About Lotuswood Organic Wellness Farm
Founded with a vision of returning to a more connected and sustainable way of living, Lotuswood was born out of a desire to cultivate both the land and the spirit. Nestled in the Hudson River Valley, our 12-acre property is a haven of tranquility and growth, embracing organic and regenerative farming methods that put the health of the earth and our community first.
Through our produce, prepared foods, and events, we aim to nourish others and provide opportunities for our community to deepen their own connections to self, nature, and each other.
Our Story
Lotuswood is owned by Andrea Hayley-Sankaran and Kannan Sankaran, and we are both thrilled that you found us!
Ours is an unlikely marriage between an AI engineer who grew up in the urban jungle of Mumbai, and a girl who once lived in a tee-pee during the harsh Canadian winter—but it was a consequential one that led us to you.
Andrea fell in love with food and health in her early 20s after witnessing a community kitchen in Nicaragua where families worked together to turn locally grown food into nourishing meals. The simplicity of the ingredients, matched with the authenticity of the locals, inspired Andrea to embrace cooking as her life’s purpose.
Andrea taught herself to cook from the perspective of Ayurveda, a traditional system of healthcare from India that views “food as medicine. In the following decade, she honed her skills working in restaurants, then obtained her Master’s in journalism from Columbia University in New York.
After meeting her husband-to-be visiting India for the first time, and witnessing the rich traditions and cultural practices around food there, Andrea’s connection to food as medicine deepened even more.
At the same time, Kannan realized that after moving to the U.S. he had ignored his own nourishment. When he experienced it again through Andrea, he understood its importance as a foundation for healthy living.
This led Andrea to start a large backyard garden in the suburbs where they lived, launch a popular food blog, and offer courses and programs on Ayurvedic cooking and lifestyle. Over the last 10 years, she’s led a community of people who are passionate about flourishing and nourishing through healthy eating.
When Kannan saw how their diverse dinner guests loved Andrea’s cooking and were reminded of home, he felt that it was very natural and meaningful to look for a place where Andrea could offer this precious experience to even more people.
The dream became a reality when we found Lotuswood, an expansive property with a farm, commercial kitchen, and large gathering spaces for events. Now the vision of food, health, and community comes full circle in the idea of “grow and gather.” Bringing people together around food and special occasions is the perfect way to share our passion with others.
Our Values
Our Team
Andrea Hayley-Sankaran
Co-founder & Chef
Andrea is a nutritionist and Ayurvedic chef with a passion for cooking and utilizing “food as medicine.” She bought a farm so she could grow her own produce, turn it into meals in her commercial kitchen, and feed a community, fulfilling her vision of home-cooked healthy food being accessible to everyone.
Photo shot by Samira Bouaou.
Christine Lin
Events Manager & Designer
One of Christine’s passions is to explore how the design of spaces contributes to human wellbeing. Lotuswood allows her to co-create with the land and experience nature taking its own time. It is this self-expression and serenity that she hopes to share with event guests.
Photo shot by Samira Bouaou.
Kannan Sankaran
Co-founder & CTO
Kannan is a skilled AI engineer and data scientist at Deutsche Bank, and is passionate about building cloud-native Generative AI solutions. He is slowly learning more about rural life, getting adjusted to wild animals on the property, and exploring opportunites to see how AI can be used in farm-related work.
Photo shot by Samira Bouaou.
Farm-to-Table Philosophy
At Lotuswood, we’re proud to offer farm-to-table prepared foods available for purchase at the farm, and as part of our events. Our produce is grown using organic and regenerative methods that enhance flavor and nutritional value. From seasonal vegetables, to herbs and flowers, our commitment to quality ingredients starts with the soil and ends on your plate.
In addition to our in-house chef, we also collaborate with local chefs and caterers to create menus that showcase the best of what’s in season. Our farm-to-table philosophy isn’t just about great tasting food, it’s about connecting guests to the land and creating meals that nourish on all levels.
Photo shot by Samira Bouaou.
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