Be A Farmer: Where Community Meets Cultivation

At Organo Et School, we believe that the best way to understand sustainability is through experiential learning. With this in mind, we introduced “Be A Farmer” – a hands-on volunteering program at Organo Antharam, aimed at reconnecting individuals and families with nature through immersive farming experiences.

Through this initiative, volunteers join hands with the Organo Antharam farming team, engaging in real-time farming tasks and understanding the effort and processes that are required to generate food sustainably. It is more than just an activity; it is an experience that connects people to the land, farmers, and the values of mindful living.

Learning by Doing: The Farming Experience

The program is thoughtfully scheduled under the guidance of the farm supervisor, who plans activities based on the farming calendar. This ensures that participants are involved in tasks that are seasonally appropriate and truly contribute to the farm’s ongoing cultivation efforts.

Each volunteering session is designed to be purposeful, engaging, and educational. Volunteers are invited to join on pre-scheduled dates and times, with specific locations within the Organo Antharam community farm designated for each activity. This structure helps maintain order, maximize learning and ensure that the efforts of the volunteers align meaningfully with the farm's operational needs.

What Volunteers Do on the Farm

Participants are introduced to a diverse range of core farming activities, providing a well-rounded exposure to natural farming techniques. These include:

• Soil Preparation: Volunteers learn how to loosen and enrich the soil using traditional methods. This process forms the foundation of healthy crop growth and introduces participants to the significance of soil health in natural farming.
  
  
• Seed Sowing: Volunteers are guided by the farming team on how to sow seeds with the correct depth and spacing, gaining valuable insight into how life begins on the farm. They are introduced to different techniques such as broadcasting or row sowing, depending on the type of crop and farming requirement.
  
  
• Transplanting Saplings: Moving young plants into the field is a hands-on lesson in plant care and growth patterns. Volunteers develop a nurturing connection with the crops as they gently handle these tender saplings.
  
  
• Spraying Organic Fertilisers like Jeevamrutham:
  Volunteers actively participate in spraying Jeevamrutham, a traditional bio-fertiliser made from cow dung, cow urine, jaggery etc. They learn how this nutrient-rich mixture enhances soil fertility, promotes microbial life, and supports sustainable, chemical-free crop growth.
  
  
• Spraying Neem Oil and Using Neem Cake:
  Volunteers assist in spraying neem oil on crops and applying neem cake to the soil. These natural solutions help in controlling pests and diseases effectively, while also enriching the soil, showcasing eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides.
  

• Applying Vermicompost:
  Volunteers apply vermicompost, a rich organic fertilizer produced by earthworms into farm beds. They learn how it boosts soil health, improves moisture retention, and supports strong plant growth, reinforcing the value of organic waste recycling in natural farming.
  
  
• Weeding and Plant Care: Regular maintenance like removing weeds and checking for pests is essential for healthy crop development. Through these tasks, volunteers see firsthand how much ongoing care and observation farming truly requires.
  
  
• Vegetable Harvest by Volunteers at Organo Farm: Volunteers at Organo Farm actively participate in harvesting seasonal vegetables alongside the farmers. This hands-on activity helped them understand the care and effort that goes into natural farming while experiencing the joy of reaping fresh, chemical-free produce.
  
  
• Learning about different vegetables and Their Growth Stages:Volunteers also learned about the different types of vegetables grown at the farm. They gained insights into the various stages of plant growth, ideal harvest times, and the importance of timing and observation in natural farming practices.

These activities are more than just physical tasks—they are opportunities to build empathy for farmers, develop practical knowledge about natural farming and engage deeply with nature. As participants work side by side with experienced farmers, they begin to appreciate the patience, discipline, and attention to detail that farming demands.

Most importantly, these experiences often transform perspectives. Volunteers walk away not only with dirt on their hands but with a renewed respect for where their food comes from and a greater sense of responsibility toward the environment.

Farming with Family: A Bonding Experience

One of the most beautiful aspects of Be A Farmer is seeing families volunteer together. Children and adults alike participate, creating shared memories, learning new skills, and building stronger family bonds. In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven lives, this initiative offers a much-needed break to reconnect with loved ones and nature in a meaningful way.Families leave with muddy hands, smiling faces, and a newfound appreciation for the food on their plates.

Experiential Learning for a Sustainable Future

The primary aim of the Be A Farmer initiative is to teach sustainability through experiential learning. We believe that when people experience farming themselves—planting a seed, nurturing it, and watching it grow—they naturally begin to adopt more eco-conscious habits in their daily lives.

By volunteering, participants also learn about natural farming practices, seasonal cycles, and the importance of biodiversity—lessons that go far beyond the classroom.

About Organo Et School (OES)

Organo Et School empowers people to embrace eco-living mindsets, behaviors, and habits. We recognize that for any positive impact to be sustainable, it must be long-term and inter-generational.

UNESCO recognized Organo Et School as a green citizen initiative and Uplink, the open innovation platform of the World Economic Forum (WEF) recognized OES as Global Innovative Solution.

Organo Et School is an experiential learning initiative set up by Organo in 2017 and has been facilitating field visits and workshops for Schools and Interest Groups. Organo Et School has impacted over 11,500+ students, 5,000+ adults,1,500+ families, 40+ schools, 15+ communities, 10+ corporates over the past 8 years.

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Email us at at oes@organo.co.in or call us at 91541 00775

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