The Farm
Hands-On Experience
Vegetable Gardening
“Forest Gardening” - Fruit trees, shrubs, perennial vegetables, & medicinal herbs
Traditional Staple Crop Cultivation - wheat, rye, dry beans, corn, and other staples
Livestock Husbandry - working with dairy goats, pigs, chickens, and ducks
Research - Soil health, insect biodiversity, tree and shrub survival and growth rates
Cooking & Food Preservation
Highlights of the program
Philosophical Connection to Nature
Students get a chance to deeply explore and understand the relationship between humans and the ecosystems they inhabit, providing a strong foundation for future decision-making, careers, and personal lifestyle decisions
Integrated Education
The chance to learn subjects like science, ecology, math, and other traditional subjects in a real-life setting
Leadership Skills
Students have the chance to take a lead on designing, implementing, evaluating, and research farm systems, building their own ability to follow curiosity, take initiative, set new systems in motion, and adjust based on feedback
Real Responsibility
Students take a lead on farm chores and daily work, contributing meaningfully to the operation of the farm
Micro Business
Students get a chance to run their own farm-based micro-economy to fund school trips, hosting farm dinners, creating value added products, and evaluating costs, revenues, and impact
Skill Building
Students learn concrete skills that will follow them throughout their lives—soil science, botany, cooking and food preservation, livestock husbandry—whether or not they pursue careers in ecology and agriculture
Public Speaking & Teaching
Students will get the chance to synthesize and share their learnings from the farm, building valuable public speaking skills. They will also lead younger students in farm tasks during field trips and open houses