HAD anyone told Diane Chin that she and her husband, Joseph Chin, would be living in the forest two years ago, she would have laughed out loud because that did not seem possible at that time, since she was grounded in her way of life in the city.

But in 2020, all that changed when the Chins packed up and left the city for good, and created a safe space on their 10-acre plot called Armadillo Earth Farm at Long Creek, on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

Diane Chin told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is a Fitness Trainer, Nutritionist Consultant and Gym Manager, but these days, she is a self-styled tree hugger, and a custodian of the earth.
The Chins have been residing at Long Creek for the past five years, and established their oasis, Armadillo Earth Farm, which is off-grid with no immediate neighbours. There, they get water from the rain and electricity from the sun, and they are self-sustained.

Armadillo Earth Farm (the little farm in the forest) aims for self-sufficiency where they have animals, chickens and a farm of fruits and vegetables.

“We love to show our visitors where food, medicine and nourishment come from. Armadillo Earth Farm is a 10-acre ecological safe space nestled in the forest five drive off the main highway,” Chin said.

She related that they also have space to host transformational and uplifting events such as yoga and meditation retreats, reconnection to nature and all events that empower people.

The ‘Yoga and Bush Tea’ event at Armadillo Earth Farm is geared towards building community and bringing like-minded people together for a few hours to stretch, breathe, flow and ground in the forest.

“For just a few hours, you can spend some time nurturing and focusing on you and reconnect with nature,” Chin said.

Armadillo Earth Farm promotes volunteerism in which people can stay free and get meals in a bartering system where they have to work five to six hours daily.

The tasks include gardening, cleaning, painting, and under-brushing in the forest, construction from natural materials.

Chin reported that the vision of Armadillo Earth Farm is to help the planet to thrive again by raising environmental consciousness.

“We want to show our visitors where food, fuel, materials and medicines come from, to show how important the natural world is for our survival. We want to create a forest, nature-based educational centre aimed at both children and adults,” Chin said.

She stated that their values reflect the off-grid, zero waste, fair treatment, and respect for all ways of life and most of their buildings are made from stacked sandbags with a layer of concrete.

Chin explained that living off-grid is a lot of work, manual labour, and it is not retirement in any way or form since they do not have the luxury of time to sit in a hammock all day and read a book, but they love what they do and do not see it as work.

She pointed out that Armadillo Earth Farm is the ideal place to unwind, take your shoes off, and perhaps hug a tree and experience nature at its best, and that is the sole purpose of their groundings, which started in February 2021.

Among the offerings by Armadillo Earth Farm is energy medicine and energy clearings. The basis of energy medicine is that we are more than physical beings; we are, first and foremost, energetic beings.

“Energy Medicine can help to rebalance your chakras and set you on a path of healing at all levels. We have two in-house energy medicine practitioners, so feel free to reach out if you are interested in learning more,” Chin said.

Reiki treatments and energy sessions -Reiki is a Japanese stress reduction and relaxation technique that promotes healing.

Chin also hosts a Thrift Shop and Charity Box event every now and again, the latest being at the Pepperpot Festival last weekend in Queenstown. It is another way she gives back to society.
Joseph Chin is an eco-builder responsible for constructing all the buildings on Armadillo Erath Farm.

On January 7, 2024, Armadillo Earth Farm will be hosting its yoga session free of charge to the public, where participants will engage in an hour of yoga with breathing exercises, go to the forest for a grounding and enjoy nature at its best.