Home Nursery / Plant Store / Botanical Lab

3 Things; 1) Home garden, 2) Nursery, 3) Biolab

gotroot is our home garden turned nursery.

More than just a garden and a home for plants we’re trying to create a ecosystem which supports the local biodiversity. Here we experiment with various growing techniques, build garden and landscaping artifacts etc. Archival of seeds, insects etc. library. Along with being what it is, we want to keep track of local bio and ecological movements and promote and contribute in useful ways.

→ Philosophy

Living Demonstration Philosophy

Build a garden before nursery - Create a thriving ecosystem first, then invite others to learn from and purchase what actually works in Guwahati’s climate.

Benefits:

Credibility through practice: Customers see plants thriving, not just for sale

Real-world testing: Learn what works before recommending to others

Living laboratory: Every plant becomes a research subject and teaching tool

Authentic expertise: Knowledge comes from hands-on experience, not just theory

Urban Context

Guwahati’s(or not properly planned cities for that matter) rapid urban expansion has fundamentally altered the relationship between residents and their natural environment:

Green Space Loss:

Traditional water bodies (ponds, wetlands) converted to concrete structures

Native forest areas replaced by buildings and roads

Reduction in accessible green spaces within walking distance of homes

Loss of seasonal flooding patterns that supported traditional agriculture

Generational Knowledge Gaps:

Children growing up without understanding local flora, fauna, and seasonal cycles

Reduced opportunities for spontaneous outdoor play and nature contact

Loss of traditional ecological knowledge as elders pass away without knowledge transfer

Disconnection from monsoon patterns, soil types, and natural water harvesting methods

Community Ecosystem Breakdown:

Shift from community-based resource sharing to individual consumption

Loss of traditional seed exchange and plant knowledge networks

Reduced understanding of local medicinal plants and food sources

Weakening of seasonal festivals and practices tied to natural cycles

Biophilia & Embodied Knowledge

The nursery operates on the understanding that humans have an innate connection to living systems - what biologist E.O. Wilson termed “biophilia.” Our hands-on approach to gardening and plant care serves as a pathway to reconnect with this fundamental part of our nature.

Our approach addresses the urban disconnections described above by creating accessible pathways for residents to rebuild relationships with living systems through direct, hands-on engagement with plants and traditional knowledge.

Embodied Learning Through Plant Interaction:

Direct sensory engagement: Touch, smell, and observation create deeper plant knowledge than reading alone

Seasonal rhythms: Working with plants reconnects us to natural cycles often lost in urban environments

Problem-solving through practice: Learning plant care builds confidence and intuitive understanding

Stress reduction and mental health: Regular plant interaction has documented therapeutic benefits

Intergenerational knowledge transfer: Working alongside elders preserves wisdom while building community bonds