A Tomato Tale - learning beyond books
As the calendar flips to May, a wave of excitement rises through the air: – school bells ring for the last time, and the long-awaited summer vacation starts. For children, teenagers, and even adults, summer vacations often filled with travel, games, outdoor fun, visiting ‘Nani ka Ghar’ to create unforgettable memories. But for seven years old Advika this summer vacation is going to bring something different-something tiny, green which is quietly growing on her terrace in a small pot . While many of her friends and cousins were off to picnic, Advika decided to stay with her mom to take care of her tiny tomato plant which is fruiting now.
A seed of curiosity – It all began in the first week of February 2025 when Advika need to perform a seed germination activity for her school project, her mother handed over her some seeds of tomato and an empty ceramic pot. Advika prepared an appropriate soil mix and with a hope in her heart she planted her very first seeds.
Patience takes roots – Every morning Advika got up early to spray water on her plant and to check the progress. After a few days tiny green shoots poked through the soil, she screamed with excitement, calling her family to witness the miracle.As the days passed by Advika learned the responsibility – remembering to water her plant timely even on lazy summer morning, she learned observation – watching how the leaves turned towards the sun and how bees came to collect the nectar from tomato’s yellow flower, she even learned science of pollination and life cycle of a plant, she gently removed weeds and protect her plant from sparrow and pigeons and even gave her plant a name –Tomatina
A Juicy reward – By early May, little green tomatoes began to appear, slowly turning red with each passing day. Advika’s joy had no bounds, when the first ripe tomato was ready Advika carefully plucked it, washed and shared with her family during dinner “it taste better because I grew it, she proudly announced. Advika’s summer vacations wasn’t filled with fancy trip or water park, but it was rich in learning life skills, she learned the value of patience and care, she learned to wait, to nurture and to celebrate the small wonders of life, She did not just grow a plant, she nurtured her curiosity, confidence and patience through a tiny seed.