School children in Chennai are flocking to urban farms during breaks in the monsoon rains. These visits are both fun and educational, helping kids connect with nature. The farms range from small 30-cent plots to several acres growing crops like paddy. Vasanth Krishna, a Class 10 student from Tiruvallur, said, “It was a nice experience. We were able to learn how farmers lived and worked. We were taught a few things such as sowing seeds, milking cows, and making seed balls. The food served at the farm, amid the trees, was nice.” At EPIC SS Farm in Padur, near OMR, mostly children from government and Greater Chennai Corporation schools visit. Former IAS officer Santha Sheela Nair guides them and says, “I make it interesting for them. I tell them how our planet is such a diverse place and that it is not all a concrete jungle. The children love it as it is different from their school, and start speaking without inhibitions. After visiting our farm, a child said she wished to be an archaeologist. I often tell the children that the people who sent rockets to the moon are from tier-2 cities, and that they too can dream of such things.” Agnes, a teacher from a government school in Thiruporur, praised the farm saying, “The children learnt that one need not have comforts like air conditioners to live well.” The Jacob and Klooster Lifestyle Farm in Thalambur follows a sattvic lifestyle and hosts about 40 schools this year. Owner Shammy Jacob explains, “We tell them about our lifestyle. We don’t milk the cows but let the calves drink it to their fill. We show them how we live in harmony with nature. We get the children to participate and appreciate the animals and plants. We have placards for the saplings planted by the children. If the schools want, we can arrange for food.” Sempulam Sustainable Solutions, led by K. Vijayalakshmi, creates school syllabuses and offers over 20 on-farm days to help children understand how food grows from farm to plate in a practical way.