The Communication Design Semester 4 batch of 2024-25 at the Institute of Design, Nirma University, took part in a session with the Treewalk Community on December 20, 2024. Treewalks is a knowledge-sharing and training charity community started by Mr. Lokendra Balasaria and his partner, Rini Balasaria. They started Treewalks in 2013 and are currently working on 18 different environmental issues in urban areas. They have encouraged more than 650 families to grow food, compost, and avoid the use of pesticides, etc. In this session, they covered a wide range of topics, including reconnecting with nature, community knowledge sharing, waste management, understanding toxins, and more.
Mr. Balasaria discussed the environmental challenges we currently face, particularly the increasing carbon footprint. He explained that it takes approximately 300 fully grown trees to offset the carbon footprint created by a single large car. He also emphasized the growing need for effective waste management practices to reduce pollution and conserve resources, stressing that every individual can make a difference by managing waste responsibly. Additionally, he highlighted the dangers of toxins, especially the long-term impact of pesticides, and how bioenzymes can help reduce these effects for future generations.
In the session, Mr. and Mrs. Balasaria also shared some of their memorable experiences with clients and people they’ve met during their tree walks. They spoke about how they used to communicate with animals, particularly monkeys, who would often destroy the vegetation in their garden. By speaking to the monkeys, they discovered that it helped reduce the damage, emphasizing the idea that nature—plants and animals—responds when we engage with it. They encouraged us to connect with nature, suggesting that plants and animals actually “talk back” when we take the time to communicate with them.
They also discussed the crucial importance of water management and rainwater harvesting, stressing how these practices are vital for conserving water resources and sustaining the environment. Furthermore, they spoke about the role of meditation in fostering a deeper connection with nature. In addition, Mr. Balasaria shared valuable insights into Ayurveda, explaining how plants and Ayurvedic medicine can heal without causing side effects. The session concluded with a discussion where the class shared some of the home remedies they personally use to treat common illnesses.
Following the talk, a treewalk was held around the Institute of Design on the 21st of December. The walk was attended by faculty and the students of Semester 4 Communication Design. The walk began with the distribution of seasonally growing plant seeds and a briefing on the need to reconnect with nature. The walk began with Mr. Balasaria pointing out trees from the surroundings and giving vital information about them. He explained how most of the species of trees on the campus are not native to the region but have been brought in from a landscaping perspective. He spoke extensively about the need to plant trees and plants that flower to attract bees. He explained how bees contribute to the ecosystem and how depletion in their numbers will lead to severe repercussions in the future. Mr. Balasaria provided the students with waterproof tags that can be used to label the trees. These were used by the students to label all prominent trees for future reference. He emphasized the need to know what is being planted, why it should be planted, and why it shouldn’t be planted based on the requirements and qualities of the tree rather than for decorative purposes.
After identifying and learning about the trees, Mr. Lokendra guided the group toward meditating and talking to the trees. Since World Meditation Day is observed on December 21st, he led the group in meditating and seeking blessings from God before talking to the trees. He believes it is very important to seek blessings before entering a higher state of being, such as in meditation. After a few moments of meditative silence, he encouraged the group to go to a tree that called to them. He asked the participants to try and communicate with the trees. Different members experienced different things—some felt the tree talking back to them, some felt vibrations as if they were being pulled closer to the tree, and some felt an increased presence of birds surrounding them. Overall, everyone felt a sense of calm and security from and towards their tree. The treewalk was a holistic learning experience for the students and faculty alike. Everyone got an opportunity to understand and connect with nature on a deeper level.
Krishna Ajayakumar & Kriya Saxena
(Semester IV – Communication Design, Batch 2023)