Aadi Pattam: When metropolis people study farming on weekends

Because 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 palms to attempt farming. 

Round 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 purple 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 dust, stated they usually watered tulsi, omavalli, and keerai crops at their properties. Sharan Govindaraj of Villupuram, a Class 7 scholar, stated he had the chance to be uncovered to a variety of fields at his native place. “We’ve got roses and marudhani at dwelling,” he stated. After the coaching, the youngsters wished to take some seeds dwelling in order that they could possibly be planted.

Karthik, a volunteer, taught them that some crops 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 mates will be a 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 season is gone and the microbes that had gone beneath will come out. The temperature is conducive to plant tender saplings and seeds. It has been this manner at dwelling and now, in our farm within the metropolis too,” he stated. 

Reconnecting with nature

Agani Natural 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 can occur each Sunday. Since that is Aadi, we’re beginning it this month. Individuals shall be inspired to do bodily work on the farm. It can assist metropolis people have a greater understanding of how meals involves their desk. We are going to present easy meals to those that come. In any other case, we encourage the members to carry their very own meals, plates, and water,” stated G. Karthik of Aram Thinai. 

Ananthoo, of the Protected Meals Alliance, stated that many city farmers observe conventional practices, and sowing throughout Aadi was one among them. Even in properties, many individuals wait to sow throughout Aadi, he added.