Harvesting Goodness: The Seeds to Plate Challenge!
6 – 8
July 2025
STEM
21 Days
About Project
In this project, students will experience the full journey of growing their own food—from planting seeds to preparing a dish with what they’ve harvested. Working at home or in shared school spaces, students will choose fast-growing vegetables or herbs such as spinach, coriander, or microgreens, and grow them in simple containers using recycled materials. This project helps students reconnect with nature, learn where their food comes from, and see how even small green actions can make a difference.
As they plant, care for, and observe their crops, students will learn key science and life skills—understanding plant life cycles, practicing responsibility, and developing patience. They will keep a simple “Plant Journal” with drawings, notes, or photos to document their progress.
At harvest time, students will prepare a basic snack or meal using what they grew, then create a poster or short video to share their seed-to-plate journey with the world. Through this project, students build awareness of sustainability, healthy eating, and the power of growing their own food—even in small spaces.
Expert Profile
Pallavi Varma Patil is a leader in environmental education and sustainability at ATREE. She heads the Environmental Education portfolio and stewards SNAIL (The School Of Nature, Action, Inquiry, and Learning), a national network that champions place‑based, hands‑on ecological learning in Indian schools. She also directs the Non‑Degree Program at the ATREE Academy, broadening access to conservation and sustainability training for diverse stakeholders.
Her work bridges scholarship and practice around education and food futures, framed by Gandhi–Tagore ideals of a “Good Society.” She co‑founded Living Utopias, a community initiative exploring alternatives to development, and co‑led The Ragi Project, an urban school millet farming program.
Before ATREE, Pallavi spent nearly a decade as faculty at Azim Premji University, teaching in both the School of Education and the School of Development. Over 25 years, she has worked with organizations like the CHILDLINE India Foundation, Sir Ratan Tata Trust, and Waste Wise Trust.
