In the remote village of Palsunde, nestled in the Western Ghats, science came alive through soil, petals, maps, and code. Students extracted DNA from tomatoes, measured soil conductivity with BBC micro:bit, mapped their terrain using GIS, and explored pH with hibiscus flowers—each activity grounded in open-source tools and everyday materials. But this wasn’t just about experiments; it was about trust, dialogue, and creating space for learning that speaks to local realities. Teachers reflected, students questioned, and even villagers joined in—reminding us that real education doesn’t arrive fully formed. It’s built together, from the ground up. This first chapter of our Palsunde series captures how hands-on learning is taking root, one experiment at a time.