Aadi Pattam: When metropolis people study farming on weekends

As the Tamil month of Aadi progresses, a number of natural farms in and round Chennai are organising occasions to encourage those that have a while on their arms to strive farming. 

Around 25 farming fans, together with schoolchildren, had gathered at ReStore natural meals retailer at Kottivakkam on ECR, on Saturday (August 2, 2025) afternoon, the place they learnt how one can make a soil combine from compost and crimson earth, and the way they need to soak seeds for about half an hour earlier than planting them. 

Class 6 college students and Mambakkam residents Vinay Vishwanath and Sai Krishna Karthik, who had spent a while mixing the grime, stated they repeatedly watered tulsi, omavalli, and keerai vegetation at their properties. Sharan Govindaraj of Villupuram, a Class 7 pupil, stated he had the chance to be uncovered to quite a lot of fields at his native place. “We have roses and marudhani at house,” he stated. After the coaching, the youngsters needed to take some seeds house in order that they might be planted.

Karthik, a volunteer, taught them that some vegetation like tomatoes and brinjal develop higher if they’re first allowed to develop into seedlings in small pots after which transplanted into bigger pots. 

At Kazhani Farms at Valmiki Nagar, its founder and concrete farmer Gokulnath Natesan stated that from Sunday (August 3) morning, household and associates will be part of to plant seedlings in furrows which can be prepared. “All farmers have this ritual twice a yr, Aadi Pattam, the 18th day of Aadi, and in addition on Bhogi, which is Thai Pattam. Now, with the beginning of sunshine rains, the warmth of the summer time is gone and the microbes that had gone under will come out. The temperature is conducive to plant tender saplings and seeds. It has been this fashion at house and now, in our farm within the metropolis too,” he stated. 

Reconnecting with nature

Agani Organic Farm in West Tambaram and Aram Thinai are coming collectively this month to conduct a ‘Weekend Vivasayi’ programme, the place one can expertise farm life and reconnect with nature. “It will occur each Sunday. Since that is Aadi, we’re beginning it this month. People can be inspired to do bodily work on the farm. It will assist metropolis people have a greater understanding of how meals involves their desk. We will present easy meals to those that come. Otherwise, we encourage the members to convey their very own meals, plates, and water,” stated G. Karthik of Aram Thinai. 

Ananthoo, of the Safe Food Alliance, stated that many city farmers comply with conventional practices, and sowing throughout Aadi was considered one of them. Even in properties, many individuals wait to sow throughout Aadi, he added.