People & Philosophy

In the late 1600s in Chikmagalur, a saint named Baba Budan brought seven seeds of coffee from Mecca and spread them on a hill where he resided. The hill, later named Baba Budan Giri, gradually became the centre from which cultivations around coffee began to spread successfully in the district.

Later, in the 1800s, during the British occupation, an Englishman, Mr C.S. Crawford, owned this estate—a unique terroir characterised by natural streams and rich laterite soil that came to be Hiregudda Estate.

The illustrious and revered Lokasevinaratha M.S. Dyavegowda acquired and further cultivated the plantation to a prosperous scale. M.S Dyavegowda was a pioneer in establishing the bus transport business in the town of Koppa. Besides having been a prolific agriculturist, he is synonymous with philanthropy and community service. His extraordinary legacy was carried forward by his beloved son, the distinguished planter M.D Balakrishna.

M.D Balakrishna's immense contribution and sincere, dedicated efforts toward the coffee industry in South India for over six decades are noteworthy and influential. His exemplary leadership and management skills on the plantation are legendary. A gentle visionary, a brilliant mind and a compassionate humanitarian, his voice and luminescence live on through his daughter on the plantation.

FOUNDING STORY

A Planter's Daughter is Sonali Devyani Balakrishnas heartfelt ode to her late, beloved father M.D Balakrishna - a luminary in South India's coffee plantation industry.

She graduated from New York City's Parsons School of Design with a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design Marketing and a minor in Art History. She began her career at the Manhattan offices of Giorgio Armani and has since lived and worked in Bangalore and Paris with her line of sustainable yoga wear, selling at select spas and wellness retreats in the U.S. and France.

A wellness girl at heart, her love of European apothecary traditions led her to collaborate with expert herbalists around the world to create concoctions and potions of exquisite formulations that safely incorporate adaptogenic herbs and medicinal mushrooms with coffee and cascara. And by encouraging people to nurture a greater harmony with their bodies, their spirit and their environment, she is determined to create an elegant, intentional and a considered life for herself and others.

COMMUNITY

Most festivals, deeply rooted in local communities, celebrate the onset or end of seasons and are often tied to a sustainable agricultural cycle. The people of Malnad (the name given to this region meaning “Hilly Country” in the local Kannada language) have a deep-rooted connection to this land, having inhabited it for centuries.

The plantation has always welcomed workers, managers, and labourers from all walks of life and religious backgrounds. Traditionally, various festivals are observed throughout the year.

In addition, a sacred ceremony is held at the end of the monsoon season, followed by a prayer ceremony before the harvest in late November. The annual Thanksgiving prayer ceremony, held at the close of the harvest season in March, is celebrated with great pomp, merry-making and feasting.

From the Planter's Daughter

I am now embracing my roots and tradition, and combining them with new inspiration in a way that has helped me finally define who I am.

- Sonali Balakrishnan

A Planter's Daughter is rooted in community consciousness, civic engagement, and service to society. Altruism and generosity are core values of the brand’s culture and belief system. As a socially responsible organisation, it aims to leverage its voice, business, resources, and platform to champion people and foster a more equitable and inclusive world.

Viewing success as intertwined with the success of the community, APD strives to be a good corporate citizen, demonstrating sensitivity and a commitment to giving back. The brand partners with various organisations to promote education, health, and community building, extending support beyond its workforce to economically and socially challenged communities around the plantation.

APD is committed to nurturing its human potential, viewing every employee, from estate workers to corporate office staff to sales personnel, as a valued member of the family. The company's team is composed of kind, hardworking, and talented individuals who possess a deep curiosity and respect for nature and a commitment to excellence.

[01] A skilled coffee worker selectively hand-picking only the crimson-red ripened berries at harvest.

[02] Coffee berry picking in progress during the harvest months of November and December.

[03] Coffee pickers headed to the weighing room after a day of harvest.

[04] Ugadi celebrations at the plantation - celebrating the arrival of spring.

