Transforming Depalli Farm into a Climate-Resilient Livable Forest

In 2012, on Bhogi, the first day of the Sankranti festival, I visited Depalli farm. Little did I know that this would be the place where one of my dreams in life would come true. Faced with the challenges of climate change, our mission was clear: create climate-resilient incomes for farmers, provide safe food for customers, and implement pro-planet practices like smart water conservation.

At CosmosGreen , for a couple of years, we engaged in open-field regenerative farming, earning accolades and attracting the best organic chains to purchase our produce. We hosted national figures in natural farming and numerous ministers and bureaucrats visited us to learn more. While our customers and the planet were happy, the unpredictable incomes left farmers distressed. Our mentors Sri S.Raghavan, Sri Rama Krishna and Sri Jayaraman encouraged us to rethink the way we were approaching the problem.

In 2015, we added climate focus to regenerative farming to ensure income security for smallholders. In this journey, Kaushik Kappagantulu and Saumya . joined Ayush Sharma and me. This led to the birth of Kheyti . Our extensive R&D efforts at Depalli farm focused on making affordable structures and reliable crop protocols. We are grateful for Kheyti winning the prestigious Earthshot Prize in 2022 December.

Depalli farm holds a special place in my heart, with my kids spending much of their childhood and celebrating birthdays there, surrounded by friends from the village. Our dream of creating climate-smart farm solutions is gaining momentum, now reaching more than 10 states.

As the need for centralized R&D has decreased, we have decided to repurpose this farm, which has been pivotal in our journey, for another meaningful purpose. The land, long converted to farmland, will now be revitalized as a biodiverse food forest. To ensure the sustainability of this model and nurture a community of biodiversity lovers, we have partnered with Organo Eco Habitats to create a livable forest housing community.

Having lived in the Organo community for about five years and experiencing its impact on my family and me, I am convinced that this partnership will elevate Depalli into a model for creating livable forests. The shared value system at Organo and their commitment to making sustainable living effortless deeply inspire me. From the founders, Nagesh Kumar Battula (fondly called "Sodara," an elder brother) and Vijaya Durga A garu, who are more than family to me, to the design and site teams, sustainability is embedded in every step of their journey. This is why we saw a perfect fit with Organo.

In our urban lives, we often face stress, pollution, and monotony. Farmers taught me resilience and generosity. Despite their own struggles, they always give. This connection to the earth and the diverse fabric of Indian society is vital. Urban Indians are not the sole definition of our nation. Small farmers need our support, not just through initiatives but also through everyday acts of community, such as helping their children with education and solving local problems. The India-Bharat connection is missing, and we are doing our bit to bridge this gap. Bless us in this journey as we launch this joint venture between Organo Eco Habitats and CosmosGreen