This is my second time attending the Tropical Landscaping Workshop at GreenAra, Kozhikode.
But this time, my intention is very clear.
I am here to observe deeply, decide quickly, and implement obsessively at Vaksana Farms, our 13-acre organic permaculture farm.
No hoarding ideas.
No “we’ll do this someday.”
Only rapid action, real soil, and visible transformation.
1. Vertical Walls for Outdoor Bathrooms – Priority #1
One of the strongest takeaways from Day 1 was the lightweight vertical garden soil mix:
Perlite
Vermiculite
Organic matter
This combination is perfect for vertical walls—light, airy, moisture-friendly, and ideal for tropical plants.
Immediate action:
We will implement vertical green walls in our outdoor bathrooms at Vaksana Farms.
Bathrooms are intimate, sensory spaces—and greenery here will elevate the entire experience.
This goes straight into the “implement first, refine later” list.
2. Enhancing My Own Workshop: Build Your Profitable Dream Farm (9th Edition)
Among all the events I host at Vaksana, this is my most popular one.
Many of the participants at the workshop have farms and they are all eager to make it their own tropical paradise. But I noticed not many spoke about the profitability of their ventures. Dream farms have a penchant for listening to your heart. But it’s important to give space for the head too. To think deeply about profitability formulation long term viability of the dream.
My upcoming 9th edition of “Build Your Profitable Dream Farm” (Jan 27 & 28, 2026) does that. Now, am convinced even more to focus on various business models that aligns with one’s values.
This will be the best edition yet, shaped by lived experiences and lessons from my ‘100 FARMS IN 100 WEEKS’
3. Ponds That Feel Like the Tropics
Our ponds are functional—but they can be emotionally powerful.
Key learning:
Plant water-loving tropical plants along pond banks to create depth, softness, and immersion.
The goal is simple:
> When someone walks near the pond, they must feel like they’re inside a tropical forest.
4. Falling in Love with Princess Vine
Some plants don’t just look good—they invite touch.
Princess vine does exactly that.
Plan:
Train Princess vine at the entrance of our Events Hall
Let it flow over the pergola spaces
It adds a sensory layer that guests will instinctively interact with—without signage, without instruction.
5. Torch Ginger: Grow Them in Abundance
Torch Ginger has completely won me over.
Lush green foliage
Striking, dramatic flowers
Strong tropical identity
Decision:
We will grow lots of Torch Ginger—not as accents, but as a defining visual language across the farm.
6. Heliconias and More Heliconias
No tropical landscape feels complete without Heliconias.
Different shapes.
Different colours.
Different heights.
Action:
Source and grow multiple varieties, not just one token plant.
7. Food Experience Matters as Much as Plants
Another subtle but powerful insight:
Food presentation is landscape too.
Serving food in:
Earthen pots
Bamboo woven baskets
adds a deep rural authenticity that no fancy crockery can replicate.
This will become part of how food is served during retreats and workshops at Vaksana Farms.
8. Bamboo Sourcing: KFRI & Uravu
Next steps include intentional sourcing.
I plan to visit:
Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI)
Uravu Bamboo Nursery
The aim is to:
Explore different bamboo species
Understand growth patterns
Use bamboo structurally and aesthetically across the farm.
9. A 10-Day Kerala Road Trip (Learning Mode ON)
One of my personal goals:
> A slow, intentional 10-day road trip across Kerala to feature amazing farms for my 100 Farms in 100 Weeks
Purpose:
Visit interesting farms
Explore outdoor cafés
Observe innovation in small details
I want to ask people, make lists, meet farmers, and absorb ideas—then come back and implement quickly, without overthinking.
10. Back to Bali: Two Weeks of Field Learning
Kerala inspires.
But Bali executes tropical landscaping like no other place.
A two-week field visit to Bali is on the cards—with one focus only:
Rapid experimentation and implementation.
Not tourism.
Not inspiration boards.
Only field notes, sketches, and actionable ideas.
11. Becoming a Fern Grower (At Scale)
Ferns are the soul of tropical landscapes.
Decision:
I want to become a massive grower of ferns, with special focus on propagation.
Ferns give:
Softness
Layers
Shade-friendly greenery
They will be everywhere—walls, under trees, shaded paths.
12. SEVA: Volunteer Living Reimagined
Inspired by GreenAra’s volunteer spaces, we will begin work on SEVA—our volunteer accommodation.
Vision:
Hostel-style bunk beds (but spacious)
Thoughtfully designed
Strong sense of community
Plus:
A beautiful outdoor social space
A natural bio-pool for cooling down and conversations
SEVA is not accommodation.
It’s a culture-building space.
13. Flexible Alfresco Dining (Design Detail That Matters)
Instead of one massive outdoor table:
We’ll use smaller tables that can be combined.
Why?
Flexible layouts
Intimate dining or large social gatherings
Easier movement and adaptability
Sometimes, good design is simply about not locking yourself into one format.
14. Marketing the Right Way: A Conversation with Hannena
One final but important action item:
I want to sit down with Hannena (Musthafa’s daughter) and have a focused discussion on:
Attracting passionate participants
Communicating depth, not discounts
Building a tribe around retreats, not just filling seats
Marketing must reflect intentionality, not noise.
Closing Thought
Day 1 at GreenAra reminded me of something vital:
> A beautiful farm is not built by grand plans—
but by hundreds of small, well-executed decisions made consistently.
This time, I’m not here just to learn.
I’m here to build, experiment, fail fast, grow wildly—and enjoy every step of the process.
