Meanwhile, in the local setting, Vaikuntha is the name of a natural forest farm nestled in the Sierra Madre mountains. It is located in Barangay Daraitan, Tanay, Rizal and is just a breath away from the border between Rizal and Quezon Province.
According to Shai Tamayo, the farm's proprietor and a holistic nutritionist, it is more than just a farm that produces naturally-grown herbs, fruits, and vegetables.
Vaikuntha Forest Farm is a place to learn, unwind, heal, detox, get fit, and meditate. It's not the regular tourist destination. I like to call it an eco-destination. More than a destination, it's an experience you don't get just anywhere,” she said.
Once a month, it hosts events where guests can participate in yoga, survival training, emergency preparedness, wilderness rescue, first aid, as well as the common farm tourist goals of rest, relaxation, and
'DELIGHTFULLY NATURAL ALBEIT ROUGH AND TUMBLE
When Tamayo said that the farm offers an experience that most guests can’t get anywhere, she was referring to the natural scenery and back to basic encounters that make the farm unique.
It's off-grid so you won't find concierges and attendants anytime all the time. A couple of hours after the sun goes down, the staff goes back to their homes across the river-a mountain away. Of course, we live there, so we will always be there to take care of guests, like a host family will take care of you while you're a guest at their home, Tamayo said.
Vaikuntha Forest Farm has a few small private rooms and a communal type of lodging that can be rented as a whole cottage. Although they don't have private bathrooms, the farm has compost toilets to relieve the guests while also finding a way to give back to the earth.
This story is from the November - December 2021 edition of Agriculture.
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This story is from the November - December 2021 edition of Agriculture.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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