I am often asked “How did you end up with a cinnamon and coconut farm in Sri Lanka?” This is part of the story….

My special connection with Sri Lanka spans 17 years. While travelling there on holiday I fell in love with the stunning, lush nature and the charming people of Sri Lanka. After a zig-zag journey through the Southern countryside, my then husband and I made a radical choice to acquire a large piece of riverside land with an odd house and many curious trees and plants. It was fringed by jungle. Over time cinnamon seedlings were planted and gradually grew into bushes and the house was slowly but surely transformed into a spacious holiday home with a pool. The land evolved into a cinnamon and coconut farm full of delightful wildlife.

For many years, I visited for only a few weeks each year. In early 2020 I arrived on my farm for a short holiday and ended up staying more than 2 years.

Just before the first lockdown, I went out to buy food and came back with a large birdbath. “If the birds are happy, I will be happy!” I thought. Every day birds came to joyfully drink and bathe - fluffy brown babblers, kingfishers, peahens, the local peacock and even a kestrel. I became attuned to the birdlife. I observed how birds skilfully scared away predators, used resourceful ways to build nests and find food, and created a playful community. I too learned to do the same - with courage and conviction.

During much of 2020, I braved each day as a novice farmeress, discovering how to open a king coconut and eat jak fruit which fell fresh on the ground with a thud. I honed my instinct and intuition as I wandered alone in the verdant jungle. I did my best to manage the tricky coconut pluckers and other farm workers. I befriended the resident peacock Prince who played hide and seek with me and guided me in a walking meditation through the cinnamon bushes. I came to have a deep respect for all the creatures on the land even the giant river monitors with their beady eyes and flicking tongue.

Sadly some of the coconut trees were inflicted with a “withering” disease. In a bid to save them, I brought in natural compost, stopped the use of toxic chemicals on the whole farm and gradually removed piles of plastic rubbish which had been dumped in the jungle. I also introduced a weekly kissathon - running around the coconut trees and planting a kiss, an “om" and a “thank you” on each one. I often played soothing music for the coconut trees and all the trees and plants danced along!

King coconut tree in the startling sunshine

Gradually the wild, organic cinnamon and coconut jungle farm became a much happier, healthier place attracting more and more vibrant wildlife.

Through the help of Sanuka who came to work on the land in late 2020, I came to understand about the wild weeds which we made into healing herbal porridge. Foraging for meals and cooking over an open fire became a magnificent nature connection. I loved learning about the nutritional and medicinal properties of all the plants including the cinnamon. In the summer of 2021 I managed my first full cinnamon harvest with a family of cinnamon peelers. We sold the cinnamon at the local cinnamon wholesalers where I saw that quantity and aesthetics were rewarded over quality and purity of taste. This is something I would like to see change.

My bare feet became well acquainted with the land in particular the soft, tiny plants in the grass which can help improve your eyesight. In this wild paradise I felt so in touch with Mother Earth and nurtured by the surrounding nature. Through facing many tough challenges, I grew in strength, patience and determination. Whether I am in Scotland or Sri Lanka, I feel the benefits from the lessons learned while striving through difficult times.

Order our organically grown cinnamon with a special nature-inspired love letter:

www.daringwomen.net/cinnamon-love-letters

Take a look at the farm - come to stay:

www.daringwomen.net/sri-lanka-lush-hush-hush