Back to the Roots: Farming as a Subject at DLRC

Even in a world where technology, money and academics have taken the centre-stage, farming remains the backbone of our life. Everything we eat — from apples to bread — has its roots in a handful of soil. 

Here at DLRC, we have introduced a unique subject in the primary and middle sections that brings children closer to the earth. The Environmental Literacy and Farming (EVLF) programme aims at helping students explore both the practical use of farming tools as well as the biological processes that drive agriculture. 

Ready to dig deep! The EVLF team

Led by our dedicated farming team — Imam Sir, Akshay Sir and Sanghamitra Ma’am — students are learning a wide range of skills, from identifying plants and understanding their uses to digging a pond and studying seed germination. 

“We want children to learn about farming, not just in theory but practically, and actually get their hands dirty. It will teach them the journey of how food finds its way from farm to plate,” said Imam Sir.

Children with the farmer's best friend

Sanghamitra Ma’am excitedly added, "We would love for children to explore the world of plants and get to know their names — even the scientific names. They will also notice the little ecosystems that evolve around plants.” 

A small piece of land on campus is being transformed into a thriving agricultural space where students will grow vegetables and flowers. The EVLF facilitators are actively involved in every step, including digging the pond, sowing seeds, and using tools that happen under their guided supervision.

Soon, we can expect mesmerisingly beautiful lotus flowers to thrive along with other aquatic plants in the pond. Suyash from Grade 8 said, “I love the idea of farming, and I truly understand how much work is needed to produce every vegetable we eat.” Arnav from Grade 7, too, shared his appreciation for the initiative, saying, “It was pretty cool digging the pond and seeing it get filled with water."

The campus farm with the pond

Entrepreneurship is another skill that we will be exploring through selling the produce from the farm, including vegetables, flowers and herbs. Every harvest will surely serve a purpose. Our campus kitchen and lab will be the arenas to learn beyond farming — the skill of extracting fragrances and also oils! Just a few weeks ago, the EVLF team made ginger ale through the fresh harvest of the farm. Isn’t that so amazing?!

At DLRC, farming as a subject not only teaches children where their food truly comes from but also helps us relate to the lives of farmers and understand the hard work that goes into bringing the farm to the plate. This goes far beyond textbooks and notebooks, offering hands-on experiences that build real world skills and develop deep appreciation for nature. Though students from Grades 9 to 12 don’t have EVLF as a subject, they can be involved through internship opportunities such as sales and marketing to help sell the harvest. 

Through EVLF, our students are learning a range of skills and are understanding the level of hard work that goes into sowing each seed, and the work that goes into the whole harvesting process. Developing these skills will benefit them their whole lives. This is EVLF at DLRC!

By Krish Shringi, Grade 9