The land is where our roots are. The children must be taught to feel and live in harmony with the Earth." |
(Umber Heart Photography)
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Our Farm School Program
Welcome! We are a group of parents living in and around Belfair, WA. Most of us homeschool, or are intending to.
We meet at the historic Davis Farm, which is one of the oldest surviving homesteads in our area, and have the privilege of both learning from and helping to maintain a place which is special to our community. All of our activities are farm and/or nature based.
Believing strongly in the spirit of Gandhi’s “be the change you wish to see,” we have created this co-op around our shared ideals of sustainability, peaceful parenting, and respect for nature.
Our primary goal is community and connection for our children and ourselves. We honor traditions in working with nature that our ancestors adapted to the Puget Sound in the 1800s-1900s. We work for sustainable living, access to local food, and authentic empowerment through natural education.
We meet at the historic Davis Farm, which is one of the oldest surviving homesteads in our area, and have the privilege of both learning from and helping to maintain a place which is special to our community. All of our activities are farm and/or nature based.
Believing strongly in the spirit of Gandhi’s “be the change you wish to see,” we have created this co-op around our shared ideals of sustainability, peaceful parenting, and respect for nature.
Our primary goal is community and connection for our children and ourselves. We honor traditions in working with nature that our ancestors adapted to the Puget Sound in the 1800s-1900s. We work for sustainable living, access to local food, and authentic empowerment through natural education.
Gathered Around Shared Intent
We strive to raise a generation of emotionally balanced and globally minded humans who are capable of living consciously and with integrity both in nature and in society. Individuals who will honor themselves, each other, and the animals, plants, and ecosystems we share this planet with, and who are equipped with the tools and creativity to create a future in which we all may equally thrive.
With this as our aim, we pull from the inspirations of many educational thinkers, including Rudolph Steiner (Waldorf), Dr. Maria Montessori, Charlotte Mason, John Holt (who coined the phrase “unschooling”), parenting pioneers such as Naomi Aldort, Janet Lansbury, and Shefali Tsabary, and human development thinker Jean Liedloff.
In approaching each child as an autonomous person with needs for doing/thinking/feeling, we attempt to create opportunities for these needs to be filled by exploring together with our Hearts/Heads/Hands.
With this as our aim, we pull from the inspirations of many educational thinkers, including Rudolph Steiner (Waldorf), Dr. Maria Montessori, Charlotte Mason, John Holt (who coined the phrase “unschooling”), parenting pioneers such as Naomi Aldort, Janet Lansbury, and Shefali Tsabary, and human development thinker Jean Liedloff.
In approaching each child as an autonomous person with needs for doing/thinking/feeling, we attempt to create opportunities for these needs to be filled by exploring together with our Hearts/Heads/Hands.
Children are the great interpreters of nature.
The concept of teaching Land Literacy invites modern folks to timeless practices of survival through cultivating a profound connection with place. Dr. Maria Montessori knew that “the land is where our roots are. The children must be taught to feel and live in harmony with the Earth,” and that infinite potential for learning lies in interaction with nature. Joyful Plant purchases benefit our Farm School Program to encourage healthy stewardship among humans of all ages.
FAQs
- How does a family join? We invite interested families to fill out the application below. Quarterly, we evaluate the composition of the group and consider welcoming new families when there is space.
- How much are parents required to participate? Farm School is for the whole family. Farm School is centered around the idea of whole-group participation. Rather than enforcing child participation, we ask that parents simply participate and offer opportunities for their children to participate in purposeful activities. This collective interaction with nature fosters constructive relationships and inherent education through stewardship experience.
- What can I help with? Parents collaborate quarterly to plan seasonal activities that can complement a family's educational curriculum. We organize, communicate, and support our children's whole-child development. We lead by example as stewards and mindful community members.
- May I drop off my children? The adults are the models of experience, and must be present to be responsible for the family.
- What do we do about lunch? Everybody brings snack and lunch for their family.
- What is the age range of the group? All ages. We notice that a mixed age group leads to beautiful and valuable interactions among all age levels. Older ones help younger ones, younger ones learn from older ones, and all are enriched by these community bonds.
- What is there for tiny ones to do? All ages are easily accomodated. Parents are welcome to wear their littles, and all parents with only older children (and older children themselves too!) are asked and welcome to help those parents with tiny ones to tend. We are all enriched by the care we give the smallest among us. Those parents with babies and tots offer an opportunity for the older children to practice the necessary life skills of empathy, kindness, and care of new humans.
- Who can lead an activity? Prior to each season, we have a planning meeting. At that time, any individual or family can volunteer to lead an activity. We come up with and decide on the content of the activities as a group. All activities are farm- and/or nature-based.
- Is this group religious? No - this is a secular group. We respect the individuality of spirituality. We only ask that if you have a firm set of beliefs, you consider setting dogma aside for the sake of critical analyses. All subjects are generally approached from the standpoint of the latest scientific information available. Debate is welcome. If you are not open or comfortable with yourself or your child freely engaging in debate, this may not be the right fit.
- What is the cost for participation? We intend to keep this group free from monetary exchange. Any supplies needed will be requested of the group.
