Farm Educator's Roadmap®

Farm Discovery at Live Earth Farm with Jessica Ridgeway What happens when a love of food, community, and sustainability grows into an 18-year farm education nonprofit? In this episode, I sit down with Jessica Ridgeway, Executive Director and founding leader of Farm Discovery at Live Earth Farm in California. From her graduate research in participatory action research to raising children in the fields and building a thriving education nonprofit, Jessica shares how food has been the steady thread connecting it all. You’ll hear how Farm Discovery grew organically from community need — and how it continues to evolve today. 🌱 You’ll hear: 🌎 How Jessica’s travels and anthropology background shaped her understanding of why food connects us all 🤝 What participatory action research really means — and how it shaped the founding of Farm Discovery 🚜 How she serendipitously landed at Live Earth Farm and helped build the education program from the ground up 📚 How 800 students came to the farm in the very first year 🏕 What farm school overnights look like — from harvesting eggs to cooking three meals a day 🧺 The Montessori micro-economy program where students run their own farm stand 🥖 Why adult workshops like sourdough, candle-making, and mushroom foraging are now expanding 💛 The social-emotional impact of kids thriving outdoors — especially those who struggle in traditional classrooms 🥕 How Farm Discovery pivoted during COVID to divert 75,000 pounds of produce into the community 🌿 Jessica’s advice for aspiring farm educators: know your land, know your climate, and know your community before you begin Learn more about Farm Discovery at Live Earth Farm: 👉 https://farmdiscovery.org/ 📸 Instagram: @farmdiscovery 🌾 Farm Educator’s Roadmap Links: 🌐 Website: https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com 📖 Free Guide: https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farmeducatorsroadmap 👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farmeducatorsroadmap👥 Private Facebook Group: Join us!

Episode 29 – Stewarding a Farm for Generations: Education, Food, and Community at Snipes Farm What does it look like to steward a place — not just for today’s programs, but for generations to come? In this episode, Christa sits down with Melanie Douty-Snipes, Director of Education and Camp Director at Snipes Farm & Education Center, a multi-generational family farm turned nonprofit education center in Morrisville, Pennsylvania. With more than 30 years as an experiential educator, Melanie shares how land, legacy, and community have shaped Snipes Farm’s approach to farm education, hunger relief, and programs that grow with children over time. You’ll hear: 🌱 How Quaker values like presence, simplicity, and stewardship shape hands-on farm education 🌳 The role of place and legacy in teaching — including a 150-year-old oak tree that anchors camp life 👩‍🌾 How Snipes Farm balances education, farming, and fundraising as a “three-legged stool” 🥕 What seed-to-fork learning looks like on a working farm growing food for hunger relief 🔥 Why programs wax and wane — and how economic realities shape sustainable program decisions 👧 How farm camp has evolved into a multi-age community from young campers to teen leaders 🧠 Why leaving space for connection, reflection, and nature matters just as much as activities 💚 The power of gratitude, real responsibility, and embodied learning for children on the farm Learn more: 🌐 https://www.snipesfarm.org 📬 Sign up for their newsletter, explore volunteering opportunities, or learn about camp and field trips directly on their site. 🌾 Farm Educator’s Roadmap Links 🎧 Podcast & resources: https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com📘 Free guide: https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farmeducatorsroadmap📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farmeducatorsroadmap👩‍🌾 Private FB Group for Farm Educators: www.facebook.com/groups/farmeducatorsroadmap

Episode 28: Starting Where You Are: Lessons from 7 Months of Farm Educator Interviews This episode of the Farm Educator’s Roadmap is a little different—there’s no interview this week. Instead, host Christa Hein reflects on where she is right now in her own farm education work and what has emerged after seven months of weekly conversations with farm educators across the country. Prompted by thoughtful questions from a past guest, this solo episode explores what it really looks like to start where you are—through common themes, unexpected surprises, and lessons that have shaped Christa’s thinking, priorities, and practices as a long-time farm educator and business owner. You’ll hear: 🌱 Why this solo episode came together during a season of transition 🔄 A behind-the-scenes story about staffing, leadership, and learning when to shift 🧠 A recurring theme across nearly every interview: farm education is about far more than information 🌾 How many educators began with what they had—small spaces, one idea, and imperfect timing 💛 Examples of farms supporting connection, healing, and belonging🐐 How real farm work—like daily animal care —builds responsibility and confidence 🤝 The wide range of partnerships that make farm education possible, from schools and health departments to restaurants and community organizations 🎶 A surprising diversity of backgrounds—and how those experiences shaped meaningful farm education programs 🌆 Proof that impactful farm education can happen anywhere: small farms, urban lots, raised beds, and even rooftops This episode is a reminder that farm education doesn’t require perfect land, perfect timing, or a perfect plan. Again and again, these interviews show the power of beginning with what’s already there—and letting the work grow from that place. Learn more 🌾 Bring the Farm to You: https://www.bringthefarmtoyou.com📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bringthefarmtoyou📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bringthefarmtoyouFarm Educator’s Roadmap Links 🌻 Website: https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com 🎁 Free guide: https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farmeducatorsroadmap 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farmeducatorsroadmap👩‍🌾 Private FB Group for farm educators: www.facebook.com/groups/farmeducatorsroadmap

