and tobacco. Recently, crops used for vegetable oil production like sunflower and peanuts, have also gained favour.

Hyderabad its capital, also known as the ‘City of Pearls’ is a place that offers both traditional culture and modernity. It is one of India's fastest growing cities, with rapidly expanding industries and a home to some of the country's most innovative companies. As a major IT hub, it attracts professionals from across the country.

As the city becomes more prosperous and expands in all directions, there has been a growth in the infrastructure of the city, with skyscrapers and new developments being constructed in every direction. This has however come at the cost of green spaces, which have resulted in city residents yearning for them. Moreover, with numerous lakes being filled up and being replaced by physical structures, the city has been facing an increasing flooding problem during the monsoons. Climatic changes and global warming are also making their impact felt.

In recent times, with the proliferation of lifestyle diseases, there has been an Increasing awareness among people about wanting to lead a healthier life, find work life balance, spend time outdoors and on the quality of food consumed. The mushrooming of organic food stores, mandis and healthy food brands are a testament to this.

With the experience of restrictions on movement during the pandemic, people have also wanted to escape city dwellings and move to wider open spaces. There has been a strong need to return to their roots and have green spaces to call their own. This interest has also been inspired by the several farming, gardening and natural food related workshops that have been gaining traction over the last few years.

These have led to several people wanting to own farm plots, farmhouses or buy agricultural land. However, several people wanting to do so are often intimidated by thought of the various steps involved in owning a farm plot – from selecting the right plot to ensuring it has a water and power source, its potential to grow crops, security, maintenance and various other unforeseeable challenges. This thought often drives them away from doing the plunge.

To cater to this rising demand, several agri-asset management companies have come up in the city offering managed farmlands. These managed farmlands vary from dairy farms to organic farming, wood plantations to greenhouses to mix use farm plots.

Besides a personal green space, managed farmlands are also a great option for those who want to build up their wealth and prosperity through agri-businesses and a hedge against other asset classes like equity, debt, gold, and fixed income.

Building long-term wealth with managed farmlands near Hyderabad is a great idea for those looking for a second home near the city. With managed farmlands, you do not have to worry about maintenance or security/surveillance involved after the land acquisition.

The burden of maintenance, safety and security of the farmland is taken up fully, thereby making the farm land always ready for joyful use. This also ensures that the land is insured from any trespass and access by unauthorized persons. This helps customers to do away with the hassle of development, maintenance and security/surveillance involved after the land acquisition.

Suhail Bagdadi is the Marketing & Communications Head of Beforest Lifestyle Solutions. He holds an Advanced Permaculture Design Certificate from Aranya Agricultural Alternatives and runs a 15-acre alphonso mango orchard along the Konkan coast, which he is converting into a food forest.

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Hobby Farming in One of The Greenest Cities in India

Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, is regarded as one of the greenest cities in India. It is also known as the ‘City of lakes’ due to its various natural and artificial lakes. The city offers a perfect combination of old-world charm, scenic nature’s beauty, modern lifestyle & a well-developed infrastructure.

Bhopal is considered as one of the important financial destinations in Madhya Pradesh and has a strong economic base with numerous large and medium industries operating in and around the city in addition to various educational and research institutions.

Besides lakes, the city is in close vicinity to major caves, national parks and tiger reserves, and has been immortalized in Rudyard Kipling’s classic – Jungle Book as well as several new documentaries about the tigers of Bhopal.

As the capital of the state, the city is home to many working and retired bureaucrats as well as professionals participating in the various new industries and businesses being set up. Situated in the heart of India, the city is easily accessible by all major modes of transport - air, rail, and road, making it an attractive economic and tourist destination. The city offers relatively affordable housing and a high quality of life.

The region is also famous for its ‘Sharbati Wheat’ variety, grown on thousands of acres around the city. Soybeans, lentils, mustard, and sugarcane are some of the major crops grown in the region.

As compared to other major metros, Bhopal offers a relatively relaxed pace of life. With larger homes, more open spaces and a rich history of agriculture, residents have been known to experiment and often successfully grow their own greens either on their rooftops, backyards or at farms away from the city.

While hobby farming usually just remains that, farming at some level of scale may require a different mindset and often enough, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Several individuals have attempted to farm at scale, but may have been bogged down by the operational, logistical, or other challenges that may result in the economic unviability of their farms. However, the nature of farming is such that there is often, a huge emotional connect with land and the process.

