Farm Educator's Roadmap®

Christine Deck’s journey into agriculture is deeply rooted in a desire to rewrite her family’s history. After watching generations of farmers forced out by the "get big or get out" era, she and her husband founded Deck Family Farm in Junction City, Oregon, as a diversified, regenerative haven. Today, the farm is a thriving ecosystem of cattle, heritage pigs, dairy, and a full-farm CSA, all serving as a living classroom for the next generation of agricultural leaders. This conversation dives into the heart of their year-long apprenticeship program, where students are treated as more than just hands—they are future business owners. Christine discusses the necessity of rotating through the enterprises to learn the background and numbers behind the business, the power of living in an intentional farm community, and her bold plans to preserve this land forever through a farmland trust. You’ll hear: • 🌱 How the loss of family farms in California fueled Christine’s passion to ensure the next generation has the skills to stay on the land. • 🐄 A look at managing a farm model that includes everything from 600 heritage pigs to a working dairy and a full farm CSA. • 🎓 Why Christine shifted from volunteer help to paid staff that act as mentors for their year-long, enterprise-based learning apprenticeships for students. • 📈 Why their apprenticeship program prioritizes teaching financials and marketing alongside daily animal care to ensure students can actually make a living. • 🏡 The impact of immersive education and "on-farm" living, where learning happens everywhere from the dawn chores to the dinner table. • 📜 How putting land into a trust ensures it remains a farming resource for future operators. Learn more about Deck Family Farm: 🌐 Website: https://www.deckfamilyfarm.com/ 👍 Facebook: Deck Family Farm 📸 Instagram: Deck Family Farm Farm Educator’s Roadmap:   🌐Website: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com                                                         📘 Free Guide: 5 Simple Steps to Growing an In-Demand Farm Education Program                 📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                     👍 Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                       👩‍🌾 Join the Private Facebook Group: Join us!  

When Dr. Camille Lewis looks at a garden, she doesn't just see plants—she sees a classroom, a community lifeline, and a bridge to a more resilient future. Based in Tallahassee, Florida, Camille founded Earth’s Garden LLC to transform urban spaces into vibrant hubs of agriculture and STEM learning, drawing on her deep roots in a multi-generational farming family and her career as a dedicated educator. In this episode, Camille shares how she moved beyond the four walls of a traditional classroom to build a for-profit consulting model that empowers schools and families to grow their own food. We dive into the intersection of educational psychology and agriculture, discussing how to turn "food apartheids" into landscapes of opportunity and how to help teachers find their own connection to the land—even if they’re a little afraid of the bugs. ✨ You’ll hear: 🌱 How a long family line of educators and farmers provided the foundation for Camille’s unique career path. 🏘️ How Earth’s Garden was born during COVID to provide food security and practical skills to her community in need. 🏢 The strategic decision to build a consulting business that values professional expertise and creates a sustainable livelihood for her family. 🛠️Insights into how she builds garden infrastructure and curriculum for schools so they can sustain their own programs 🔬 How she integrates science, technology, engineering, and math into her youth summer camps. 🛶 Lessons from the "Brilliant Resilience" program on connecting urban youth to nature to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. 🚀The challenges of building a business from scratch and the power of surrounding yourself with other mission-driven entrepreneurs. Learn more about Earth's Garden LLC: 🌐 Website: https://www.earthsgardenllc.com/ 👍 Facebook: Earth's Garden LLC 📸 Instagram: Earth's Garden LLC Farm Educator’s Roadmap:   🌐Website: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com                                                         📘 Free Guide: 5 Simple Steps to Growing an In-Demand Farm Education Program                 📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                     👍 Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                       👩‍🌾 Join the Private Facebook Group: Join us!