Farm to Table Kids: Betting on Yourself, Following Nature, and Rebuilding Again Stephanie McDonough’s journey is a powerful reminder that farm education isn’t tied to one piece of land — it’s rooted in purpose, persistence, and heart. From childhood days in her grandfather’s flower garden to building thriving farm camps and school partnerships, Steph’s path has been anything but linear. In this episode, Steph shares the deeply personal story behind Farm to Table Kids — including land loss, reinvention, and why she believes nature always shows us the next step, if we’re willing to listen. You’ll hear: 🌸 How gardening with her grandfather shaped her lifelong connection to nature 🏀 Why she left a successful business career (including the NBA) to follow a deeper calling 🌱 How a simple moms’ garden class in her backyard unexpectedly turned into a movement 🍅 What restaurant gardens taught her about community, scale, and teaching kids through food 😥 How her son's stage 4 cancer diagnosis changed everything - and why staying close to her kids shaped her next business decisions💔 The heartbreaking moment she lost her farm lease — and how she found the courage to start again 🌻 How she rebuilt Farm to Table Kids at new locations, including a Waldorf school campus and a partner farm 🏕️ The behind-the-scenes story of launching a summer farm camp during one of the hardest seasons of her life 🏫 How schools and organizations found her through social media — and what makes partnerships thrive 📋 Why she shifted from nonprofit to LLC, and how that decision helped her stay nimble 🌿 Her honest advice for educators navigating burnout, uncertainty, or major life transitions This conversation is full of grit, grace, and reassurance that starting where you are — even in a backyard — can lead to something lasting. Learn more about Steph & Farm to Table Kids 🌐 https://www.farmtotablekids.org 📸 Instagram: Farm to Table Kids 🌼 Personal account: Farmer Steph The Farm Educator’s Roadmap 🎧 Podcast + resources: https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com 📘 Free guide: https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps 📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap 📘 Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap 🤝 Private Facebook Group: The Farm Educator’s Roadmap Community

Letting the Land Lead: Growing a Farm Education Business One Step at a Time at Heritage Creek FarmCindi Hughes is the founder of Heritage Creek Farm & Education Center, and in this episode, she shares the very real, very grounded story of how she built her farm education programs over the past 14 years — without growing up on a farm, without a formal education background, and without chasing constant expansion. From a childhood garden and food preservation to a career in accounting, Cindi’s path shows how life experience, patience, and thoughtful systems can come together to create a deeply authentic, sustainable farm education business. This conversation is full of insight for anyone wondering how to actually start, how to pace growth, and how to stay aligned with your values along the way. You’ll hear: 🌱 🌻 How a childhood garden and preserving food shaped Cindi’s passion for farm education 🍽️ Why accounting and restaurant work turned out to be powerful preparation for entrepreneurship 🏕️ What Heritage Creek looked like in the very beginning — just a few weeks of camp and lots of volunteers 🌾 How Cindi let the farm itself (not themes or lesson plans) become the driver of her programming 🤝 Why word-of-mouth and community connections have been her primary form of marketing 💰 How education became the farm’s “cash crop,” even when food production is part of the picture 🔄 What “Full Circle Learning” looks like on the ground — blending agriculture, history, art, and practical life skills 🧮 A powerful example of integrating math, farming, and business through a school Mobile Market program 🌳 Why unstructured free play is intentionally built into the daily rhythm of camp 📋 How advanced preparation (not expensive software) keeps the business side sustainable 🥕 How the CSA evolved into a farm-to-table experience directly connected to camp families 🌱 Encouragement for new farm educators to ask for help and lean into community Learn more about Heritage Creek Farm & Education Center 🌐 Website: https://www.heritagecreekfarmcamp.com 📘 Facebook: Heritage Creek Farm Camp Farm Educator’s Roadmap 🌱 Website: https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com 🎁 Free Guide: 👉 https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps 📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap 📘 Facebook Page: @farmeducatorsroadmap 👩‍🌾 Private FB community for farm educators: Join us! If this episode resonated with you, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with another farm educator who might need this encouragement. 

