Budding farmers

Updated on: 28 March,2014 07:41 AM IST |
Soma Das |

Urban Leaves, an urban-farming volunteer group, is organising a children's workshop on city farming

Budding farmers

Kids across Mumbai can get their hands dirty and green, by signing up for the Urban Leaves workshop on city farming. Filled with games, it will offer 8 to 11-year-olds a hands-on experience at farming and encourage them to take to the activity at home.

The process of harvesting

Urban Leaves was formed in April 2009 when a group of like-minded individuals led by Preeti Patil came together and aimed at creating green rooftops and urban food farms all over Mumbai. They initiated their first community farm at Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP), Dharavi in 2009. Today, they have four such farms spread across Mumbai.

The process of recycling and planting

Speaking about the upcoming event, Premila Martis Parera, co-ordinator for children’s workshops, Urban Leaves, says, “The aim is to set children on the path of growing their own food and recycling. It entails nurturing a plant from a seed and then harvesting and enjoying the fruits of their labour.”

Urban Leaves regularly hosts workshops on kitchen gardening and home composting, too. Another of their regular events is Seva Cafe, which entails harvesting produce to prepare meals on the community farm.