A school space for non-linear divergent learning, not only about growing food but about the 'cultiva
28/07/2024
July 11th 2024
Grade 8 learnt about the terms biodiversity and regenerative, as well as monoculture and polyculture, by using a Visual Thinking Routine (VTR) called Circle Point of View, to elicit answers.
They then went to the Satoko Chatterjee bed (we've named our beds after regenerative agri practitioners who inspired us), to clear some dried creepers and added it to our cement ring compost set up.
21/07/2024
July 9th, 2024
Grade 6 and 7 were super excited to harvest some black sugarcane, which they munched on right away!
A perennial, open pollinated, native variety. Hardy and resilient, unlike its hybrid commercial cousin.
A good source of Vitamin C, antioxidants, immunity booster and eating some is a good jaw excercise!
21/07/2024
July 6th, 2024
We are so thrilled to spot a Dung Beetle in action at our school garden, courtesy Ms Chandrika Ramesh!
We don't know the subspecies but its a Dung Beetle! This one seems like a roller.
Dung Beetles play a pivitol role in regenerative agriculture. They improve nutrient recycling and soil structure by burying and consuming dung. They also disperse seeds present in dung.
Ancient Egyptians revered the dung beetle (Scarab) and they enjoyed a sacred status!
16/07/2024
It is very important to go out alone, to sit under a tree—not with a book, not with a companion, but by yourself—and observe the falling of a leaf, hear the lapping of the water, the fishermen’s song, watch the flight of a bird, and of your own thoughts as they chase each other across the space of your mind. If you are able to be alone and watch these things, then you will discover extraordinary riches which no government can tax, no human agency can corrupt, and which can never be destroyed.
~Jiddu Krishnamurti, The Krishnamurti Reader
Book: [ad] The Krishnamurti Reader
16/07/2024
July 4th, 2024
Grade 8 revisited the terms 'biodiversity' and 'regenerative' using a Visual Thinking Routine (VTR) called 'I see, I think and I wonder'. They did this in the Madhu Reddy patch (we have named different sections of our school garden, after regenerative agri practitioners who have inspired us), and took a look at our beautiful red castor.
Castor is an excellent companion to deter some insects that they attract, preventing them from going to the main crop.
The analogy of humans needing to recuperate from an illness with rest, healthy food and exercise was used to elicit the term 'regenerative', where the ecosystem regenerates from various external shocks like climate change induced natural disasters.
They made furrows to sow in the Madhu Reddy patch and also tried their hand at harvesting some wood apple. Our wood apple tree is fruiting for the first time in 7 years, since it was planted as a tiny sapling!
15/07/2024
Jul 2nd, 2024
Grades 6 and 7 revisited the terms 'biodiversity' and regenerative' with a Visual Thinking Routine (VTR) activity, called 'I see, I think, and I wonder.' The analogy of humans needing to recuperate from illness with healthy food, sleep and exercise was used to explain how nature too needs to 'regenerate' from various shocks in the ecosystem.
They observed a biodiverse bed and learnt about Perennials Vs Annuals.
They also sowed some Brown Peruvian Cotton, from 3rd generation of seeds we saved. A perennial!
26/06/2024
June 25th, 2024
Papilio polytes / Common mormon butterfly is what we think this one is.
The butterfly is known for its displayed by the numerous form of its females which mimic inedible red-bodied swallowtails.
With climate change and short spells of rain in otherwise dry and hot June, we are seeing of climate change such as this caterpillar, which would otherwise come in the latter part of the year, closer to the monsoons.
26/06/2024
June 18th, 2024
Grade 6 and 7 made seedballs for our upcoming workshop at the Hanu Reddy Mango Fest with Red Malabar Spinach seeds from our saved seeds at our seedbank.
June 20th, 2024
Grade 8 made seedballs for our upcoming workshop at the Hanu Reddy Mango Fest.
20/06/2024
June 2024
Firsts are always a delight!
The first fruiting of our Wood Apple Tree / Limonia acidissima / Vila maram in Tamil / Bandar
phal Hindi / Dadhiphala in Sanskrit. We planted it as a tiny sapling in 2017.
This is native to India, an unusual fruit, that looks and feels like a cricket ball, loaded with health benefits. Also extremely hardy and climate change resilient.
A deciduous, thorny tree, The fruit has a hard exterior that is difficult to crack open, the flesh inside is a sticky brown pulp, sweet n sour with small white seeds.
The fruit is not directly consumed but used to make a juice with astringent properties. Also turned into jams, pickles and chutney. The most delicious wood apple pickle I've had is by Meera
We also spotted a bird's nest made with twigs on our tree. Most probably a crow's nest.
The tree seems to feel at home in our peri-urban school garden space, juxtaposed with an academic block building and a sports playground.
15/06/2024
See you on Sunday, June 16th at Hanu Reddy Raghava Farms, Othivakkam, Guduvancherry.
with Special Event Lineup - Day 3