Bloomsbury Farm School didn’t start as a grand plan — it started as one farmer, one child, one teacher, and a whole lot of listening to what the land and community were asking for. In this episode, I’m joined by founder and farm owner Lauren Palmer and Director Shannon Wilhelm for an honest conversation about how Bloomsbury grew from a small outdoor experiment into a full farm-based homeschool program — and what it really takes to keep something like this sustainable. 🌱 You’ll hear: 🌾 How Bloomsbury Farm School grew from one family learning inside Lauren's home into a multi-program farm school serving over a hundred children weekly 🌿 Why the combination of nature-based learning and academics filled a real gap for families looking beyond traditional schooling🐦 What "emergent, child-led learning" looks like in practice - including how teachers pivot lessons based on things like bird migration, seasonal changes, and student curiosity👩‍🏫 Why hiring and retaining educators who can teach outside, in all weather, with flexibility and heart is one of their biggest ongoing challenges🚜 The behind-the-scenes realities of running a school on a working farm, from delivery trucks and tractors to icy driveways and shared spaces 💛 The surprise blessings - from deep family trust to watching children grow up connected to land, food, community. If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to build a farm school — beyond the dreamy photos — this conversation pulls back the curtain in the best way. 🔗 Learn more Bloomsbury Farm School & Bloomsbury Farms Website: https://www.bloomsburyfarms.comInstagram: @bloomsburyfarmschool 🌾 Farm Educator’s RoadmapWebsite: https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com Free Guide: https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmapFacebook: @farmeducatorsroadmapPrivate Facebook Group: Join us!

Project Grows sits on just five acres in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, but the impact reaches far beyond the fence line. What started as nine human service agencies responding to childhood obesity and food insecurity has become a full ecosystem of farm education, youth jobs, cooking classes, and a mobile market that brings fresh food directly into neighborhoods. In this episode, I talk with Education Manager Laura Haney about how Project Grows balances production and education, why they’ve shifted from “just for kids” to “for the whole community,” and how they’re constantly adapting their programs as community needs change. You’ll hear: 🌱 The origin story of Project Grows and how nine agencies turned data on childhood obesity and food insecurity into a working education farm. 🥦 Why they farm differently now—moving from “maximum production” to a mix of diverse, curiosity-sparking crops that are great for both markets and teaching. 🧒 How the Youth Leaders in Agriculture program works as a first paid job for high schoolers, mixing farm work, public speaking, mentorship, and mock interviews. 🚜 What a Youth Leader’s week actually looks like, from greenhouse starts and weeding to leading volunteer groups and visiting partner farms on “X days.” 🏕️ The heart behind their summer camps, and why Laura’s biggest goal is to send kids home a little braver about trying new foods and a lot more curious about farming. 🧑‍🍳 How they use cooking as education, letting kids harvest, chop, and cook simple recipes so they leave with real skills (and not just a one-time tasting). 🏫 Project Grows’ farm to school work, including field trips, Harvest of the Month tastings, and tailored lessons that match what teachers are doing in class. 🥕 The three-part structure of a Project Grows field trip: a focused lesson, a hands-on tasting or recipe, and a real farm task like adding scraps to the compost. 🚌 A peek inside the mobile market, which Laura describes as like an ice cream truck… but for fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, cheese, tofu, and more. 💸 How their fair-pricing model works, with a sliding scale so people choose what they can pay, plus SNAP matching and “Kids Bucks” that give children buying power. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Why they shifted from “kids only” to serving all ages, and how supporting parents and caregivers is key to making kids’ excitement about veggies stick. 🔄 Examples of how they stay flexible, from restarting cooking classes to teaming up with local farmers for extra food boxes when SNAP benefits were cut. 🌾 Laura’s encouragement to other farm educators about partnerships, youth employment programs, and letting your offerings evolve with your community’s needs. Learn more: 🌐 Project Grows: www.projectgrows.org👍 Facebook: @projectgrows📸 Instagram: @projectgrows Stay connected with the Farm Educator’s Roadmap: 🌐 Website: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com 📥 Free guide – 5 Simple Steps to Growing an In-Demand Farm Education Program: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps 📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap 👍 Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap 👩‍🌾 Private Facebook Community for farm educators: Join us!

