Ok, I’ll be honest, the thing that resonated with me about this adventure, (which took place almost a year ago in November 2017), is just how unsuitable it was for Lewis (3) and small kids of his age – He’d more than likely have handled it better now that he’s a year older. For the *most* part, whole thing was just entirely too long and dull for the kidlets – it took me a little while to recount the list of fun and great things that this tour had to offer. But, I got there in the end (thanks Eleanor!) and here we go.
It’s a bit of a trek in the car (over an hour from our society), it can potentially be incredibly hot (welcome to any day ending in ‘Y’ when you’re living in Pune), and I still maintain it’s not great for littler kids, however, the Green Tokri farm (GT), is worth a visit.
“Situated some 33 km away from the city on the foothills of the Sahaydri Mountains is the Green Tokri Farm, one of the foremost farm-to-home delivery companies in the country. The farm, spread across 20 acres, hosts hundreds of vegetables, including avocados, cherry tomatoes, spinach and other vegetables used specifically to make salads.”
Once we congregated, and everyone got settled with our (multiple) cups of strawberry juice, our tour guide, “K” gave us a little intro to GT, told us about its’ roots and what they do, before he invited the kids up to the front of the group to throw together (and taste) a fresh salad with veggies grown on-site. During his ‘schpeel’, I remember the kids were WAY more interested in playing on the tyre swing, or climbing all over the parked and stationary tractor – which meant *I* had to miss parts of the talk, cause it’s hard to keep an energetic three year old keen on a chat about veggies and farm life.
Anyways, from here we went on our tour of the farm, it was educational and informative, but it was also long, hot, and for my three year old, incredibly boring cause he had to stay with the group and not run off and play with his friends. Beware – there’s a mister in the greenhouse, which does get you pretty darn wet and left my friend in a white shirt, in a see-through white shirt, result? Unhappy friend. We also must have come at the wrong time of year, there was no strawberry picking, or veggie tasting on the tour as we went.
Once the tour is over, you can load-up in to the tractor, (or drive) and head on the ten minute ‘road trip’ towards lunch.
Lunch was delicious, we were all starting and likely would have eaten dirt at that point, however – that is not to take away from the fact that lunch was, in fact, delicious – more to just illustrate the fact that we built up a hearty appetite.
Lunch was a vegetarian meal, a good spread of pastas, dips, dressings, salad, fruits and fresh bread (I really shoulda thought about my blog pictures when I heaped a pile of food on my plate! LOL!) When you’re finished eating, you can shop their GT ‘pantry’ shop for jams, sauces, dressings etc before you head around the corner where the kids can finally have some fun. They have a zipline, sand pit and play area – which, when all was said and done? They didn’t wanna leave, and only did so out of sheer exhaustion! LOL!
Anyway, this was a really great way to spend a day in Pune, it’s recommended, though I’d suggest you leave the littles at home, and go when it’s cooler (Monsoon) as that trek could be gruelling in the height of the summer heat here in Pune!
Here’s a brief summary of your tour experience at Green Tokri;
09.30-09.45 Arrive at the farm, park and find your way up to the meeting point. Welcome drink and assembly.
10.00-13.00 Tour of the fields, the greenhouse, nursery, poly house, packaging area, planting of saplings
13.00-13.10 Tractor ride/drive to lunch area
13.15-15.00 Lunch and playing at the kids play area.
The entire package costs Rs. 695/-* per head for adults.This includes a free return gift from GreenTokri (in exchange of your entrance pass). Children between 5 -12 years age pay Rs. 349/-* and Children below the age of 5 are free.
*Note: 18% GST will be charged above the ticket price for both, adults and children
Contact Details
GreenTokri
91-9552507364 / 9763717960
FarmTour@greentokri.com
www.greentokri.com
