From Barren to Blessed: Breathing Life Into the Soil of Meri Mati

After conceptualizing Meri Mati, our dream project rooted in purpose, we began the search for a piece of land that could hold not just trees, but generations of hope. Eventually, our journey led us to a large 20-acre stretch along the Amarkantak Road near Kundam—a collection of adjoining plots that we lovingly stitched together as one. This land, now Meri Mati, was envisioned not as a possession but a shared inheritance for all. In Hindi, “Meri Mati” means “my soil”, but to us, it was always everyone’s soil—the final resting place, the beginning of all life, the true constant beyond any material wealth.

When I first laid eyes on the land, I was overwhelmed by its natural beauty. Nestled at the foothills of a mountain, the terrain had tremendous potential. But it came with its own set of heartbreaking challenges. Years of neglect, unchecked deforestation, and human exploitation had stripped the land of its topsoil. Rainwater from the mountain would cascade down, carrying away what little fertile soil remained. The native trees had been cut down ruthlessly, leaving the land defenseless and exposed.

Despite the adversity, we refused to give up. The soil was rocky, uneven, and worn out, but we saw in it the chance to create something extraordinary. Our first step was to begin the long, patient work of restoring soil health. We enriched it with organic matter—leaf litter, mulch, and natural compost—breathing life back into the land inch by inch. Where others saw waste, we saw fertility. Where others saw a barren stretch, we saw a future forest in bloom.

Meri Mati wasn’t built overnight—it’s taken years of resilience, care, and vision. We worked tirelessly, walking every nook and corner of the land, pouring our love into each patch. This is the fourth year now, and the transformation has been incredible. What was once a degraded land is slowly turning into a lush green paradise. And I promise to share real photos and videos—from the raw beginnings to the blossoming present—so anyone can witness this journey with us.

One of our biggest hurdles has been overgrazing. Cattle freely entering the area stripped away the protective grass cover, further weakening the soil. But even in the face of this, we kept pushing forward, believing deeply in our mission.

Water was another key concern. Initially, we were determined to work completely with nature—harvesting only the rainwater that flowed down from the mountain, avoiding borewells and artificial means. But as reality unfolded, we had to adapt. Still, our focus remains on sustainable water conservation, harvesting rainwater wherever possible to meet our needs without harming the Earth.

Building Meri Mati has not been easy—it never was. The land resisted, the challenges mounted, but our love for the soil was greater. We are not just reviving a piece of land—we are reviving a way of life, rooted in respect for Earth, patience with time, and faith in nature’s ability to heal.