There has been a recent interest in managed farmlands in Bhopal aimed at both the hobby farmers who are looking for a green space to retreat to and participate in the growing of their food as well as enjoy green spaces and the luxury of a partly managed farm as well as those exploring more financially rewarding options with different types farms being managed at scale and for economic benefit. These range from managed dairy farms to growing crops at scale, organic farms, orchards, and even mixed crop farms. With professional management coming in, participants can choose their level of involvement as well as specific aspects of farming that interest them. Some land owners are also considering professional organizations to step in and manage their own farms and explore options on how to optimally monetize them on their behalf for a fee.

Like with many other cities, the concept of managed farmlands is slowly gaining traction in and near Bhopal and is providing a solution to those either looking to farm as a hobby or full-time farmers looking for professional assistance in running their own farms more efficiently. The authorities, have also been promoting organic and natural farming at large scale. This could prove to be an interesting combination of state support and private initiative in introducing and promoting the concept of managed farmlands near the city.

Suhail Bagdadi is the Marketing & Communications Head of Beforest Lifestyle Solutions. He holds an Advanced Permaculture Design Certificate from Aranya Agricultural Alternatives and also runs a 15-acre alphonso mango orchard along the Konkan coast, which he is converting into a food forest.

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The Rising Trend of Adopting Farming as a Lifestyle

Residents of metropolitan cities like Mumbai or Delhi or Bengaluru often find city life very stressful with long commute times, small home sizes, lack of green spaces and the deteriorating quality of air, water and food produce. These problems were further accentuated during the COVID pandemic when people were confined to their homes for prolonged periods.

The stressful city life has also pushed individuals to question the quality of their lives and find a higher purpose leading to more fulfilling lives that offer a work life balance. Having seen a few of their friends and colleagues experimenting with remote working from beaches and hill-stations as well as their personal experiences of visiting and finding peace at farms and greener pastures, many have expressed an interest in either moving permanently to a farm or at least owning one to visit frequently. A farm life is an ideal solution for many locals who prefer living on the land rather than in cramped apartments.

Owning farmland has seen a rise in popularity across Maharashtra with many being tempted by the idea of living a peaceful life as well as making some income from their own farms. However, most mainstream options are limited only to certain areas and can be quite inaccessible for most people outside those regions.

Most aspiring farm owners are also overwhelmed by the uncertainties involved with owning and running a farm. The challenges range from identifying the right piece of land, the land acquisition process, what and when to grow and eventually being able to monetize the produce to cover costs at the least. This is evident from the number of abandoned farms and poly houses that one sees across the landscape while driving away from these cities.

Many in Mumbai have also had unpleasant experiences with buying property. These have ranged from delays in construction and delivery to flouting of construction rules and regulations, resulting in a loss of capital. Moreover while banks and financial institutions provide loans to purchase a home, there is no such provision for purchasing agricultural land.

There has been a proliferation of agricultural plots and managed farmlands near Mumbai being advertised across the state, including some prime locations along beaches and near hill stations. These offer an opportunity to not only experience life as a farmer, but also enjoy the scenic beauty the location offers, doubling as an alternate vacation home.

These managed farmlands serve a range of interests, based on their offerings ranging from:

Organic Farms

Fruit and vegetable farms

Dairy farms

Emu and domestic animal farms

Fish farms

Fruit orchards e.g. Mango and Cashew plantations along the coast or grape vineyards in interior Maharashtra

Mixed farming – Seasonal fruits and vegetables

Multi use farm stays among other options

While independent plots still come with most of the challenges mentioned, managed farmlands seem to provide a solution. They take away all these uncertainties and offer certainty through transparency, expertise and support on successful monetization of the ventures.

Companies running managed farmlands usually structure them in a manner that is usually inclusive, allowing owners to participate in the process in a manner they choose to do, thus offering the satisfaction of both owning a farm but also contributing to its growth based on their convenience.

Owning a farm is an opportunity to immerse oneself in nature and see the world from a different lens. Whether you are looking for an organic farm, a low-cost farming option or just a place to escape from city life, managed farms provide the perfect solution; with several advantages over conventional farming like reliable supply and comfortable living conditions. Their farms operations also provide you with the opportunity of using your land as a source of passive income.

Suhail Bagdadi is the Marketing & Communications Head of Beforest Lifestyle Solutions, a company that specializes in offering managed farmlands near Mumbai. He holds an Advanced Permaculture Design Certificate from Aranya Agricultural Alternatives and also runs a 15 acre alphonso mango orchard along the Konkan coast, which he is converting into a food forest.