When the five go down to the farm, all alone

Teenagers are now travelling with friends, unchaperoned, to farm-stays that score high on safety and sustainability

- Abhilasha Ojha

This might be straight out of an Enid Blyton book, with a group of teenagers heading to a farm for days filled with adventures and picnics. For though there might not be any mystery in the making here, the rest of it is typical Famous Five style: youngsters, 13 years and above, heading with friends to farm-stays for barnyard adventures complete with squawking chickens, friendly dogs and curious cows in tow.

A relatively new concept in India, the idea of teenagers travelling in groups, sans any chaperone, is slowly gaining traction. And farm-stays, located a few hours away from major cities, have emerged as the destination of choice. There is even a farm-stay aggregator.

Parents prefer farm-stays as they allow children to be one with nature, give them much needed time away from the screen, and help them enjoy the freedom such a trip brings, offering a deeper awareness of mindful living. Travelling at an early age enables children to be emotionally and physically strong, making them responsible and enhancing decision-making abilities. Most importantly, perhaps, they offer safety and security. Some options.

TIME WITH A GRANDMA

Vaksana Farms, two hours from Chennai, is spread over 13 acres of lush green. Set up 12 years ago, it is run by three generations of a family-90-year-old Lakshmi Paati, her daughter, Kasturi Ammal, and grandson, Kiruba Shankar. It's common to see teens squealing with joy at the sight of farm animals while helping out on the farm that grows exotic fruits, vegetables, rice and millets. All the food is prepared by Paati with help from the children, who harvest the produce.