SPIRITUALITY & WELLNESS

01 A skilled coffee worker selectively hand-picking only the crimson-red ripened berries at harvest.

02 Coffee berry picking in progress during the harvest months of November and December.

03 Coffee pickers headed to the weighing room after a day of harvest.

04 Ugadi celebrations at the plantation - celebrating the arrival of spring.

A Planter’s Daughter represents wellness embodying emotional, intellectual, physical and spiritual worlds of existence. Our level of well-being is defined by the relationship we have with our community, our environment and ourselves.

At the heart, it celebrates the ancient, intrinsic relationship between plants and man where healing traditions focused on the mind and heart as well as the body. For centuries, humans have used the herbs and plants offered by Mother Nature to protect, transform, transcend and heal. Our proprietary formulations call on ancient medicinal concoctions that offer an elevated perspective to awaken the spirit, senses and energy.

At APD, adaptogens are the soul of the apothecary. The powerful nutrition of this class of plants is profound for their deeply impacting effects on the psyche, mind, body and emotions. Since aeons, these plants have been revered for their normalising effects on oxidative stress, their ability to enhance metabolic function and their efficacy in powerfully protecting the immune system. They have also been worshipped for the deep spiritual attributes they embody.

a deep curiosity and respect for nature and a commitment to excellence committed to nurturing its human potential . a deep curiosity and respect for nature and a commitment to excellence . a deep curiosity and respect for nature and a commitment to excellence . a deep curiosity and respect for nature and a commitment to excellence . a deep curiosity and respect for nature and a commitment to excellence

PHILANTHROPY

[I] LITTLE HEARTS OF HIREGUDDA

Little Hearts of Hiregudda is a schoolroom project within the plantation, established in love and embellished with the credo of providing a nurturing environment, care, and primary education to the children of the resident working community. The program resolves to work towards eliminating illiteracy within the greater village community. This step transcends into lessons in basic hygiene, moral values, and fundamental communication skills. APD pledges to award scholarships to deserving students, taking care of their secondary education by placing them in appropriate local schools that promise credible learning. It further pledges to establish a small library, an arts and crafts room, and a computer facility.

Students at the Little Hearts of Hiregudda

[II] ANTI-HUMAN-TRAFFICKING

Human trafficking, the illegal transport of individuals by force or deception for exploitation, is a global issue affecting people of all ages. An estimated 1,000,000 people are trafficked worldwide annually. A Planter's Daughter pledges 5% of its revenue to selected anti-human trafficking agencies dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating victims. APD commits to continually working for the dignity of survivors by supporting freedom communities and community-based rehabilitation programs. Additionally, APD pledges solidarity with entities combating violence against children and women and those striving for social equity and justice for survivors of discrimination and abuse. APD actively contributes to anti-human trafficking agencies committed to creating a world where victims are rightfully assisted in social reintegration. These organisations often offer additional programs such as night care centres, educational support, institutional placement, girls' shelters, post-rescue operations, and communications and advocacy initiatives.

Supporting Freedom

[III] FOREST FOUNDATIONS

A Planter's Daughter is committed to collaborating with select forest foundations across the country that demonstrate tangible impact in forest recovery and native ecosystem restoration. These foundations are deeply engaged with rural community members, fostering lasting positive change. Farmers gain knowledge, income, and food security while developing a sense of ownership and shared responsibility for wildlife protection, forest conservation, and climate change mitigation. These forest foundations prioritise tree planting and habitat creation for biodiversity. Trees purify the air, filter water, capture rainwater, and mitigate natural disasters like floods and landslides. Their intricate root systems prevent soil erosion and reduce the risk of waterlogging and flooding. A Planter's Daughter aligns with United Nations sustainable development goals, notably "Life Below Water" and "Life on Land." APD plants a tree in the customer's honour with each product purchased through select forest foundations nationwide.

APD plants a tree in the customer's honour.

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