Late night conversations about life and goals, with siblings and friends, sometimes extending till morning. Ahh, peaceful.
But how many of us have the privilege of having such conversations with our parents?
A few lucky ones, like Sneha Rajguru.
During one such late-night conversation, when her father, Anil Rajguru asked her what she wanted to in life.
Her reply: She wanted to be a farmer.
WHAT? Yeah!
Let us find out why?
The Reason Behind Her Love for Farming
That was the time when she was working as a script supervisor in Mumbai. Yes, she has given notable projects like Bulbul and Luka Chhupi. Her choice of career demanded her to visit different locations, and each had its own story to tell.
Although she was happy with her job in the film industry, the simplicity she found in farming enchanted her.
It was one such trip to West Bengal where she had to spend 52 days in a tent in the forest. Experiencing the village lifestyle, where raw and nutritious organic food is consumed without any pesticides, was truly enlightening. It raised my awareness about the questionable quality of food we eat in urban areas. The breathtaking landscapes of West Bengal ignited her newfound passion.
Nothing Felt the Same Again
Sneha was totally captivated by the simple and pure life on the farm. It was such a big change from the bright lights and fast pace of Mumbai. Tasting the freshly picked veggies and fruits, which were free from chemical fertilizers and preservatives, was an eye-opener for her. It really changed how she thought about food and where it comes from.
Returning to Mumbai with this newfound inspiration came with its own set of challenges. Sneha’s heart longed for the serene beauty of the farms, pulling her irresistibly back to the land. Her father, nearing retirement, sensed the change in her ambitions.
And one day, just like that, she went back to Pune, leaving Mumbai and its big dreams behind.
A Support We All Need
Her decision brought a new chapter—one in which Sneha wholeheartedly embraced a lifestyle grounded in sustainability and the comforting embrace of nature. What started as Sneha’s personal awakening quickly blossomed into a shared vision.
Together with her father, she envisioned a haven where they could harmonize with the natural world—a place that would ultimately become ‘BaapBeti Farms,’ a testament to their collective dedication to sustainable agriculture.
Learning Comes First
Before moving permanently to farming, Anil Rajguru encouraged his daughter to study permaculture. Thus, she enrolled in courses focused on mastering the art of designing and maintaining a self-sustaining farm.
Equipped with this knowledge, Sneha and her father explored the outskirts of Pune until they stumbled upon a patch of desolate land, shimmering with untapped potential. Encircled by nature’s wealth, embraced by rolling hills and near a gently flowing water body, it was just PERFECT.
Although the land was barren, but Sneha was also firm in her dedication. The daughter-father duo spent numerous days on the farm, infusing vitality into the earth as they sowed a diverse array of fruits and vegetables.
The landscape was carefully designed into zones for different plant species, creating a harmonious ecosystem. In the 2-acre area, Zone 1 was the central hub, featuring Sneha’s house and surrounded by vegetable gardens, a chicken coop, and a workspace for her and her father.
BaapBeti Farms: A Community, Not Just a Farm
Sneha aimed to create not just a farm but a community with BaapBeti Farms. She developed a space for nature and people, attracting travelers and guests curious about sustainable living.
These visits offered a deeply immersive experience, featuring guided tours led by her father, who imparted valuable insights into permaculture, alongside hands-on activities such as harvesting and soil composting. The farm transformed into a vibrant forum for exchanging ideas, where urban dwellers reconnected with the joys of rural life while local farmers discovered fresh inspiration through their perspectives.
The duo is organically growing capsicum, lettuce, and strawberries, and more. Through this, the BaapBeti farm is successfully making around Rs 80,000 monthly.
The remarkable transformation that Sneha and her father have achieved on their modest plot of land embodies the essence of regeneration and resilience.
As each new dawn breaks, Sneha’s existence — once defined by film reels and scripts — now unfolds on the expansive canvas of the earth. Here, she and her father craft new stories painted in the vibrant hues of life and growth. For Sneha, this endeavor transcends mere farming; it represents the cultivation of a legacy intertwined with nature.
