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What started as weekend visits to the old family ranch ended up completely changing the life of a couple from Minas Gerais, who decided to swap the traffic, rush, and sleepless nights of the capital for a routine surrounded by nature, silence, organic farming, and quality of life in São José da Barra, in the interior of Minas Gerais
Sleeping only three hours a night, living at the fast pace of the big city, and spending much of the day surrounded by traffic, commitments, and professional pressure seemed normal for Nina and Evaldo during the years they lived in Belo Horizonte. However, everything changed after a visit to the old family ranch, located on the shores of the so-called “Sea of Minas,” in São José da Barra, in the southwest of Minas Gerais. As reported by the couple in an interview with the channel ‘Diário da Roça,’ by content creator Eduardo, the decision to leave the capital came after discovering a completely different lifestyle from the one they had in the city.
The place, surrounded by forest, tranquil waters, and absolute silence, had been part of Evaldo’s family history since the 1970s. The ranch was purchased by his father in 1975, initially as a simple support point for fishing trips. Over the years, the property gained new constructions, renovations, and, most importantly, sentimental value.
Today, decades later, the space has transformed into a true rural refuge, where the couple lives surrounded by medicinal plants, fish raised without industrial feed, a wood stove, and a completely different routine from the one they had in the capital of Minas Gerais.
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From urban chaos to the silence of the countryside: the change that transformed the couple’s life
The story began when Evaldo took Nina to visit the ranch over a weekend. At the time, she worked in the fashion industry in Belo Horizonte, working as a stylist, pattern maker, and teacher. The routine was intense, exhausting, and practically without breaks.
“I slept three hours a night. It was madness,” Nina said during the conversation. According to her, at that moment she believed that such a hectic life was necessary to build the professional future she desired.
Everything changed when she experienced the ranch environment.
The direct contact with nature, the silence of the reservoir, the birdsong, and the tranquility of the countryside had an immediate impact. Shortly after, Evaldo asked the question that would completely change their lives: would she have the courage to leave Belo Horizonte to live in that place?
The answer came immediately.
The couple got married, spent about a year in the capital organizing the move, and then decided to head to the countryside. Initially, they went to live in Passos, a city close to the Serra da Canastra region. However, the desire to live permanently on the ranch grew with each visit.
With the arrival of the pandemic, the process accelerated. While much of the Brazilian population faced isolation in apartments and urban centers, they were already settled in the countryside. It was there that they realized they no longer wanted to return to their old routine.
Family heritage, organic fish, and a life surrounded by nature
Far beyond a change of address, the decision also represented the continuation of an old family dream.
According to Evaldo, his father always wanted to live permanently on the ranch, but ended up passing away before achieving this goal. After his death, part of the family wanted to sell the property. However, Evaldo decided to buy the area to preserve the history built there over decades.
“My father said he wanted to live here. I understood his dream and couldn’t give it up,” he stated.
Since then, the couple has invested in the structure of the place. They created living areas made with eucalyptus, expanded rest areas, built rustic decks overlooking the reservoir, and transformed the old ranch into an environment focused on well-being, rest, and contact with nature.
One of the highlights of the property is the tilapia farming in net tanks. Unlike traditional production, Evaldo decided to feed the fish only with fruits, leaves, vegetables, and greens.
Papaya, taioba, pumpkin, cassava, sweet potato vine, and even avocado are part of the animals’ diet.
According to him, the experience brought surprising results.
In addition to reducing fish mortality, growth was faster than in the conventional system with industrialized feed. The producer also claims that the taste of the meat became lighter and more distinct, similar to the concept of “free-range chicken.”
Currently, he sells the fish directly to customers in the region.
Medicinal plants, quality of life, and a new relationship with health
The move to the countryside also sparked another unexpected interest in Nina: the world of medicinal plants.
She, who previously didn’t even like taking care of her mother’s plants, began to study phytotherapy and natural medicine. Today, she is training in therapeutic physiotherapy and dedicates part of her routine to learning about herbs, trees, and natural treatments.
During the interview, Nina explained that she began to see medicinal properties in common trees in the region, such as mango, avocado, and guava.
According to her, leaves, bark, and fruits have applications related to boosting immunity, respiratory problems, blood circulation, and overall health.
Furthermore, the couple also completely changed their eating habits. A large part of the food consumed today comes from their own property, including vegetables, fruits, greens, chickens, and foods prepared on the traditional wood stove.
“After we started to understand more about natural health, our lives changed completely,” she said.
Ranch became a tourist refuge and attracts visitors in search of peace at the Sea of Minas
Over time, friends, family, and visitors began to show interest in getting to know the space.
That’s when the idea arose to open the ranch for accommodations and family gatherings.
Today, the so-called “Cantinho Mar de Minas” welcomes visitors interested in experiencing a closer connection with nature, away from the urban hustle. The space offers a privileged view of the reservoir, rest areas, typical Minas cuisine, and direct contact with the rural lifestyle cultivated by the couple.
According to them, many families seek the place precisely to slow down and experience a few days of tranquility.
In addition to the main ranch, Evaldo also created a small condominium with plots near the water, all with regular access, electricity, and basic infrastructure.
Even after years living in the big city, the couple assures that they do not miss their old routine.
“Here we wake up with the birds. There are no horns, sirens, traffic. Just wind, nature, and peace,” summarized Evaldo.
In the end, what started as a simple weekend getaway ended up turning into a radical life change — and also a way to preserve family memories built over 50 years ago on the shores of the Sea of Minas.
And you, would you have the courage to leave the hustle of the big city, trade traffic, noise, sleepless nights, and a fast-paced routine for a simple life surrounded by nature, silence, food cooked on a wood stove, medicinal plants, and the sound of birds on the shores of the Sea of Minas, or do you believe you still couldn’t leave behind the comfort and excitement of urban life?
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