A Village, A Season, and the Spark of an Idea
In the quiet village of Sullangudi, nestled in the Thirumanur block of Ariyalur district, Tamil Nadu, the monsoon had just arrived. With it came a conversation — a spark — about how communities can take small, meaningful steps toward environmental sustainability.
During a visit to the village, a local woman named Kavitha listened intently as Goonj team members introduced the idea of seed ball making — a simple but powerful method of forest regeneration. The idea was to plant native seeds in the form of seed balls and disperse them along lake banks and common land, letting nature take its course.
The community saw it not just as planting trees but as planting hope — for soil, for water, and for their future.
When 75 Women Became Stewards of the Land
The proposal struck a chord, especially among the women. Seventy-five women came forward — not just to make seed balls, but to restore the village’s water channel, ensuring that water could flow properly into the lake and sustain the ecosystem.
Their energy was focused and fierce. This wasn’t just about cleaning or planting. It was about reclaiming environmental stewardship in a season where every drop of rain counts.
4,000 Seed Balls, 20 Women, and One Common Dream
Among the larger group, 20 women took up the task of crafting seed balls by hand — each woman rolling around 200 seed balls, resulting in an incredible 4,000 seed balls infused with native seeds.
“We didn’t just plant seeds. We planted shade, fruit, oxygen, and tomorrow,” shared one of the participants.
These seed balls were later dispersed across the banks of the lake and common spaces, where they will sprout during the rainy season and slowly regenerate tree cover.
Community-Led Environmental Stewardship in Action
This initiative was about more than reforestation. It was a climate-resilient, community-owned solution that:
- Encouraged eco-literacy and local ownership
- Repaired a vital water channel for better resource flow
- Mobilised women into leadership roles for climate action
The impact extended beyond Sullangudi, creating ripples of awareness in neighbouring hamlets about low-cost, high-impact ecological restoration techniques.
Seed Balls Dispersed Along Lake Banks
From Soil to Sapling — A Living Legacy
In time, these seed balls will transform into trees. Their roots will stabilize soil, their leaves will cool the land, and their presence will offer fruit, shade, and shelter to humans and wildlife alike.
In a world grappling with climate unpredictability, the women of Sullangudi are growing a forest of resilience, seeded not by institutions but by collective will and community action.
Be a Part of Change
Our invitation to you is, start from where you are.. From a small change of starting a Goonj kee Gullak or Team 5000, joining a long and deep change process, or things in between- organising a collection drive, a volunteering journey, an internship, or simply walking with us signing for a Goonj monthly newsletter subscription.. More on www.goonj.org or write to [email protected].
Many options, but the choice is always one; Taking Action..
