Welcome to Seeds of Knowledge

Seeds of Knowledge, Inc. is a nonprofit that was established in 2015 by Namrita Narula. Seeds of Knowledge instills the seeds of community, compassion, and creativity in Highland Park, Illinois.

Namrita started Seeds of Knowledge to help feed families in her community. She deeply wants every individual to have access to fresh food, not just processed food. To date, Namrita has donated over 2,000 pounds of fresh produce to the Moraine Township Food Pantry and collected over $21,000 in monetary and goods donations for Seeds of Knowledge.

In March of 2015, Namrita partnered with the Highland Park Community Nursery School. She installed an outdoor garden and hydroponic garden towers in each of their classrooms. The children maintain the gardens, eat the vegetables, and learn firsthand where food comes from. On a weekly basis, she visits the school to work with the students on activities related to gardening and nutrition.

To combat food insecurity, she worked with the mayor and city council to bring her “Feed The Meters, Feed Your Neighbors” idea to fruition. She installed three brightly painted, refurbished parking meters that serve as donation stations in Highland Park, and uses the change to purchase produce for the Moraine Township Food Pantry.

Initiatives

Fundraisers

Initiatives

Highland Park Community Nursery School and Day Care Center Garden

In March of 2015, Namrita approached Highland Park Community Nursery School and Day Care Center (“Community”) with an idea to integrate gardening into their curriculum.

Feed The Meters, Feed Your Neighbors

To combat food insecurity, Namrita presented her “Feed The Meters, Feed Your Neighbors” initiative to the city council in September 2015 and received immediate approval.

Moraine Township Food Pantry Garden

During the summers of 2015 and 2016, the Park District loaned Namrita a plot at the Moraine Township Food Pantry community garden.

Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA)

Namrita partnered with Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA), an organization that provides year-round recreational programs and services for individuals with special needs.

Fundraisers

The Empty Bowls Fundraiser

In October 2016, Namrita organized Highland Park’s first Empty Bowls Fundraiser, held at her high school.

Ravinia Farmers Market

To fundraise for indoor hydroponic garden towers, Namrita had a booth at a local farmer’s market, the Ravinia Farmers’ Market, from June to September of 2015.

Love That Spice

Seeds of Knowledge also partnered with Love That Spice to host a Summer Salads’ Cooking Class in the summer of 2015.

School Conference Fundraiser

During the spring of 2015, Namrita held Seeds of Knowledge’s first fundraiser at Indian Trail Elementary School.