Farmschool
A collaboration between Comini Microschool and Vrindavan Farms (2.5 hours from Bandra, Mumbai)
Living with the Land: A multi-week experiential hands-on course for children
We were introduced to the lovely Gaytri Bhatia from Vrindavan Farms by some of our Comini parents who had tried and loved their produce. A visit and many discussions with Gayatri led to the idea of introducing a curriculum around agriculture -- Farmschool.
We’ve already done a few sessions at the farm (details below) and have seen first-hand how children have loved being on the farm. We have seen their interest and curiosity about the things they saw and experienced at the farm, and how this can be an incredibly rewarding experience. It offers children (and parents!) the opportunity to learn about where their food comes from, the importance of sustainable farming practices, and the skills involved in growing fresh produce. Engaging in hands-on activities on the farm allows children to connect with nature, build a deeper understanding of biology and environmental science, and develop important life skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and responsibility. By participating in farm activities like planting, watering, and harvesting crops, children can also learn about the economics of farming, the value of hard work, and, most importantly, the joy and satisfaction of literally seeing the fruits of their labour.
We see this as an ongoing program covering at least 6 sessions. This is not intended to be a one-off workshop/visit/picnic.
What it will entail
Monthly visits to Vrindavan farm (~2.5 hour drive from Bandra, Mumbai) where Gaytri and her team will share her rich experience of spending over a decade full-time on the farm with the children (specific details on activities and learning areas will be shared with interested parents).
Facilitators and volunteers from Comini Learning (1:5 adult:child ratio) will accompany the children
Transport in AC buses. Return trips will be arranged from Comini Learning, Bandra
Current Costs (for a full day at the farm; more in the form below) - Rs 2,200 for children, Rs 1,500 per adult. Charges include a farm to table vegetarian lunch + drinks + fruit + guided farm activities
Suitable for ages 5-10 (siblings under 5 can register only if they have an older sibling attending)
Interested? Sign up here!
What some previous sessions looked like
Session 1 - Soil, the foundation of Agriculture
This round wasn't anything technical. We just had fun with soil. We made soil plaster, made art with it, and placed it onto Vrindavan's community center walls. We took a walk around the farm and fed the cows - the heat was too much to be frolicking in fields.
We had have a light, vegetarian meal cooked in the local style (with due consideration given to children’s tolerance for spice). Almost all the produce that we ate was from the farm, or a 50km radius.
Session 2 - The monsoons.
The earth comes alive with plants that have laid dormant all year. This farmschool we walked and appreciated the forest and surrounding farmed fields. We learnt to identify a few important edible wild greens of the forest, harvest and learn to cook them.
Session 3 - Waning moon.
In preparation for reforesting in monsoon 2024, we gathered saplings of indigenous trees, including wild mangoes, jackfruit, jamun, to name a few. This farmschool, we returned to the soil (same soil we built with in farmschool 1) and prepared tree seedlings. We talked about soil types, what the tree will need now as a little one, and as it grows. We foraged and unearthed some seedlings that we transplanted and nurtured.