Planting seeds in coconut shells for a greener Thane

Maharashtra Go Green Foundation and the Thane Citizens Forum (TCF) taught over 60 students from Little Flower High School in Thane to plant seeds in a coconut shell on Friday. The initiative was taken up by the president of the Maharashtra Go Green Foundation and TCF, Thanekar Kasber Augustine. 

Augustine drew inspiration from an image circulated on social media which showed an environment-friendly method of planting seeds in empty coconut shells instead of plastic pots. Soon, he started teaching school children in the vicinity to plant seeds in an environment friendly manner.  

“Three days back, I came across this image and liked it. I felt that by just forwarding the message and not implementing it, we are passing the buck to someone else,” he said. 

Augustine collected a number of empty coconut shells from the hawkers in and around Pokharan road where he resides. He discussed the idea with the Little Flower High School authorities and they agreed to be a part of the initiative.   

“Next day, I reached the school with shells, mud and compost,” said Augustine. 

The school children eagerly participated in the initiative. The empty shells already had holes drilled in them to facilitate the seed planting. The young students were fascinated as they filled mud and planted neem and tulsi seeds in them.  

After the plants grow, they will transfer the saplings to the TMC nursery,  the forest department and all the housing societies which would be interested in adopting the trees, informed Augustine.