Farming at Samskaara: Growing Calm

A. More Than a Skill: Why Farming Matters

At Samskaara Academy, farming is not just an activity. It is a practice of mindfulness, responsibility and connection. In a world of screens and schedules, farming brings our children back to the basics: soil, sunlight, water and patience.

For adolescents especially, contact with soil has a calming, grounding effect. In a phase of life where emotions often run high, farming teaches students to slow down, observe, nurture, and take responsibility for something beyond themselves. Watching a tiny seed transform into a growing plant offers not just knowledge, but a gentle reminder that growth takes time and that they, too, are growing in their own rhythm.

B. A School-Wide Rhythm Rooted in Earth

Farming at Samskaara is not limited to one age group. From elementary children to high schoolers, students across the board are involved in farm activities. It is a common thread that weaves through the Samskaara experience, offering every learner a chance to dig their hands into the earth and feel the joy of creating life.

Younger children begin with simple planting and observation, while older students take on more complex responsibilities like planning, soil preparation, crop selection, and even seasonal harvesting. This progression mirrors their emotional and cognitive development, giving them an ever-deepening relationship with the land.

C. Building a Farm from Scratch: The Terrace Project

One of the most exciting recent additions to our farming experience is the terrace farm, a space the high school students are developing entirely from scratch.

From designing the layout of the crates, to cleaning up the area, bringing in soil, selecting crops, and planting the first seeds - every step is student-led. This is not just about farming. It is about ownership, teamwork and watching something meaningful come to life through shared effort.

The high school students are guided by an external resource expert, who visits two to three times a week to help them understand the science and rhythm of urban farming. But just like every other initiative at Samskaara, the real leadership comes from the students. They decide, plan, coordinate and carry out the work, learning through both success and struggle.

D. Responsibility You Can Touch and Taste

There is a unique kind of satisfaction that comes from eating something you have grown with your own hands. Our students have experienced this by harvesting vegetables and herbs that began as tiny seeds planted weeks or months earlier. That joy is not just about fresh food. It is about seeing the impact of consistent effort.

Farming teaches students responsibility in its most tangible form. If they forget to water the plants, they see the wilt. If they care regularly, they see the green. Unlike a grade on a paper, this feedback is quiet but powerful. And the best part? It is shared. The joy of harvest is always collective, reminding students that growth is not a solo act.

E. A Quiet Counterbalance to a Fast World

In a world that rewards speed and instant results, farming offers a healthy counterweight. It asks students to be still, to observe cycles, and to accept that nature does not rush, but it still achieves everything.

At Samskaara, we see farming not as an extra-curricular, but as a deeply human need. The connection to soil, the care for living things, the patience to wait. These are qualities we believe every child should carry with them into adulthood.

Whether it is the smallest sprout or a full harvest box, farming reminds our children of something essential: they are capable of creating life, nurturing it, and taking pride in its growth. And in that process, they grow too.

‍