Support Organic Farms and Schoolgardens in India

We are happy to let you know that thanks to your help, both myHarvest and CARE Society have begun their work with schools and farmers!

Thanks to the funds raised, CARE Society has been able to go one step further by conducting germination-related testing. The process is such that they soak the seeds in water and keep them protected in a cloth overnight. Once summer is over, they will be able to proceed to more testing especially mud trail testing. Sivalingam, Care Society's co-founder, shared a video to provide you with more information regarding their process. Sivalingam and Kumari are feeling grateful as the funds raised so far have enabled them to acquire superior quality seeds. They are more confident about the future.

As for myHarvest, they have been able to partner with 2 new schools - Viswa Vidya Mandir, Anna Nagar and St. Francis International School, Manapakkam Viswa Vidya Mandir. myHarvest conducted orientation programs and set up a terrace garden - where greens and vegetables are being grown - in Viswa Vidya Mandir School. A key learning for children at the end of the program was that healthy food is important to be strong. During the hands-on sessions, children learnt how to add potting mix, enjoyed filling the growbags, got the opportunity to sow seeds for the first time and learnt how to properly water the plants. Two weeks after sowing, the germination phase started. Four weeks later, the greens grown by the kids were cooked by the school and the feedback was extremely positive.

Since it is already summer holidays in Tamil Nadu, most schools are closed right now. Once they reopen in June, myHarvest will work closely with schools in Chennai. After summer, myHarvest will conduct a “Grow your own food” program at St. Francis International School in Manapakkam. myHarvest is planning to reach out to government schools to implement their School Gardening Program. During summer, myHarvest will conduct a Summer Camp where all kids will grow their own greens using the “myHarvest box”.

Your support has made a significant difference. Thank you!

Links:

• Care Society

myHarvest aims to help families grow their own organic food at home by providing them with gardening kits and helping in the installation and maintenance of terrace/kitchen gardens. The organization also works with schools by setting up edible organic gardens and providing gardening and composting workshops to children between 3 and 12 years old.

Reaching out to children in schools is really important in Tamil Nadu as 78.9% of children below 3 have anemia. Their goal is not only to teach children gardening but also to make it possible for them to improve their diet choices. The idea behind is that thanks to the training, kits and workshops, the whole family is able to eat healthy.

Organic products are expensive and there is no easy way of knowing where they really come from. myHarvest envisions enabling south Indians grow their own food and switch to an ecofriendly way of life. So far, myHarvest’s kitchen gardens have been installed at 32 houses and 3 schools and the organization focuses on feedbacks to constantly improve their products.

In the next 3 years, myHarvest is planning to benefit 10,000 families and impact more than 100,000 people, enabling them to build new foundations of lifelong and healthy life choices.