66 Tips for a Fantastic Farm Vacation

Thinking of having a very different vacation? Staying at a permaculture, organic farm is an excellent idea for a fulfilling rustic, rural holiday experience. Here are tips that will be very handy for you.
  1. Research and choose a farm stay with good reviews and ratings on Google.
  2. Pick a farm which is run by a family. Not a corporate-run entity. Vaksana Farms is run by two elderly ladies: 90-year-old Lakshmi Paati and her 72-year-old daughter, Kasthuri Amma.
  3. Pack appropriate clothing for outdoor activities on the farm, such as light-coloured clothes, loose-fitting dresses and caps.
  4. Check if the farm offers accommodations on-site. Vaksana Farms has three lovely farmhouses within the 13-acre farm.
  5. Make sure you get the full details about the farm. At Vaksana, we have created a detailed FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) where we have proactively answered over 50 questions at www.VaksanaFarms.in/faq
  6. If you are travelling with children, look for a farm that offers family-friendly and kid-friendly activities.
  7. Most farm stays are located in remote villages, and electricity connection can be erratic. Make sure the farm stay has good Inverter power backup.
  8. Talk to the farm owners to understand what daily farm life entails and how you can participate.
  9. Be prepared to wake up early, as farm activities often start in the morning.
  10. Take the time to learn about the history and culture of the farm.
  11. Embrace the farm lifestyle and be open to trying new experiences and activities. That’s where the real fun lies.
  12. Respect the farm rules and regulations to ensure the safety of yourself and others.
  13. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn about sustainable farming practices and how good, clean food is grown.
  14. Support the local economy by purchasing farm products, such as fresh fruits, vegetables and grains.
  15. there are bound to be insects and bugs at any farm. We encourage to bring mosquito repellent sprays.
  16. Take plenty of photos to capture the memories of your farm vacation. And tag the farm’s Instagram or Facebook when you post.
  17. Disconnect from technology and enjoy the peacefulness of the farm environment.
  18. Bring board games to play with your family. When visiting Vaksana Farms, you don’t have to because we have lots of board games, traditional games and indoor games.
  19. Explore the farm surroundings through long walks.
  20. Attend farm workshops or demonstrations to learn new skills or techniques. Check out all the events lined up at Vaksana Farms at www.VaksanaFarms.in/events
  21. Keep an open mind and be willing to learn from the farmers and their experiences. You will be fascinated by some of the stories.
  22. Take part in farm-to-table experiences, such as cooking classes or preparing farm-fresh meals.
  23. If you’re interested in agriculture, ask the farmers about their farming methods and challenges.
  24. Enjoy birdwatching. There are many varieties of birds at Vaksana Farms.
  25. Do nothing and relax in the farm’s natural surroundings, enjoying the peace and tranquillity.
  26. Pack a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated during outdoor activities. Avoid bringing single-use plastic bottles.
  27. Check if the farm has Wi-Fi or cellular service, as it may vary depending on the location. At Vaksana Farms, you have strong WiFi all the major telecom networks work well.
  28. Check if the farm stay has a first aid kit with essential supplies for minor injuries or illnesses. Else, please bring your own. At Vaksana, we have first-aid kits.
  29. Respect the farm animals’ space and follow instructions on interacting with them safely.
  30. Volunteer your time on the farm. The farm hosts will really appreciate your helping hand.
  31. If you’re interested in gardening, ask the farmers if you can help tend to the farm’s plants.
  32. Participate in farm-related festivities or events if they coincide with your visit.
  33. Keep an eye out for farm stands or markets nearby where you can purchase fresh produce. When visiting Vaksana Farms on Sundays, don’t miss the farmers’:market at Kooteripattu Sandhai.
  34. Support the farm by leaving positive reviews or recommending it to others. Trust me. This is something that will significantly motivate the Farmstay hosts.
  35. Spend time observing the farm’s wildlife and appreciate the beauty of nature.
  36. If the farm has a nursery, help with seeding or transplanting the seedlings.
  37. If the farm stay has a day package, you can pack a picnic lunch and enjoy it in a picturesque spot on the farm.
  38. Learn about different farm animals and their roles on the farm.
  39. Take part in farm traditions or rituals if they are offered.
  40. If allowed, try your hand at milking cows or goats and learn about the process.
  41. Learn about the different types of poultry on the farm. At Vaksana Farms, we will soon have chickens, ducks, swans, guinea fowls and turkeys.
  42. Explore the farm’s orchards and learn about different types of fruit trees. At Vaksana Farms, we have over 25 different varieties of fruits.
  43. Take a tractor ride around the farm to enjoy the scenery.
  44. Learn about beekeeping and the importance of pollinators for agriculture.
  45. Participate in a cheese-making or butter-churning workshop if available.
  46. Try your hand at making homemade preserves or pickles using farm-fresh produce.
  47. Join a farm yoga or meditation session to relax and connect with nature.
  48. Enjoy stargazing on clear nights away from city lights.
  49. Learn about traditional farm games and try them out with friends or family. At Vaksana Farms, we have Bambaram, Thayapaas, Pallankuzhi, Undikol and Kittipullu.
  50. Have a bonfire or campfire and enjoy storytelling.
  51. Pluck vegetables with your own hands and offer to help the host in cooking lunch.
  52. Collect eggs from the chicken coop and hand them over to the host to have a truly farm-fresh breakfast.
  53. Rent a bicycle and explore the farm and its neighbouring areas at your own pace.
  54. Learn about traditional farming techniques and how they have evolved over time.
  55. Take a dip in a farm pond. This makes for a great swimming experience.
  56. Join a farm-based fitness class or challenge for a unique workout experience.
  57. Learn about herbal medicine and the use of medicinal plants found on the farm.
  58. Enjoy a sunrise and sunset yoga session in a peaceful farm setting.
  59. Learn about the different breeds of livestock on the farm and their specific characteristics.
  60. Take part in a farm scavenger hunt to explore different areas of the property.
  61. Learn about the process of making honey and taste different varieties produced on the farm.
  62. Learn about composting and participate in the farm’s composting activities.
  63. Meet the host family and get to know them. This experience differentiates your stay at a farm stay from a resort. At Vaksana Farms, you will love meeting the 90-year-old Lakshmi Paati and her 72-year-old daughter, Kasthuri Amma, who run this farm stay.
  64. We recommend staying for at least a couple of nights at a farm stay for you to experience a relaxed, calm holiday. This gives time for you to try out various activities at the farm.
  65. Weekends are sought after, and the farmhouses tend to get booked early. So we advise you to book them a few weeks in advance. You can book easily at www.VaksanaFarms.in
  66. Please come with a mentality and realisation that you are coming to a farm at a family’s home. Please do not come with the mindset of staying at a resort. This way, you can thoroughly enjoy your time at the farm.
These 66-pointers should get you started on your farm vacation adventures!
We welcome you to Vaksana Farm. It is super easy to book your stay here. Visit www.VaksanaFarms.in. Just three simple steps which take less than 30 seconds.
We look forward to hosting you and giving you fantastic memories with your family to cherish for a lifetime.
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The best type of vacation has been a workcation!

