Back to our roots
Our story began in Manjakkudi, a village on the banks of the Kaveri River in Tiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu. Fueled by sheer determination and a profound mission, we set out to revive India’s heirloom and heritage rice varieties.
Manjakkudi is also the birthplace of Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati, whose inspiration and vision sparked the foundation of Spirit of the Earth. In August 2012, he sowed the first three varieties, accompanied by a heartfelt prayer to give back to Mother Earth. To date, we have successfully revived, conserved, and cultivated over 300 rare rice varieties from various states across India on our artisanal farm, which spans more than 50 acres.
Reviving ancient Wisdom for Future Generations
At the heart of our mission is a strong commitment to seed conservation and cultivation. We have dedicated over 10 acres of our farm to seed regeneration, upholding traditional practices with a strict policy of not procuring seeds from external sources. This approach preserves the integrity and authenticity of our heritage varieties.
As passionate farmers in Manjakkudi, we take pride in reviving, conserving, and cultivating over 300 rare heirloom rice varieties native to India. This journey is just beginning, and we are excited to explore the rich biodiversity our land offers.
Every ingredient in our heritage rice cultivation is carefully chosen, entirely organic, and sourced from traceable heirloom (non-hybrid) varieties passed down through generations. This commitment honors our ancestors and deepens our connection to the land and its traditions. Our work embodies themes of heritage, culture, and identity, infusing every grain with stories of the past while nurturing a sustainable future.
By prioritizing these values, we aim to inspire others to help preserve our agricultural legacy, ensuring these treasured varieties thrive for generations to come.
Organic Farming Practices: In-House Organic Solutions
Our deep commitment to organic farming predates its mainstream popularity. Every aspect of our cultivation is rooted in organic principles, reflecting our dedication to sustainability and ecological responsibility. We use only organic components, including natural fertilizers. This holistic approach protects our crops while supporting biodiversity. By adhering to these organic standards, we ensure our grains are free from harmful chemicals, promoting consumer health and preserving the integrity of our land, all while honoring sustainable agricultural traditions.
Vermicompost and Panchagavyam
At our farm, we produce vermicompost through a natural decomposition process using various earthworm species. By combining decomposing vegetable and food waste with bedding materials, we create nutrient-rich vermicompost that serves as an exceptional organic fertilizer and soil conditioner, enhancing soil health and supporting sustainable farming practices.
In addition to vermicompost, we also prepare Panchagavyam, an organic fertilizer made from cow dung, cow urine, milk, curd, jaggery, ripe bananas, tender coconut, and water—sourced entirely from our Gaushala. Using traditional methods, we carefully balance these ingredients to create a potent elixir that enriches the soil and boosts plant immunity against diseases and pests.
By integrating these practices into our farming, we honor our heritage and promote sustainable agriculture, ensuring our crops thrive in harmony with nature.
Reliable Water Source: Commitment to Quality and Sustainability
We exclusively use borewell water for irrigation, ensuring a consistent and reliable source for our farming practices. With over eight borewells on our property, we implement rigorous monitoring methods to assess and maintain optimal salinity levels in our water year after year and harvest after harvest. This careful management helps us protect the health of our soil and crops, contributing to our commitment to sustainable agriculture.
Protecting Our Crops: Barrier Crops and Natural Insecticides
We utilize veppam poo and veppam punnaaku, along with various other organic materials, as natural insecticides to protect our crops. Our barrier crops play a crucial role in preventing contamination from neighboring farms and fields. To further safeguard our organic farms, we incorporate ada thoda leaves, nochi leaves, and vibuthi pachai ilai, ensuring our practices remain free from contamination.
Additionally, we maintain our soil and lands in accordance with government standards by implementing laser leveling techniques. This precise leveling enhances water distribution and soil health, contributing to the overall sustainability of our agricultural practices.
Gaushala for Indigenous Breeds of Cattle
One of our greatest strengths—and a cornerstone of our sustainable organic farming practices—is our gaushala dedicated to indigenous breeds of cattle in Manjakkudi. We care for over 100 cows, treating them as beloved members of our family. This nurturing environment enables us to produce Panchagavyam directly from our own gaushala, integrating this powerful organic fertilizer into our farming practices.
In addition to our focus on indigenous cattle, we also prioritize the humane husbandry of various farm animals, recognizing their vital role in our holistic approach to agriculture. By fostering a harmonious relationship with our livestock, we enhance the sustainability and productivity of our farm.
Organic certifications
Spirit of the Earth (SOTE) is proudly certified under third-party organic certification, adhering to the National Program of Organic Production (NPOP) standards set by the Government of India. Our certification is provided by IMO Control Private Limited, an authorized Certification Body under the NPOP protocol. This certification reflects our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of organic farming and assures our customers of the integrity and quality of our products.
Single source farming – We Are Farmers
At Spirit of the Earth, we take pride in being farmers who cultivate our own rice on over 50 acres of land in Manjakkudi. Additionally, we have leased more than 20 acres from local farmers as part of our initiative to support the local farming community.
From seed selection and planting to harvesting, milling, and packaging, we manage every aspect of the process. The grains we offer are grown exclusively on our farm, ensuring quality and authenticity.
We harvest once a year, using sustainable farming practices that allow us to responsibly utilize our resources while giving the soil time to rest and replenish between harvests. This careful stewardship enriches the soil, enabling us to produce artisanal heritage rice varieties from various states across India. The rice from our farm is limited in supply, featuring semi-milled grains that boast beautiful colors, distinct shapes, enticing flavors, captivating fragrances, and rich nutritional
Empowering farmer communities
After every harvest, we share the seeds with other farmers and also conduct farmer training programmes. Our mission is to get 100 farmers to grow heritage rice varieties using organic practices. Most of the information we have on heritage rice varieties have been handed down to farmers. We also help farmer communities with regeneration of soil. It aids local farmers in regenerating their farms’ soil health and fertility. Farmlands leased from them are tested for nutritional deficiencies, pest infestation, and treated based on their specific needs with the help of skilled agronomists who are part of the core team at Spirit of the Earth.
Encouraging use of native heirloom seeds
What was once a commonality has now become rarity. Even before 70 years, over 100,000 heritage rice varieties were being cultivated and consumed across India but now only a few hundred heritage rice varieties remain. Our collective efforts are to make native rice accessible to all thereby benefitting consumers and farmers. Our goal is to gently spark a healthy cycle that leads to increased consumption of native rice varieties which in turn motivates farmers to cultivate more. At our farm, we hand select the purest line of heirloom seeds from our farmer network across the country and cultivate following traditional patterns. Each grain comes with such beautiful stories and have immense nutritional benefit. We recommend you try a new variety of heritage rice every month; though the grains look similar, each one has a unique taste, aroma and texture. As you explore these grains, you will find the one (or many) that you would want to stock in your pantry.
We would love to host you at our farm
Life at our farm is a completely different and exhilarating experience that is hard to articulate through just words. It is an experience in itself and we wish that experience upon each and every single human being. It reminds us of the importance of sustainable living and community living where we live closely and in harmony with nature. We heartily welcome you to visit our farm in Manjakkudi to get a firsthand experience of indigenous rice seed conservation and cultivation.