Our Journey
From degraded land to a regenerating ecosystem
Tamarind Valley Collective · Est. 2017
Nine years back, ten hands and a fence line held a barren field near Thaggatti behind. Earthwork by earthwork, one workshop, one season — the soil slowly remembered its reason.
A mud hut rose by hand. A wildfire came and went. Elephants wandered through, uninvited, unbent. A transformer vanished one restless July night — still, somehow, the years kept turning out right.
Nine winters deep in, our first true home now stands. Scroll below — and walk it through, hand in hand.
March 2017
2017
Seed planted
March
First visit to the site. The land was barren, its topsoil stripped of organic matter.
June
The first earthwork was built to help store water on the land.
July
Planting began in the Kaveri plot, a small section set aside for trees. Biome Environmental Solutions joined as home-design architects, and Ananas as our permaculture design consultants.
September
A large group of members attended a Permaculture course held exclusively for TVC at Navadarshanam. Fencing the land to prevent overgrazing let it begin recovering on its own.
October
An unusually heavy north-east monsoon washed away the June earthwork and much of what had been planted. Nearby stations logged 20–40mm of rain within single 24-hour periods.
January 2018
2018
First structure
January
Our first structure — a mud hut built entirely by hand — went up.
January
We held our first camp-site stay.
July
Construction began on the first farmer's quarters.
January 2019
2019
Identity formed
January
An ideation workshop at the farm with Ananas.
May
Ananas delivered TVC's first GAIA Map.
May
Our annual city meet-up — the community gathers twice a year, in the city on May 1st and at the farm on Nov 1st.
July
Madhavan joined TVC as our Farm Manager.
November
We began exploring logo options — member Sunita produced the first renders.
November
We began exploring logo options — member Sunita produced the first renders.
November
We began exploring logo options — member Sunita produced the first renders.
December
Our current logo was finalized.
March 2020
2020
Solar power
March
The solar shed was set up.
March
The solar shed was set up.
March
The solar shed was set up.
June
Farm Manager Madhavan married Kritika.
January 2021
2021
Farm grows
January
TVC's first cow arrived.
August
Water lines were laid to irrigate the farm.
September
Kritika joined the local village school as a teacher.
December
A DIY solar panel install gave Madhavan's house power backup.
May 2022
2022
Building begins
May
Our May meet-up was hosted at Reva and Ranjan's home.
October
A puja marked the start of home construction for community members.
October
A puja marked the start of home construction for community members.
November
Meet-up at the farm.
November
Suresh led a food-foraging exercise for the community.
March 2023
2023
Power arrives
March
Ground was broken for home construction.
July
Power reached TVC with the installation of a 100kW transformer.
September
Vijay and Sunita began engaging with the local school in Odhipuram.
April 2024
2024
Foundations laid
April
Foundations were laid for the first homes.
May
Annual city gathering at Good Earth Malhar.
May
An elephant damaged structures near the mud hut while foraging for food.
May
Earthworks for water harvesting began.
September
Another unusually heavy downpour washed out the reinforced bund — the same spot lost back in 2017.
November
Meet-up at the farm with documentary filmmaker Sumanth Kuduvalli, discussing his film "Land of the Blackbuck." Broadband internet — 4 BSNL fibre connections — finally arrived at the farm.
December
4th edition of 3Bs&1H at TVC, with Deepa Mohan.
December
4th edition of 3Bs&1H at TVC, with Deepa Mohan.
March 2025
2025
Trials & growth
March
A wildfire breached our fire lines and burned through a lot of vegetation.
April
Elephants visited us again.
May
A large water-works project to help capture more water.
July
Our transformer was stolen.
August
May's meet-up, delayed to August, finally took place.
August
The 5th edition of 3Bs&1H.
August
The 5th edition of 3Bs&1H.
August
Home construction made steady progress.
March 2026
2026
First home
March
Our first home was completed — housewarming for Ram & Krishna's home on March 15th.
March
Our first home was completed — housewarming for Ram & Krishna's home on March 15th.
March
Our first home was completed — housewarming for Ram & Krishna's home on March 15th.
March
We also inaugurated the pottery wheel with a first workshop led by Ravi Varma.
May
Our 2026 city meet-up, hosted by member couple Kiran & Zainab.
