My school years were in the country's capital and while our family summer breaks were extended trips to the Himalayas I grew up largely as a city boy - i.e. with little to no exposure to how land-based societies and cultures live and thrive. That said, I think I was always fascinated by nature, and especially the process of how plants grew from a tiny seed - I remember several "experiments" - in the initial years with a lot of help from my mom - where I would soak up seeds on wet cotton wool and be fascinated by how the root and then the shoot would emerge from it. I still marvel at that. In fact, only very recently did I learn that the first two leaves of any seedling (the cotyledon leaves) are actually present *within* the seed! If that's not cool I don't know what is! My growing 'experiments' continued and with each passing year, the terrace patches got bigger and bolder - growing various gourds and squashes, etc. I even tried my hand at creating bonsai fruit trees and might I say to some degree of success as well.

I am a software engineer by training and have worked over 3 decades in the IT field - in various software engineering and leadership roles in the US and in India. And yet, all along my wife and I while raising our two beautiful girls have yearned for at least a "pumpkin patch" of our own to conduct our experiments in growing food for ourselves.

With the kids being young adults now and beginning to settle down into their respective lives, we are able to give more attention to our agenda of sustainable (and pesticide-free) food production and a healthier lifestyle.Our personal projects at Jonaki and Sesbania resp, have given us that perfect avenue to express that desire!