Anne Kuehne started out teaching kindergarten and first grade—then saw, up close, how access to fresh food was out of reach for many kids. What began with collecting extra produce from neighbors and showing up (even once with only 15 snap peas and a tub of hummus!) grew into Sproutin’ Up: a youth-powered, community-rooted nonprofit in Fort Collins, CO. Today, Sproutin’ Up farms a little over an acre near the neighborhoods they serve, runs paid youth programs for ages 9–18, donates food through CSA shares, and turns coffee grounds into compost (and soap!)—all while teaching real job skills and community care. You’ll hear: 🫐 The “blueberries moment” that sparked Anne’s mission to remove barriers to healthy food 🧑‍🌾 Porch drop-offs → pop-up produce tables → an acre of vegetables, fruit, herbs, and flowers 🐐 Meet Biff & Twig (the very lovable, not-so-hard-working goats) and the chickens & ducks for eggs 🧑‍🍳 Apprentices (9–11) earning stipends, learning nutrition, and cooking in the outdoor kitchen 💐 Budding Philanthropists biking bouquets to a local health center with Bike Fort Collins & Safe Routes 💼 Interns (14–16) building resumes, running the CSA, counseling at summer camp, and making soap ⚡ Oldest youth (18) paid hourly—charging e-bikes by solar, collecting Mugs coffee grounds, and composting 🥕 The CSA model (one sold = one donated) and why they’re shifting toward free shares only next season 💸 Funding mix: grants (about half the budget), donations, fundraisers, CSA, and summer camps 🌦️ Real-world lessons: when beans fail five times, deer eat “at the rate of harvest,” and resilience wins 🤝 How mentors, a starter board of friends, and “you never know who’s in the room” connections changed everything 🔁 Anne’s next-chapter vision: alumni returning to lead the programs and a full-circle youth pipeline Learn more: Website: sproutinup.com (no “g” in Sproutin’)Facebook: @sproutinupInstagram: @sproutin_up Farm Educator’s Roadmap Links Website: farmeducatorsroadmap.com Free guide: farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmapPrivate FB Group: Farm Educator’s Roadmap Community

Fernbrook Farms is a living mosaic: education center, CSA, wholesale nursery, and a historic inn—braided together by one family’s multi-generation love of land and learning. In this conversation, Brian Kuser shares how Fernbrook’s “one farm, many doors” model works day-to-day—and why diversity (in programs and people) is their superpower. From Saplings preschool naps outside to market-style CSA pickups in the farm shop, you’ll hear how logistics, staffing, and smart choices turn a complex operation into an inviting community hub. You’ll hear: 🌱 How Fernbrook grew from a family legacy into a multi-enterprise farm that still feels like home 🐣 Inside the Saplings outdoor preschool (capacity, staffing, and those all-weather days) 🚌 Homeschool & school programs: semester structure, age ranges 3–17, and why continuity matters 🌞 Summer camp at scale: 160+ campers a week, nine weeks, and the magic that keeps waitlists long 🥕 CSA logistics: market-style pickups, farm-shop flow, and why they ended off-farm deliveries 🌳 The wholesale nursery: propagation, shared resources, and seasonal fundraising crossovers 🏡 The Inn & events: farm-to-table dinners, weddings, and blending guest hospitality with mission 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Staffing reality: education team of 12 year-round; seasonal surges across nursery, CSA, and Inn 💸 Pricing & capacity: what they watch, what they tweak, and how they avoid over-stretching 💡 Advice for beginners: join the Farm-Based Education Network and hire educators to teach Learn more: Fernbrook Farms — fernbrookfarms.comFacebook: @fernbook.farms Farm Educator’s Roadmap links: • Website: farmeducatorsroadmap.com • Free guide: Five Simple Steps• Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap • Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap• Private FB Group: Farm Educator’s Roadmap Community

Southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley Farm to School is proof that you don’t need your own farm to make a huge impact on kids, cafeterias, and local growers. Instead, they weave together partnerships with schools, teaching farms, and food service staff to bring real food and hands-on learning right where kids already are. In this episode, I’m joined by Education Program Manager Ellie Thompson and Lead School Partnership Educator Elise Pfrommer, who share how they build relationships across districts, support teachers, and help move local food into school meals—while keeping education and community at the center. You’ll hear: 🌱 How Ellie and Elise each found their way into farm-to-school work—from chicken farm childhoods to bilingual environmental education 🏫 What Rogue Valley Farm to School’s model looks like without a home farm, and how they balance working across multiple farms and school sites 🥕 A peek inside their Digging Deeper partnerships: weekly garden classes, tasting tables, and farm field trips for school districts 🍽️ The behind-the-scenes logistics of connecting local farmers with school cafeterias—and how they help kitchens actually use fresh, local produce 📚 Ways they support busy classroom teachers with ready-to-go curriculum that ties into standards and testing requirements 🤝 How relationships, not perfection, are at the heart of their work with schools, farmers, and families 🌍 Their equity-minded shift toward delivering farm programs through in-school cooking lessons and family programs 💡 Practical first steps for educators and farmers who want to start farm to school programming—especially if you don’t have a farm of your own Learn more: Rogue Valley Farm to School links: 🖥️ Website: https://www.rvfarm2school.org 👍 Facebook: @rvfarm2school📸 Instagram: @rvfarm2school Farm Educator’s Roadmap links: 🖥️ Website – https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com 📥 Free guide: 5 Simple Steps to Growing an In-Demand Farm Education Program 📸 Instagram – @farmeducatorsroadmap 👍 Facebook – @farmeducatorsroadmap 👩‍🌾 Private Facebook Group for Farm Educators – Join here

Fiddlehead Care Farm is a therapeutic farm in Ontario where counseling meets animals, gardens, and woodland trails. Founder and director Stephanie Deaken shares how growing up with a sister with Down syndrome, a “dream job” in a children’s hospital, and a move to a dairy farm all converged into a place where kids and families can breathe easier. In this conversation, we explore why Stephanie is a therapist first and a farmer second—and how a therapy pig named Luna, garden beds, and a 20-pound beet can unlock social skills, confidence, and real relief. You’ll hear: 🐖 How animal-assisted and nature-based therapy work at a real farm  🌳 What 50 acres of forest, barns, and raised beds look like as a clinical setting 🪴 Why Fiddlehead doesn’t require a diagnosis—and how that widens access 👥 Group magic: teamwork, social skills, and the “giant beet” breakthrough 📈 Impact at scale: 750+ kids served last year with a tiny part-time team 🛠️ Running a care farm: safety, staffing, funding, and starting a greenhouse 💼 Future vision: employing neurodiverse youth to grow and sell produce 🗺️ Getting started: the skills, credentials, and networks new care-farmers need Learn more: Fiddlehead Care Farm — fiddleheadcarefarm.com Facebook: @GrowWithFCFInstagram: @growwithfcf Farm Educator’s Roadmap links: Website: farmeducatorsroadmap.com Free guide: farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap Private FB Group: Farm Educator’s Roadmap Community (come join us!)

Sunflower Farm in Longmont, Colorado blends licensed early childhood education with real farm life—over 100 animals, gardens, and wide-open play—plus beloved community events like Farm Fests and music evenings. Executive Director Liz Napp shares how a parent’s love for the place turned into leadership, how they navigated licensing (hello, field-trip waivers!), and why “stillness” is central to their farm-school philosophy. You’ll hear: 🐑 The origin story: from homestead to Educational Demonstration Farm (2018) 🧒 How a licensed, nature-based preschool runs…on a working farm 🧭 Self-directed learning in the school-age program (and helping kids rediscover “I’m not bored—there’s so much to do!”) 🧮 Real-world math & science outside: counting goats, subtracting sheep, learning by doing 🛠️ The clever licensing path: field-trip waivers, variances (e.g., chicken coop rules under age 5), and hand-washing everywhere 🏕️ Tiny, coveted summer camps: 24 campers/week, 8:1 ratios, 10 weeks—why families race to register 🌱 CSA + kid gardens: “educational beds,” daily harvests, and veggies sent home with students 🎶 Community builders that also pay the bills: music nights, Farmfests, flower workshops, farm dinners 👩‍🌾 Teen pipeline: preschoolers who return as volunteers and paid farm helpers 🧩 Behind the scenes: staffing, animal care, and keeping a childcare-safe farm humming 🪴 What’s next in Colorado: outdoor-based childcare licensing slated for 2026—and why Sunflower is a model 💡 Liz’s candid advice for starting your own farm-school (including land, partnerships, and persistence) Learn more: Sunflower Farm — sunflowerfarminfo.comSunflower Farm Acres - sunflowerfarmacres.comInstagram: @sunflowerfarm_infoFacebook: @sunflowerfarmlongmont Farm Educator’s Roadmap links: Website: farmeducatorsroadmap.com Free guide: Five Simple Steps to Growing Your In-Demand Farm Education Programs Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmapPrivate FB Group: Farm Educator’s Roadmap Community