The best type of vacation has been a workcation! Indeed, and for all the right reasons. Everyone imagines working from a farmhouse in a beautiful natural setting.

It is a good idea to plan a trip to a remote organic farm without taking a day off from work during the week. It will help you feel refreshed and ready to work even harder.

People are increasingly choosing lengthier stays to work remotely, a trend we are calling “Live Anywhere.”
Vaksana Farms has this covered for you. When you choose a weekday, you get a cheaper discounted price as compared to weekends.

You can work from our farmhouses where each house has three work desks in addition to a comfortable dining table. You could also sit outdoors and take calls and work. The place is peaceful and tranquil without any disturbance. We have high-speed broadband Wi-Fi. With homemade sumptuous healthy food served to you and coffee/tea on demand, you are all set. Experience work away from work. Literally!

To make your booking visit https://www.vaksanafarms.in/

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Detox Simplified! Stay on a Farm in Thindivanam!

Vaksana brings you the best of luxury and comfort.

Bustling cities are a display of urban life amid disorder. Mega-residences compete for space with long commutes, congested flyovers, and crowded trains. Travelers stay in five- and seven-star luxury suites and lodges where bending the walls to fit extra luggage is not an option.

In such a case, any traveler who likes a leisurely pace would look for a hotel that provides the best of both worlds. After much pondering, the possibility of finding a picturesque, rural, yet contemporary place to stay is true bliss. I then unlocked the gates of otherwise inaccessible private vacation houses to families yearning for holidays that extended beyond checklists of must-sees and must-dos!

Rain Cleanse

The country’s officially rainy season has begun, so this is the ideal time to cleanse and detox from the inside out. In certain cultures, rain is a sign of purification. At The Farm, you can fully immerse yourself in a clean lifestyle through medically supervised fasting, treatments, physical activity, and fitness to rid your body of toxins while restoring its maximum capacity to absorb nutrients.

Fresh air, local cuisine, peaceful surroundings, hiking, and cosy lodging all together in a quaint community tucked away at the foot of imposing mountains. Reset, unwind, and regenerate.

You can get relief from stress and treatment for life’s toxins at Vaksana Farm Stay. It focuses on preventing and treating some of the most alarming and common lifestyle diseases in today’s culture, including mental health, diabetes, high cholesterol as well as obesity and other common conditions.

Its tranquil and lush natural surroundings provide the perfect environment for quick and efficient healing. At The Farm, nature is a constant force. Extensive landscaped gardens are scattered throughout the jungle, and vegetables and trees shade the area. As a result, it is a setting that encourages meditation, renewal, and relaxation.

Book your stay now at https://www.vaksanafarms.in/booking/

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Grandmoms at Work!

