At this peaceful Organic farm and School in the Doon valley in the north of India, World Climate day is full of children’s voices. Two school classes of boys and girls in the age 15-18, have come from Vidya and Child School of Noida, U.P. led by Ms. Supriya Akhaury and her dedicated staff on a three day visit, to learn about the importance of seeds, soil, water and work – organic farming that does not deplete our environment and climate, but sustains our lives. Today composting and climate change is on the program. A group of children from a local school, where they create a ’garden of hope´ also joins us this afternoon.

At Bija Vidyapeeth we are a diverse body of people gathered, who work together.  Volunteers from around the world have taken temporary residence here to learn from participating in life and duties at the farm, studies in the library and from co-operating in Navdanya programs of education and documentation of environmental challenges and of the successes of multi-diversity in small-scale organic farming – principles evolved at Bija Vidyapeeth and now spreading through the Navdanya network of farmers throughout India.

The Bija Vidyapeeth, training center of Navdanya founded by Dr. Vandana Shiva, includes the seedkeeper expert Bija, experienced farm-workers, two chefs who upholds our lives by supplying delicious vegetarian organic meals and other distinguished caretakers of programmes and responsibilities at the farm and in Navdanya.

In our seed bank we have more than 1200 different sorts of seeds, for rice alone we grow and store close to 600 different varieties to secure diversity in farming. Contrary to emissions of carbon dioxide – the more the better.

At this farm and school everyday is a climate day. The practices evolving here are life-sustaining for people and for the planet. We have assembled by the drying oats grain to greet you all in the celebration of World Climate Day. Namaste.