Gibbs Farm is an eight-acre oasis just outside St. Paul where farm education meets living history. Director Sammy Nelson and Youth Programs Manager Janie Bender share how they turn heirloom gardens, farm animals, and Dakota interpretation into meaningful, hands-on learning for kids. From garden “skits” that teach the Three Sisters to camps where chores are the favorite activity, we explore practical ways a historic site can teach modern stewardship—plus what’s next: winter sessions and a year-round barn for animals. You’ll hear: 🌽 How a garden skit makes the Three Sisters unforgettable (kids are the corn, beans, and squash!) 🐓 Why live animals + small gardens are powerful entry points for first-time farm learners 🏫 Designing field trips (Pioneer, Dakota, Combo, and Kinder science) to fit age and standards 🧤 “Farm lab” show-and-tell: using historic tools safely while teaching modern care 🌾 Dakota partnerships: language, welcome, and framing land/food relationships with respect 🎒 Camps kids love: chores, early games, garden harvests, and tangible take-home learning 📊 Measuring impact with teacher surveys—and the ultimate metric: kids who come back with family ❄️ What’s next: winter PeeWees, plans for a year-round barn, and why unplugged outdoor time matters Learn more: Gibbs Farm (Ramsey County Historical Society) — www.rchs.com/gibbs-farmFacebook: @GibbsFarmMNInstagram: @gibbsfarm_mnYouTube: @gibbsfarm6276 The Farm Educator’s Roadmap links Website: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com Free guide: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap  Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmapPrivate FB Group: Farm Educator’s Roadmap Community (join us!)

Montclair Community Farms’ Executive Director Lana Mustafa shares how a backyard beekeeper and homesteader became the leader of a thriving urban farm in Montclair, NJ. From a 10,000-square-foot site with raised beds, chickens, and a pollinator meadow, her team grows food, runs multi-age programs, and brings a mobile farm stand directly to seniors and neighborhoods without nearby grocery stores. We talk about the coalition behind the farm, why connection is as essential as produce, and how to design programs—from preschool Sprouts to senior wellness—that invite people of all ages into the garden. You’ll hear: 🌱 Childhood to Executive Director: how early garden magic (and motherhood) led Lana to teaching, beekeeping, and ultimately the farm. 🏙️ Urban farm, big ecosystem: 10,000 sq ft, 35–40 raised beds, compost, chickens, and a new pollinator meadow with 100+ native plants. 🤝 Coalition power: partners like Rutgers and Montclair State (fiscal sponsors), volunteers, and paid interns through service programs. 🚚 Mobile Farm Stand: organic produce to senior housing and “food desert” areas—plus why human connection keeps people coming back. 💳 Access in action: accepting SNAP, WIC, FMNP—and Good Food Bucks that effectively halve costs for shoppers. 👧 Sprouts & Sweet Peas: outdoor, multi-sensory early-childhood learning born during the pandemic (and away from screens). 🏫 School outreach: 45-minute after-school lessons, assemblies with an observation hive, and hands-on pollinator learning. 🧑🏽‍🎓 Teen Farmpreneurs: paid youth cohorts, value-added products (hello, tomato sauce), and perspective-shifting first bites of fresh veggies. 👵 Senior Wellness & Grow Your Own: rebuilding connection after isolation, practical garden skills, and sharing the harvest (and apple cake!). 💰 The “Robin Hood” model: using revenue-generating programs to fund food-access work while paying staff equitably. 🪴 Start small, start now: Lana’s advice on fighting imposter syndrome and beginning with the resources—and backyard—you already have. Learn more: Website: montclaircommunityfarms.org Instagram: @MontclairCommunityFarmsFacebook: @MontclairCommunityFarms Farm Educator’s Roadmap links Website: farmeducatorsroadmap.com Free guide: farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmapPrivate FB Group: Farm Educator’s Roadmap

