Organic Harvest Festival at CMR Gandhi Public School – Growing Lessons Beyond the Classroom

The morning of October 24th, 2025, was filled with excitement at CMR Gandhi Public School. Rows of vibrant green plants, carefully tended by students for weeks, stood ready for harvest. What began as a small School Gardening initiative had blossomed into something much larger – a celebration of learning, teamwork, and sustainability.

The Organic Vegetables Harvest Festival was not just an event; it was a living lesson in care, patience, and community. Supported by the International Competence Centre of Organic Agriculture (ICCOA), the Indian Farm School, and GIZ, the program aimed to teach students how food is grown, how soil nurtures life, and how human hands can give back to nature.

From Seed to Harvest – Students as Young Gardeners

Weeks before the festival, students had sown tiny seeds in the school garden with a mix of curiosity and excitement. They watered the beds, observed each leaf sprouting, and learned to identify different vegetable plants. For many, it was their first real connection with nature beyond the classroom walls.

A Trail Harvest was held on October 18th, giving students a chance to experience the process firsthand and prepare for the grand event. By the time the main harvest day arrived, the garden was bursting with healthy greens like spinach, beans, radish leaves, and other seasonal vegetables.

The highlight of the day came when the freshly harvested vegetables were donated to Swantana Orphanage, a nearby home for children. It was a powerful moment of empathy. Students saw how their effort and teamwork could directly bring joy and nourishment to others. This simple act turned the harvest into a symbol of compassion, reminding everyone that learning is complete only when it is shared.

The festival was graced by distinguished guests:

• Mr. Vilas Shinde (IRS) – Principal Commissioner of Income Tax
• Mr. Manoj Kumar Menon – Executive Director, ICCOA
• Mr. H. R. Jayaram – Founder, Green Path
• Mr. Kiran Bhaskaran – Organic Farming Consultant & Certification Expert 

Their presence encouraged students to continue exploring sustainable practices and community service.

Learning Beyond Books – Lessons that Last

Gardening became more than an extracurricular activity, it became a classroom in itself. Each student learned valuable lessons that no textbook could fully convey.

They understood responsibility, by nurturing a plant every day.
They practiced teamwork, by sharing tools, ideas, and time.
They developed leadership, by taking initiative and motivating peers.
And most importantly, they learned sustainability, realizing how every choice from conserving water to avoiding chemical fertilizers shapes the future of our planet.

As one of the Best CBSE Schools in Bangalore, CMR Gandhi Public School continues to show that real education extends beyond books. The project also introduced an entrepreneurial mindset, showing students that real growth happens when effort meets purpose. Watching their vegetables grow instilled a sense of pride and ownership. The kind of confidence that builds independent thinkers and doers.

Building a Greener Future – The School’s Vision

At CMR Gandhi Public School, education has always meant more than academics. The School Gardening Program reflects the institution’s vision to make learning experiential and meaningful. By integrating environmental awareness into the curriculum, the school helps students connect theory with real-world practice.

This approach aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), which emphasizes hands-on learning and holistic development. Through activities like gardening, students not only grasp concepts from science and biology but also learn empathy, ethics, and social responsibility.

Every seed planted becomes a lesson in patience. Every sprout becomes a symbol of hope. And every harvest becomes proof that small efforts can lead to big impact, both for the planet and for young minds.

As one of the leading CBSE Schools in Sarjapur Road, the school continues to create opportunities where learning meets life.

Community, Compassion, and Connection

The festival also showcased the strength of community. Teachers guided, parents encouraged, and organizations like ICCOA and GIZ provided expert support. Together, they turned a simple garden into a thriving educational space.

The donation to Swantana Orphanage was a defining moment. A student from Grade 7 shared, “When we saw our vegetables being given to children at the orphanage, we felt happy and proud. It taught us that even small efforts can make someone’s day better.”

Seeds of Change – A Lasting Impact

The Organic Harvest Festival stands as a reminder that education flourishes when rooted in real experiences. It showed how students can learn science, social values, and leadership all at once simply by getting their hands a little muddy.

As the day ended and the garden beds stood freshly cleared, there was a quiet sense of fulfillment across the campus. Each student walked away knowing that what they had nurtured wasn’t just a set of plants, but a mindset that values hard work, sustainability, and kindness.

At CMR Gandhi Public School, every initiative aims to nurture both the mind and the heart. Recognized among the CBSE Schools in HSR Layout, the school continues to lead by example showing that true education grows from the soil to the soul.