The first day of the “Seeds to Vegetables” program at FarmLab unfolded with excitement, curiosity, and the joy of learning in nature’s classroom. The children arrived at the farm early in the morning, eager to explore the journey of seeds, from tiny grains of life to the vegetables we eat every day.

To make the session both meaningful and interactive, the children were divided into two groups. One group joined Ms. Sandhya Reddy, while the other spent time with Mr. Naga Vamsi, each experiencing a different yet complementary aspect of the seed-to-plant process.

FarmLab Seed Explorers

With Ms. Sandhya Reddy, the young learners dived into the fascinating science of seeds through an engaging, hands-on learning session. Children aged 4 to 9 explored how life begins inside a seed and discovered the magic hidden within.

Key learnings included:
• Dicot Dissection: Students carefully peeled and split a bean seed to locate the two cotyledons and the tiny embryo within — their first glimpse of new life waiting to sprout.
• Classification: They identified the difference between dicots and monocots, understanding that nature has its own beautiful diversity in how plants grow.
• Safety: The children learned to distinguish between edible and non-edible seeds, reinforcing a key safety rule — always ask an adult before tasting anything from nature.
• Germination: Through drawing and close observation, they mapped the stages of germination — from the root breaking free of the seed coat to the shoot reaching up toward sunlight.

This session beautifully combined safety, science, and wonder, allowing children to see where life truly begins. The sparkle in their eyes as they held their dissected seeds reflected how powerful experiential learning can be.

Getting Hands-on with the Earth

Meanwhile, the second group joined Mr. Naga Vamsi in the fields for a practical farming session. Here, the children rolled up their sleeves to prepare the soil, learning how to loosen it and make it ready for sowing. They experienced the earthy scent of freshly turned soil — a simple yet profound connection to nature.

Once the soil was ready, the children sowed seeds of methi (fenugreek) and palak, followed by carrot and radish. Each seed was gently placed into the soil with care and curiosity. They also learned about the transplantation process for tomato and chilli, understanding how fragile saplings are moved carefully from nursery beds to open soil.

The children finished their work by watering their plants, learning the importance of consistent care and patience. The joy on their faces as they watched water seep into the soil was a moment of quiet fulfillment — a connection between effort and growth.

After completing their respective activities, the two groups exchanged their sessions, giving every child the opportunity to experience both the theoretical and practical sides of farming. By the end of the day, their understanding had deepened — from the science within a seed to the art of nurturing it in the soil.

As a sweet surprise, each child was given freshly harvested sweet corn to take home — a small but meaningful gift from the farm to remind them of the day’s learning and the joy of nature’s abundance.