Hart to Hart Farm is a family-owned organic dairy in Albion, Maine where the barns double as classrooms and kids become caretakers. Director Linda Hartkopf didn’t grow up on a farm—she chose this life—and built a thriving education center from a tiny camp of six boys into full seasonal programs that fill fast. In this episode, Linda shares how campers adopt animals, learn real farm skills, and even cook in Cassidy’s Kitchen, a three-season teaching kitchen built by the community in memory of a beloved camper. It’s a story of resilience, hands-on learning, and the kind of farm magic that keeps families coming back year after year. You’ll hear: 🌱 How a non-farm kid became an organic dairy farmer & educator 🐄 What a “typical day” looks like at camp (circle time → chores → farm adventures) 🍼 The power of “adopt-an-animal” to grow confidence, empathy, and responsibility 🧪 Bringing science to life (ultrasounds with the vet, soil health, pollinators) 👩‍🍳 Junior Chef week + the Chopped Challenge inside Cassidy’s Kitchen 💙 The community barn-raising that created Cassidy’s Kitchen—and why it matters 🏫 School trips with rotating stations (milking, chickens, sheep/wool, simple cheese-making, goat yoga) 🧒 Why kids return year after year—and how parents describe the “magic” 🧭 Practical advice for starting camps/field trips on your own farm Learn more: Hart to Hart Farm — hart2hartfarm.orgFacebook: facebook.com/hart2hartfarmInstagram: instagram.com/hart2hartfarm The Farm Educator’s Roadmap 🌐 Website: farmeducatorsroadmap.com 📥 Free guide: farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps 📷 Instagram: instagram.com/farmeducatorsroadmap 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/farmeducatorsroadmap 👥 Private FB Group: Farm Educators Roadmap Community 

Wright-Locke Farm is a historic, certified-organic community farm just outside Boston. Education Director Sarah Doyle shares how her team of former classroom teachers aren't just producing food, they're taking care of historic buildings, hosting concerts, running events, sharing youth programs, and operating a fully-outdoors preschool. We explore how the farm became a community oasis — and how they keep access front and center with tiered pricing, scholarships, and strong partnerships. You’ll hear: 🌳 How a near-miss housing development turned into preserved acres—and what that unlocked for education & community 🎒 Sarah’s path from volunteer to Education Director (and making peace with “imposter” feelings) 🌲 Forest Friends: a fully outdoor, licensed preschool 👶+👨‍👩‍👧 Engaging babies & caregivers, and why “dress for success” matters in outdoor learning 🧑‍🍳 The kitchen as classroom: youth cooking, family programs, Senior Teas & nutrient-focused classes ✅ Access in action: tiered pricing, scholarships, and transportation support 🌱 Farming on certified-organic acres—systems, volunteers, and what it teaches ☀️ Solar on historic barns 🤝 Designing multi-age programs, and partnerships that ripple back to schools Learn more: Wright-Locke Farm — www.wlfarm.orgFacebook: @wrightlockefarmInstagram: @wrightlockefarmPinterest: wrightlockefarmYouTube: @wright-lockefarm3625 Farm Educator’s Roadmap links Website: farmeducatorsroadmap.com Free guide: farmeducatorsroadmap.com/5simplesteps Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap Private FB Group for Farm Educators: Join

Bowers School Farm has been connecting students to land, animals, and food systems since 1967—right inside the Bloomfield Hills Schools. In this episode, Learning Expedition Leader Megan Isabelle walks us through how a district-owned, 93-acre working farm becomes a living classroom from preschool to high school. You’ll hear how Bowers integrates farm experiences directly with curriculum across all age groups - from chick hatching in first grade to hands-on vet and ag science for teens - plus how community programs and even a ropes course build confidence, curiosity, and real-world skills on the farm. You’ll hear: 🐣 Life cycles in real time: Chick hatching in classrooms, then a full-day “where do they go?” farm visit 🌱 Plants & production: Greenhouse/hoop house tours, succession planting, and selling harvest in the Farm Store 👧 Early childhood on the farm: “You, Me & the Barns” and “Pasture Pals” for toddlers/preschoolers with caregivers 🚌 K–5 to career pathways: Regular elementary trips, DK monthly visits, and high-school vet/ag classes on site 🤝 4-H & FFA in action: Volunteering, animal care, and sharing learning with the community 🐴 Animal interactions with intention: From grooming ponies to safe, respectful handling as training progresses 🥕 Taste the difference: A carrot-pulling moment that turns farm-to-snack into an “aha!” for kids (and parents) 🧗 Adventure education on a farm: Ropes course teamwork, confidence, and comfort-zone growth that transfer to class 🧭 Program design tips: Meet students where they are, follow their curiosity, and pivot to keep engagement high 🖥️ Learn more: Bowers School Farm — schoolfarm.orgFacebook: @BowersSchoolFarmInstagram: @BowersSchoolFarm Farm Educator’s Roadmap®Website: farmeducatorsroadmap.com Free guide: farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap Private FB Group: Farm Educator’s Roadmap Community

