Activity: talk by Mr Gambhir on renewable energy and Kokedama
Date: 26 th August 2023
Target participation: Eco club members:18
Active participation: 10 Ecoclub members and 4 teachers.
Reporter: Neetu Khubchandani
Quote: Think clean and Go Green. Go Green to keep the world clean. Say yes to all eco-green, to make the earth beautiful and green!
Objective: Go Green …Gift Green! To teach the students a step towards mindful gifting and also to make them aware of renewable sources of energy.
Activity:1
In the initial half from 8:15 am to 9:45 am the students were briefed by Mr Ashwin Gambhir on renewable energy.
The introduction was done by Mehal Kapadia. He leads the work on renewable energy policy and regulatory research and advocacy. He has played a key role in the development of the solar feeder model for irrigation. He also works on electricity storage and energy modelling.
He briefed the students and explained about Renewable energy and its storage policy. He also explained climate mitigation policy and power sector modelling. It was an interactive session and explained the difference between the energy and power.
Students had a brainstorming session on how to increase the use of renewable energy. Each group presented their ideas for the same.
The vote of thanks was given by Samarth Deshmukh and as a token of appreciation a sapling and a thank you card was given.
Activity: 2
Post the break the students made Kokedama.
The Kokedama is a ball of soil, covered with moss on which an ornamental plant grows. It is also called poor man’s bonsai. It is made of wet soil and cocopeat and formed into a ball.
The plant is set into the ball and afterwards, the moss or coco fibre is wrapped around it. The idea has its origins in Japan, Today, it is very popular in Japanese gardens.
The students were divided into groups of two. Initially, they were shown a video of how to prepare the Kokedama and how they can wrap the jute cord around it.
The students were asked to mix an equal amount of soil and coco peat. The two strings were first tied with the jute cord after planting the sapling with the soil ball.
Then a layer of coco fibre was placed. Then hold the soil ball in one hand and with the other hand wrap the ball. They were guided to wrap in every direction. And lastly, a long tail of the jute cord is used for hanging the Kokedama.
The students were briefed on how to take care of their Kokedama plant. They should be regularly watered and also feel the weight of the Kokedama over time when the ball feels light, it can be submerged in water. The best plants for making are ones that require medium to full shade since direct sunlight will likely burn and ultimately turn the plant into a shade of brown.
The students enthusiastically made their Kokedamas and were happy to see them. They were mesmerized seeing their plants and to give an aesthetic look the students were given a shallow dish to carry their Kokedama.
