She Put Farming on School Timetables; Today, 78000 Children Learn by Growing Food
Photo Credit : Instagram @pragatichaswal
A rooftop classroom
On a sunny Delhi rooftop, children swap notebooks for planters. As tiny sprouts emerge, they learn about food, nature, and responsibility in ways no classroom alone can teach.
Photo Credit : Instagram @pragatichaswal
Pragati Chaswal never planned to change education. She only wanted her son to eat more vegetables. But one small kitchen garden soon grew into something much bigger.
More than plants
Watching her son care for plants changed everything. “He was connecting with soil, observing how plants grew and beginning to understand that plants, like him, needed care. It was a world of learning that textbooks could never teach,” she says.
Growing a movement
Inspired by that experience, she founded ‘SowGood Foundation’ and created a three-year curriculum. Today, 78,000 children across 28 schools learn through urban farming.
Learning with their hands
Children don’t just read about composting or climate change. They grow food, make compost, and experience sustainability every day. “Experiencing nature is learning at its purest,” she says.
Every corner can grow
From rooftops and corridors to classroom windows and recycled bottles, every unused space can become a healthy learning garden. “There is always a way to find space,” she reminds schools.
Harvesting confidence
Fast-growing crops like microgreens, methi, and spinach keep children engaged. They harvest fresh produce, cook it at home, and proudly share their experiences in class.
Beyond the textbook
Gardens become living classrooms where science, maths and language come alive. Measuring plots, tracking growth, and writing observations make every lesson meaningful.
A sense of ownership
As children water, compost, and care for their plots, they begin making decisions and solving problems together. “When children feel that the farm is theirs, they start taking ownership,” explains Pragati.
A habit for life
For Pragati, the goal is never a one-off gardening activity but a lasting change. She believes schools should start small but stay committed, making farming a permanent part of education.
Source: The Better India
