The Story Behind Serenity
What first drew Matthen to this land was the deep stillness that enveloped it. There were no highways, no traffic noise, no factories — just open sky, fertile earth, and the gentle rhythms of nature. The rustle of the breeze moving through the palm fronds and rippling across the paddy fields had a music of its own.
Standing there for the first time, Matthen felt an immediate connection — a sense that this place was meant to become a haven for others as well. That is how the name Serenity was born.
Standing there for the first time, Matthen felt an immediate connection — a sense that this place was meant to become a haven for others as well. That is how the name Serenity was born.
The land today flourishes with a variety of fruit trees — nutmeg, rambutan, jackfruit, coconut, bilimbi, jamun, rose apple, mangosteen, and star fruit, among others — each echoing the abundance of Kerala’s soil.
Although Matthen did not originally plant the orchard himself, he nurtured the land with a sense of stewardship and care, ensuring that its natural richness was preserved and enhanced.
Although Matthen did not originally plant the orchard himself, he nurtured the land with a sense of stewardship and care, ensuring that its natural richness was preserved and enhanced.
Having grown up in a house surrounded by a large garden and a compound with dogs, cows, chickens, ducks, and the occasional goat, Matthen developed an early respect for living systems — the interconnected world of plants, animals, and the land itself, a respect that has shaped the heart of Serenity Farm.
Later, his interest matured into formal learning when he pursued courses in Biodynamic Farming and Permaculture, both systems of agriculture that work in close alignment with the natural forces of the earth.
Serenity Farm is the realization of that lifelong vision — to create a place where healing is not rushed, where nature’s rhythms set the pace, and where guests can rediscover the quiet joy of simply being.
Here, every aspect of the retreat — from the therapies to the food, from the architecture to the landscape — reflects an ethos of simplicity, authenticity, and deep respect for the cycles of life.