A Slice of Heaven in Southern India
Some people just love their life's vocation!Baby Mathew Vallikappen does! Together with his wife Rani, Baby owns Vanilla County Plantation a charming home stay at the foot hills of Vagamon at Teekoy, Kerala, India. Kerala is a state in the south-west of India.
During a recent visit to India I have the good fortune to stay at Vanilla County and am lucky enough to be the recipient of Baby and Rani's gracious hospitality. What is of particular interest to me is Baby's 'back to nature' vision for his spice and rubber plantation. I am keen to learn more about his eco project.
Baby is the youngest of six sons and, as such, he inherited his father's home (Vanilla County). Here he grows vanilla, rubber, coffee, black peppercorns, jackfruit, (all of which he sells commercially), as well as cocoa beans, nutmeg, tapioca, yams, cardamon, mace, vegetables such as eggplant, turmeric, bananas, papaya, cinnamon, screwpine, cashew nuts, betel nuts, ginger, coconut and cloves ( which he keeps for his own use).
