“Soil is the foundation of farming. If we do not understand what is in the soil, how can we expect the crop to grow well?” says Swapna Sonkambale, the organic agriculture teacher at the school who leads farming education and trains students in soil health, sustainable practices, and field-based learning.

At Deep Griha Academy in Pune, agriculture is not treated as a secondary subject or a seasonal activity. It is central to how children learn, think and engage with the world. Here, classrooms extend into fields, and textbooks are complemented by lived experience. 

The experience that began as an effort to teach children about soil health has grown into an influential initiative in which students help farmers understand the very ground they depend on.

A humble idea with strong foundations

Swapna, who has been associated with the school since 2014, explains that the idea surfaced from a gap she observed repeatedly.

“We teach agriculture from nursery to Class 8, so soil is a major part of everything we do. But we realised that even farmers are not always aware of what is in their soil,” she says.

This realisation led to the launch of the soil testing project in 2023. Initially, it was confined within the school, where students learnt the basics and practised on their own plots. Over time, as both teachers and students gained confidence, the initiative expanded beyond the campus.

“First, we learnt ourselves, and then we practised with the children. After that, we felt we could help farmers as well,” she adds.

By December 2024, the school conducted its first pilot with farmers. Since then, the project has consistently grown, reaching nearby villages and creating a bridge between education and community.

Learning through the land

At the academy, every child is allowed to work with the soil from an early age. Each class maintains its own patch of land, where students learn everything from preparing the soil to harvesting crops. They grow vegetables like brinjal, spinach, fenugreek, tomatoes and chillies, often selling their produce within the school.

This interactive approach builds both curiosity and responsibility. “We do not directly start with testing. Children first need to understand what soil is and why it matters,” the teacher explains.

By the time students reach Classes 7 and 8, they are introduced to more technical concepts, such as soil nutrients and their functions. They learn how nitrogen supports plant growth, how phosphorus aids root development and what happens when these nutrients are either deficient or excessive.

“We also teach them what to do in each situation. If something is less, how can we improve it using organic methods?” she says. The school places strong emphasis on sustainable practices, encouraging the use of organic manure like cow dung and compost instead of chemical fertilisers.

The science behind the soil

The soil testing process followed by the students is methodical and ingrained in both science........

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