We all rely on cookbooks, cooking shows on television, and wisdom passed down from our grandparents. Of course, the braver would try new things in the kitchen, recalling the successes and mercifully forgetting the failures.

Nowadays, many food blogs offer delectable recipes, helpful hints, and beautiful photos, tempting us to head straight to the kitchen or the supermarket. Hundreds of culinary blogs are available to entice your taste buds. But of course, we cannot get close to the precision in the art that our elders have when it comes to cooking. Grandmas express their love by cooking delicious meals for the whole family — as it is for many grandparents.

Cooking was an inherent talent. Most of the time, friends appreciated their cooking and made me ponder the possibility of taking it up as my profession. When the farm stay was started, it helped convert their culinary skills into a full-fledged kitchen for the farm stay.

Every day, Lakshmi and Kasthuri amma feed entire families visiting the farm stay with finger-licking, modestly priced, exquisite meals that leave their taste buds fulfilled and tummies purring with happiness, leaving them wanting more.

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Food at Vaksana Farm Stay

Vazhakkai Fry is a spicy and flavorful dish that combines Vazhakkai, onion, and curry leaves in a pan. Vazhakkai Fry is a delicious side dish for rice meals that can be prepared in minutes.

Raw bananas are high in nutrients and are beneficial to people with diabetes.

The spicy, acidic flavour with a hint of sweetness goes well with rice, idlis, and even dosas. The base for any pulikuzhambu is the same, whether with bhindis or brinjals, and it always turns out delicious.

Poondu Kulambu is a spicy and flavorful gravy cooked from garlic, tomato, onion, and tempered and ground spices. When we run out of vegetables, Poondu Kulambu is an excellent alternative. It goes well with rice, idli, and dosa. This is Kasthuri amma’s signature dish. She loves preparing Pudina Thoyial as a side dish as well.

Mint leaves are widely utilized all over the world. It has numerous benefits. It may be used to make everything from Pudina Thoyial to refreshing mojitos. It not only gives an extra dash of flavor, freshness, and aroma, but it also contains medicinal capabilities that can help you in a variety of ways. Vaksana Farms is a natural retreat to give guests a healthy, relaxing experience. Our guests appreciate that we have a menu that eats local, fresh produce.

Urundai Kolumbu is another signature dish of the mother daughter duo that runs the catering at Vaksana Farm Stay. Their methods are traditional, and the taste is delectable, mouth-watering, and inviting.

These dishes are served with steamed rice, curd, rasam, pickle, salad, a seasonal fruit, a variety poriyal and buttermilk.

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Natural and Healthy Drinks from Vaksana Farms

Vaksana believes in serving you the best, natural and healthy drinks. This red ruby tangy drink is a treat to the eyes and your taste buds, and even your gut. These flowers are grown in the farm and plucked fresh when tea has to be made. Kasthuri Amma lovingly prepares this concoction to relish!

The Heavenly Humble Hibiscus Tea!

The humble hibiscus is indeed rich in nutrients. Antioxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, and Anthocyanin are abundant in the hibiscus plant. Hibiscus tea is a deep crimson beverage produced from the dried portions of the hibiscus plant. It contains cranberry-like sweet and tangy flavors and can be served hot or cold. In the past, hibiscus tea was used to lower body temperature, treat heart problems, and soothe a sore throat. Hibiscus tea is used to treat hypertension. Recent research has looked into hibiscus’ potential significance in treating high blood pressure and cholesterol.

Beautiful Butterfly tea amongst butterflies!

In India, the blue butterfly pea blossom, also known as Aparajita and sangu-poo, is a must-know flower for its numerous health and therapeutic advantages. The tea made from the blooms of the butterfly pea flower is well-known worldwide; it has a stunning blue colour and is high in antioxidants. The benefits of blue butterfly pea blossom are numerous, ranging from relieving inflammation and ulcers to preventing lethargy.

Vaksana believes in serving you the best, natural and healthy drinks.

This red ruby tangy drink is a treat to the eyes and your taste buds, and even your gut.

The humble hibiscus is indeed rich in nutrients. Antioxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, and Anthocyanin are abundant in the hibiscus plant. Hibiscus tea is a deep crimson beverage produced from the dried portions of the hibiscus plant. It contains cranberry-like sweet and tangy flavors and can be served hot or cold. In the past, hibiscus tea was used to lower body temperature, treat heart problems, and soothe a sore throat in African countries. Hibiscus tea is used to treat hypertension. Recent research has looked into hibiscus’ potential significance in treating high blood pressure and cholesterol.

Butterfly tea amongst butterflies!

In India, the blue butterfly pea blossom, also known as Aparajita and sangu-poo, is a must-know flower for its numerous health and therapeutic advantages. The tea made from the blooms of the butterfly pea flower is well-known worldwide; it has a stunning blue colour and is high in antioxidants. The benefits of blue butterfly pea blossom are numerous, ranging from relieving inflammation and ulcers to preventing lethargy.

Tea served: Rs 50/- cup

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