It was a beautiful morning, and the clouds seemed unsure whether to rain or not. Junior and Advanced Elementary students of Shriram Montessori School arrived at the Farm Lab to begin their first session of the Seeds to Greens program. Twenty-four children, along with their teachers, came with excitement to discover what the day had in store. Since the activities required physical energy, they started their day with a healthy breakfast at the farm.

The Junior Elementary students stayed with Ms. Sandhya, Curriculum Head at Shriram Montessori School. She introduced them to different kinds of leafy vegetables, encouraging them to touch and feel eight varieties of greens. 

Most children were able to correctly guess the names. After this, she asked them what they were expecting to learn from the farming sessions.

Meanwhile, the Advanced Elementary students, along with their teachers, walked toward their farming patches. They first gathered around a demo patch to observe how to prepare soil and sow seeds. After watching carefully, they went to their own patches and began mixing compost into the soil. The moment they spotted earthworms wriggling out of the compost, their excitement grew—they even picked them up in their hands with delight.

Once the soil was ready, the children drew lines in their patches, placed seeds gently into the rows, and covered them with soil. After completing their task, they rejoined Ms. Sandhya to identify the leafy vegetables.

The two groups then swapped activities. Junior Elementary students enjoyed preparing the soil, sowing seeds, and discovering earthworms, while the Advanced group learned about identifying leafy vegetables.

After completing both activities, the children took a short break and then went on a farm walk. They strolled past roses, paddy fields, and chrysanthemum plants before entering the mango orchard. There, they were asked to walk silently and observe the nature around them. The calm walk among the mango trees was a refreshing experience for all.

Finally, they returned to the farm to have lunch with their teachers. After working hard, they truly relished their meals. Over lunch, they shared their experiences of the day before heading back, already eager for their next session at the Farm Lab.

We would like to thank Ms.Manju Reddy, who has volunteered for this session. She has been a great help.