Treworgy Family Orchards in Maine could have ended before it began. When the family planted their very first 15 acres of apple trees, every single one was destroyed by pests. Instead of giving up, they started over — row by row — and grew into a thriving 400-acre farm and community hub. In this episode, Education Director Ginny Nute shares how she went from leading field trips to building farm camps and year-round programs that connect thousands of kids and adults to farming and nature. The orchard's story is full of resilience, creativity, and inspiration for anyone dreaming of bringing people onto their farm. You’ll hear: 🍎 How Treworgy Orchards rebuilt after losing every apple tree — and why resilience is still at the heart of the farm. 👩‍🌾 Ginny’s journey from camp counselor to Education Director. 🎒 A peek into farm camp life — from goat chores to jam making to Friday parades. 🐐 Why goat cuddling became one of their most popular programs. 💡 Practical advice for starting your own programs — even if it’s just inviting five people to follow you around the farm. Learn more about Treworgy Family Orchards: https://treworgyorchards.com 🌱 Stay connected with the Farm Educator’s Roadmap: 🖥️ Website: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com 📋 Free Guide: 5 Simple Steps to Growing an In-Demand Farm Education Program 📸 Instagram👍 FacebookPrivate FB Group: The Farm Educator’s Roadmap Community

🎙️ Episode 12 — Two Dachshund Farm (Franklinton, NC) Anne Akers has woven together a life of fiber, education, and agritourism at Two Dachshund Farm, the 17-acre haven she and her husband Rodney have been building as they celebrate 50 years together. From alpacas and angora goats to llamas and sheep, every animal has a role in their farm-to-yarn story. In this conversation, Anne shares how a former teacher and librarian became a fiber farmer and program designer—balancing real-world logistics (fencing, predators, money-paced building) with hands-on wonder for visitors of all ages. You’ll hear: 🧶 How “farm to yarn” works—shearing cycles, sorting firsts/seconds/thirds, and the small-mill bottleneck ✂️ Why Anne DIY-shears her angora goats 🧸 The farm-made pieces that fly off shelves 🤝 Building community with local makers—low-commission consignment 🚌 Structuring tours that work: public first-weekend tours, private groups, school field trips 🕸️ “Nature as artist”: using bird nests and spider webs to spark fiber-arts storytelling 🌱 Anne's tips for what to do when you're just starting out Learn more about Two Dachshund Farm:🌐 Two Dachshund Farm: www.twodachshundfarm.com👍 Facebook📸 Instagram Stay connected with Farm Educator’s Roadmap 🌐 www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com 📥 Free guide: farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps 📸 Instagram 👍 Facebook👥 Private FB Group for Farm Educators: Join

What happens when you start farming at 65 for the first time? For Sandy Pond, it became a journey of healing, creativity, and connection. At Sacred Connections at Back Roads Farm in Vermont, Sandy blends organic farming, wellness practices, and art into a one-of-a-kind experience. From CSA shares and herbal remedies to yoga, massage, pottery, and camping under the stars, Sandy shows us what it looks like to truly listen to the land. ✨ In this episode: 🌱 Starting a farm later in life & letting the land co-design 🎨 Creating sacred space with gardens, art & healing modalities 🥖 Letting products evolve by showing up & listening 🏕️ Why farm stays help visitors slow down & reconnect 🔗 Connect with Sandy: sacredconnections.earth🙂Follow her on Facebook: backroadsvt 🌾 Stay connected with Farm Educator’s Roadmap: 📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap 👍 Facebook: Farm Educator’s Roadmap 👩‍🌾 Private Group for farm educators: Join🌐 Website: farmeducatorsroadmap.com 📖 Free Guide: 5 Simple Steps to Growing an In-Demand Farm Education Program