Last Saturday was no ordinary day at FarmLab. It was a day of proud smiles, muddy hands, and pure childlike wonder—a day when the children of the Seeds to Vegetables program returned to the farm to harvest the crops they had lovingly nurtured over the past weeks.

The excitement began the moment they arrived. After quickly finishing their snacks—because who has the patience for food when their plants are waiting?—the children ran toward their individual patches. What greeted them was the magic only nature can offer. Lush green palak swayed gently in the breeze, fragrant methi stood tall and full, and the plants the children had sown with tiny hands had now grown into something real, something alive, something theirs. As they inspected each leaf and touched each stem, their faces lit up with a mixture of pride and disbelief.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for: harvesting.

With carefully guided hands and big smiles, the children harvested bunch after bunch of fresh palak and methi. Some held their harvest as if holding treasure. Others shouted to their friends to come see how big their leaves had grown.

But the day didn’t end there.

Once the leafy greens were collected, the group walked toward the paddy field. The golden crop shimmered under the late-morning sun, inviting them to explore yet another layer of farming. With gentle instruction, the children learned how paddy is cut. Holding sickles with careful supervision, they made their first cuts—slow, deliberate, and absolutely thrilling. For a few moments, the field was filled with the sound of rustling stalks and excited chatter.

If harvesting palak and methi made them feel proud, cutting paddy made them feel powerful. Here they were, touching one of India’s oldest agricultural traditions, participating in the cycle that feeds millions. For the children, it was an unforgettable glimpse into the journey of their food—far richer and more meaningful than anything a textbook could offer.

By the end of the visit, hands were muddy, clothes were messy, and hearts were full. The children left the farm not just with bags of freshly harvested greens, but with a deepened connection to nature, a new appreciation for farmers, and a sense of accomplishment that only hands-on learning can bring.

At FarmLab, days like these remind us why we do what we do. When children discover the joy of growing food, they also grow curiosity, responsibility, and care for the earth. And that is the real harvest.