The children who visit the farms are mostly from government schools or those run by the Greater Chennai Corporation. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
There is excursion time in the city, and during breaks in the monsoon showers, busloads of school children visit urban farms that allow them to have fun and soak up the love of being surrounded by nature.
These farms range in size from 30 cents to several acres, growing crops such as paddy fields.
Class 10 student Vasanth Krishna, who visited the farm in Tiruvallur, said, “It was a nice experience. We got to learn how the farmers lived and worked. We learned a few things like sowing seeds, milking cows and making seed balls. The food served at the farm amidst the trees was nice.
EPIC SS farm in Padur off OMR is smaller compared to some others. The children who attend this place are mostly from government schools or those run by the Greater Chennai Corporation.
Former IAS officer Santha Sheela Nair, who guides the visitors, says the children are eager to learn. “I make it interesting for them. I tell them how our planet is such a diverse place and that it’s not all a concrete jungle. The kids love it because it’s different from their school, and they’re starting to talk freely. After visiting our farm, one kid said she’d like to be an archaeologist. I often tell the kids that the people who sent rockets to the moon are from Tier 2 cities, and she can dream of that too.”
Agnes, a teacher from a government school in Thiruporur, said after her visit to EPIC SS that she was impressed by how an empty plot of land had turned into a lush agricultural land. “The children learned that you don’t have to have comforts like air conditioning to live well,” she added.
The Jacob and Klooster Lifestyle Farm in Thalambur, which follows a satvik lifestyle, has an active school program. Around 40 schools will visit them this year.
“We tell them about our lifestyle. We don’t milk the cows, but let the calves drink their fill. We show them how we live in harmony with nature. We get the kids involved and appreciate the animals and plants. We have posters for the trees the kids have planted. If the schools want, we can provide food,” said Shammy Jacob, who has been running Klo.0.2 with his wife since year 2.
Practical knowledge
Sempulam Sustainable Solutions – founded by K. Vijayalakshmi, a former member of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement Task Force – takes farm education one step further and organizes programs for schools with a minimum of 20 days on a farm for children. They’ve created a curriculum for several schools that helps kids get a hands-on understanding of how food gets from the farm to their plates.
Published – 07 Dec 2025 0:32 IST
