Learning beyond classrooms: Schools must take a leaf out of Matunga’s terrace garden initiative

A number of eye-catching pictures accompanied our report about a Matunga school becoming the ultimate grocery shopping destination for residents. Students from this school grow fruits and vegetables in the school’s terrace, using the drip irrigation method under the terrace garden initiative of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).  Our report said that at the Matunga school, students are responsible for monitoring the progress of the nursery. They must look out for infected leaves, yellowing, or pests and learn to fix these issues with the help of the school faculty. Every week, students as young as Std II participate in the process. Along with gardening and maintenance, the students have learned to tally profits and losses.

At parent-teacher meetings, vegetables are sold in stalls. Several students spoke out about how their parents have bought veggies grown in the school. This is an impressive, hands-on effort to show children the value and way to go truly organic. At a time when going green and from farm to table are fashionable phrases, it is important to teach children that one can actually live this, proving that one does not need a vast green expanse or farms to grow plants, especially fruits or veggies. It is a lesson in making the best of what you have, and even with cement, steel, and glass around us, you can choose your way to become closer to nature.