From Mills to Mulch: My journey from Textiles to Trees

From Mills to Mulch: My Journey from Textiles to Trees

Hello and Vanakkam!

My name is D. Sukumaran, and I was born and raised in Tamil Nadu, and different places in the rest of India. For over 38 years, I worked in the textile spinning mills industry—a life of continuous search, learning, fulfilment, and professional growth, leading to a rounded personality, moulded in human values and high regard for Nature as the fount of life.

By the end of my professional career, I found myself yearning for a different kind of purpose—something closer to the earth, slower in pace, but richer in meaning. I took the plunge and went for a 3 months Training in Natural farming at Isha Model farm in Semmedu, near Coimbatore.

🌴 A New Chapter Begins in Uthamapalayam

After retiring a little early, I returned to my native soil in U. Ammapatti village, Uthamapalayam Taluk, nestled in the scenic Cumbum Valley of Theni District. With a small patch of land in my father's name, and a deep desire to reconnect with nature and my native place, I began my second innings—this time as a natural farmer.

🍃 My Approach: Agroforestry and Spices cultivation in Coconut Groves

I began with the already 20 years old coconut trees, and soon unleashed the power of intercropping—diversity that mimics nature. Today, my grove is a living experiment and a place of learning to me. I’ve planted:

Mahogany trees and Teakwood for long-term timber value

Plantain trees for shade and quick returns

Fruit trees like guava, mango, jackfruit, orange, gooseberry and sapota for variety

Pepper vines, lovingly trained to climb the coconut trunks

Vegetables and greens for our own personal consumption

Trenches for composting and a mini-pond for rainwater harvesting, planning to grow fish in the pond in the next stage 

This blend of forestry and farming brings both ecological and economic balance. I use natural methods—no synthetic fertilizers, no chemical pesticides. Only compost, cow-based inputs, and care.

🌱 What This Blog Will Share

This blog is my humble space to:

Share what I’m learning and unlearning in natural farming

Document seasonal changes, crop experiments, and farm challenges

Reflect on the shift from industrial life to ecological living and ultimately spiritual fulfilment 

Inspire others—especially retirees or city professionals—to consider soil and simplicity

You’ll find honesty here, not hype. I’m still learning every day.

🙏 Join Me

If you're a fellow farmer, dreamer, or simply someone curious about how life can bloom after retirement—I invite you to walk with me.

This blog is called:

> From Mills to Mulch – because sometimes, the softest revolutions happen in the soil beneath our feet.

Thank you for reading.

Warm regards,

D. Sukumaran

Natural Farmer – U. Ammapatti, Theni District

We hope that this blogspot will flourish from now on as expected

Poems of D.Sukumaran

LIFE LIFE ON EARTH IS A LONG DRAWN DREAM

BOTH GOOD AND BAD THINGS DO HAPPEN

EXPERIENCES MAY BE BITTER AS THE NEEM

OR SWEET AS THE RIPENED MANGO JUST FALLEN

GOD, WE SAY, HAS GIVEN US THE HUMAN FORM

SOMETHING TO BE CHERISHED AND BE PROUD OF

BUT OUR B EHAVIOUR DOESN’T BEFIT EVEN AN EARTHWORM

AND ARE LIKELY TO BE SOONER THAN LATER SEEN OFF

HUMANS ARE INTELLIGENT AS A MATTER OF FACT

THE SAME FACT STATES THEM TO BE MERCILESS AND SELFISH

CHANGING AS A CHAMELEON TO SUIT THEIR ACT

SOMETIMES SO GREAT, AND SOMETIMES SO MUCH CHILDISH

ARE WE SURELY WORTHY OF THIS BIRTH

HUNGER AND THIRST STALKING US EVERYWHERE

HUMANE BEINGS AS RARE AS THEIR WORTH

MONEY AND POWER REIGNS SUPREME HERE

IF ONE TRIES TO CLIMB UP TO GREAT HEIGHTS

THE OTHER TRIES TO PULL HIM DOWN

THE HONEST AND HARDWORKING DON’T EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS

THE VIOLENT AND TREACHEROUS DOMINATE EVERYONE

GOD HAS GIVEN US THE SIXTH SENSE

WHY NOT WE THINK TO PROSPER

BY SELF-SACRIFICE AND DIGNITY OF LABOUR FROM US- HUMANS

TO MAKE LIFE FULFILLING AND HAPPIER

A BEGGAR ON THE STREET IS SHAMEFUL TO US

NOT FOR THE LACK OF GENEROUS PEOPLE TO HAND OUT ALMS

RELEASE HIM FROM HIS LATHARGIC SHACKLES

LET HIM WORK FOR HIS BREAD WITHOUT ANY QUALMS

THE CRIPPLED AND THE DESTITUTE ARE FORSAKEN

NOT FOR THEM THE JOYS OF THIS WORLD

EXTEND TO THEM THE HAND OF COMPASSION

MAKE THEM REALISE THEY ARE NOT A BURDEN OF ANY KIND

THE ONCE DOTING PARENTS ARE THROWN OUT ONE FINE MORNING

BY THE SAME CHILDREN FOR WHOM THEY STRUGGLED SO MUCH

LET US NOT FORGET- OUR CHILDREN ARE IN WAITING

GIVE OUR PARENTS THE LOVE AND AFFECTION THAT’S DUE AS SUCH

WE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE NETHER WORLD

ONCE THE EVERLASTING SLEEP ENVELOPS US FOREVER

HELL OR HEAVEN - IT’S ALL IN OUR MINDS

LIFE IS EVERYTHING IF WE CHANGE FOR THE BETTER


CHILD by D.Sukumaran

I AM BORN INTO THIS WORLD -

BONE, FLESH AND BLOOD, NICELY SCULPTED.

PART OF THE ETERNAL LIFE VIBRATING INSIDE;

MAY MY CREATOR BE THANKED.

I PUT MY FIRST STEP FORWARD,

AT THE END OF AN AGONISING FIRST YEAR.

GOING THROUGH ALL THE STAGES- PROGRAMMED

BY THE MERCIFUL AND SUPREME OPERATOR.

I START TO SPEAK MY TONGUE,

IN BITS AND PIECES I PRATTER.

TO THE SADDEST OF HUMANS,

I BRING JOY BY THE NECTAR -

LIKE NOTES THEY HEAR.

I LAUGH AND CRY IN TURNS;

MY LAUGHTER RINGS LIKE JINGLING BELLS.

AND ENDEARS ME TO EVEN SULKING PERSONS.

MY CRIES MELT THE HARDEST OF SOULS.

I BEGIN TO KNOW THE WORLD AROUND ME;

THE CLUCKING CHICKEN AND THE PURRING KITTEN

THE PLAYFUL PUPPY AND THE BUZZING BEE

ALL ENTHRALL ME NO END.

THE COLOURFUL FLOWERS AND THE GREEN BUSHES

THE DAZZLING SUN AND THE POURING RAIN

HOW BEAUTIFUL EVERYTHING SEEMS

THIS WORLD IS VIRTUALLY THE HEAVEN

copyright (c) D.Sukumaran 1998

Poems of D.Sukumaran

Friends,

I am going to add my Poems, i.e., Poems of D.Sukumaran, shortly to enable all to read, enjoy and post their literary criticism regarding the poems.

Please await the same.

Value life

Life is beautiful, value life and your life will also be valuable.