Aadi Pattam: When city folks learn farming on weekends

As the Tamil month of Aadi progresses, several organic farms in and around Chennai are organising events to encourage those who have some time on their hands to try farming. 

Around 25 farming enthusiasts, including schoolchildren, had gathered at ReStore organic food store at Kottivakkam on ECR, on Saturday (August 2, 2025) afternoon, where they learnt how to make a soil mix from compost and red earth, and how they must soak seeds for about half an hour before planting them. 

Class 6 students and Mambakkam residents Vinay Vishwanath and Sai Krishna Karthik, who had spent some time mixing the dirt, said they regularly watered tulsi, omavalli, and keerai plants at their homes. Sharan Govindaraj of Villupuram, a Class 7 student, said he had the opportunity to be exposed to a lot of fields at his native place. “We have roses and marudhani at home,” he said. After the training, the children wanted to take some seeds home so they could be planted.

Karthik, a volunteer, taught them that some plants like tomatoes and brinjal grow better if they are first allowed to grow into seedlings in small pots and then transplanted into larger pots. 

At Kazhani Farms at Valmiki Nagar, its founder and urban farmer Gokulnath Natesan said that from Sunday (August 3) morning, family and friends will join to plant seedlings in furrows that are ready. “All farmers have this ritual twice a year, Aadi Pattam, the 18th day of Aadi, and also on Bhogi, which is Thai Pattam. Now, with the start of light rains, the heat of the summer is gone and the microbes that had gone below will come out. The temperature is conducive to plant tender saplings and seeds. It has been this way at home and now, in our farm in the city too,” he said. 

Reconnecting with nature

Agani Organic Farm in West Tambaram and Aram Thinai are coming together this month to conduct a ‘Weekend Vivasayi’ programme, where one can experience farm life and reconnect with nature. “It will happen every Sunday. Since this is Aadi, we are starting it this month. People will be encouraged to do physical work on the farm. It will help city folks have a better understanding of how food comes to their table. We will provide simple food to those who come. Otherwise, we encourage the participants to bring their own food, plates, and water,” said G. Karthik of Aram Thinai. 

Ananthoo, of the Safe Food Alliance, said that many urban farmers follow traditional practices, and sowing during Aadi was one of them. Even in homes, many people wait to sow during Aadi, he added.