Yes, covid19 has certainly curtailed our activities but it has failed to decimate the spirit of our volunteers. We encouraged our volunteers to do individual-level cleanups. Even a small spot was good. And that too only if they were comfortable doing so. Some responded well to the call of a covid-safe cleanup drive. So, we had volunteers doing their bit spread across geographies. Few cleanup up in Hauz Khas, Delhi. Few were in Jaipur so they cleaned up there. And there were a few in Janak Puri, Delhi, who not only cleaned up but also planted native trees after the cleanup. Our volunteers planted 60+ native tree saplings such as pilkhan, jamun and amaltas in a park. As always, we will not forget them after the plantation. In fact, we will visit them regularly for regular watering and maintenance.  You can also do a cleanup in your vicinity on a regular basis. Also, plant and nurture saplings near your homes. More the number of people doing it, more the trees and thus, healthier will...

Covid19 has limited our outdoor activities but not our volunteers' zeal to their bit for the environment in whatever way they can. Another one of our volunteers has set up a small nursery at her home with major occupants being neem and tomato saplings. We are reusing milk packets and collecting seeds from tomatoes and nimolis (neem seeds) from trees. You too can do this at your own place. If a lot of us are able to do it, we will be able to have a great bank of native tree saplings for subsequent years... all with zero waste! How to set up a zero waste nursery? You don't have to buy planters. Just REUSE your milk and other plastic packets - prevent them from ending up in the landfills Collect the seeds of mango, jamun and other fruits/ vegetables at home and sow them in the packets Going for a morning walk? Seek out for neem seeds and peepal saplings and plant them You can also make compost/ fertilizer from your kitchen waste and use them for your saplings; your plants will lov...

Did you know that the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has begun penalizing RWAs that are not giving segregated waste to the waste collectors? If not, it’s ok. Many aren’t aware. But this caught the attention of one of our volunteers whose neighbourhood falls under the SDMC. And we believe it’s a great opportunity to push various resident welfare associations (RWA) even further. We have been pursuing the RWA of block AG 1 in Vikas Puri in west Delhi. Fortunately, the news of SDMC penalizing RWAs acted as a wake up call and things seem to be falling into place. We were requested to conduct a workshop on the same discussing various aspects of waste management, segregation at source, its increased significance in covid times and role of waste collectors. Also, we have been asked to help with the roadmap and execution of the same. In the coming few days we are going to use all our learning from our Sarita Vihar experience to replicate the same model here, which involved educating t...

11 SAPLINGS ADDED TO OUR NEW PLANTATION SITE In our efforts to transform a barren plot of land into micro-forested area , our volunteers added 11 native tree saplings to the already existing saplings. So, now a total of 40+ amaltas, neem, peepal, aam, gutel, kadipatta, gudal, jamun, pilkhan, siras and baheda young ones stand there to grow up as healthy adults. We were joined by a group of ardent kids who helped us with the entire drive starting from planting saplings to fencing them with the help of sticks and finally watering all of them - the earlier ones too! As we always say - we take care of our planted saplings regularly.  Our volunteers will keep visiting the site regularly to keep a tab on the existing saplings and also introduce more of them. Till then, we hope they stay safe and sound within the boundaries of the wall.