When Jenni Adams helped start The Madison Farm, it was about bringing the farm into the rhythm of everyday school life. Set on a school campus in Tennessee, this nonprofit farm is woven into the student experience—from preschool through high school—where learning happens through real work, real seasons, and real responsibility. But building something like this didn’t come all at once. In this episode, Jenni shares what it actually looks like to integrate a working farm into a school setting—and how the education side has grown over time into something deeply impactful. ✨ You’ll hear: 🏫 What it takes to integrate into an existing school system 🎓 How students develop confidence through ownership and responsibility 🛠️ How work-study programs build real-life skills and prepare students for the future 🤝 How community support and mentorship drives growth ⚖️ Balancing production, education, and capacity ❤️ What it means to create a place where students feel they belong   Learn more about The Madison Farm: 🌐 Website: https://the-madison-farm.square.site/ 👍 Facebook: The Madison Farm 📸 Instagram: @themadisonfarm Farm Educator’s Roadmap:   🌐Website: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com                                                         📘 Free Guide: 5 Simple Steps to Growing an In-Demand Farm Education Program                 📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                     👍 Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                       👩‍🌾 Join the Private Facebook Group: Join us!      

When Tyrean “Heru” Lewis looked around his neighborhood, he didn’t see access to fresh food—so he took action. With no formal plan, he began growing in his backyard… then on a vacant lot… and slowly, something much bigger took root. Today, Heru Urban Farming in St. Louis, Missouri is a space where food, education, and community come together—but the path to get there was anything but straightforward. In this episode, Heru shares the real story behind building something from nothing, the lessons learned along the way, and how he continues to lead through uncertainty with resilience and purpose. ✨ You’ll hear: 🌱 How Heru went from PE teacher to urban farmer 🏙️ What sparked the transition from teaching to addressing food access in his community 🧑‍🌾 The evolution from garden, to vacant lot, to full-scale urban farm and education program 📖 The role education plays—from classrooms to hands-on farm experiences 💭 What it means to be a “soul farmer” and lead with intention 📣 How community relationships and consistency fueled growth ⚖️ Navigating major funding loss and continuing forward anyway 💡 Why you don’t need land, funding, or a perfect plan to begin Learn more about Heru Urban Farming: 🌐 Website: heruurbanfarming.com    👍 Facebook: Heru Urban Farming 📸 Instagram: @heruurbanfarming Farm Educator’s Roadmap:   🌐Website: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com                                                         📘 Free Guide: 5 Simple Steps to Growing an In-Demand Farm Education Program                 📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                     👍 Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                       👩‍🌾 Join the Private Facebook Group: Join us!

At its core, Piney Woods Farm is about nourishment—in every sense of the word. From building healthy soil to providing fresh food for families, this La Grange, Georgia-based nonprofit is focused on creating impact that extends far beyond the farm itself. And along the way, it’s become a place where people come to learn, connect, and slow down. In this conversation, Jessica Breaux shares how Piney Woods is living out its mission through regenerative agriculture, community partnerships, and education rooted in real, hands-on experiences. You’ll hear: 🌱 How Jessica’s unexpected path led her from opera to regenerative agriculture 🏆How being honored with the Rodale Institute Organic Stewardship Award reflects the farm’s commitment to soil health and regenerative practices 🥕 How Piney Woods has donated over 150,000 pounds of nutrient-dense food to their community 🤝 How their three pillars—health, connection, and regenerative nature—guide their work 🐝 Why education at Piney Woods starts small—and grows through curiosity                                                                                            🧵 Why creating space for hands-on learning builds confidence and community 👧 What kids gain from participating in farm-based programs 💡 Jessica’s advice for educators: start where you are, get your hands dirty, and don’t be afraid to “fail up” Learn more about Piney Woods Farm: 🌐 Website: www.pineywoods.farm         👍 Facebook: @PineyWoodsFarmLaGrange 📸 Instagram: @piney_woods_farm_ga Farm Educator’s Roadmap:   🌐Website: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com                                                         📘 Free Guide: 5 Simple Steps to Growing an In-Demand Farm Education Program                 📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                     👍 Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                       👩‍🌾 Join the Private Facebook Group: Join us!

Hidden Villa in Los Altos, California is one of the pioneers of environmental education in the United States. Founded in the 1920s, this 1,600-acre organic farm and wilderness preserve has spent more than a century helping people connect with the land through farming, nature exploration, and community learning. In this episode, Senior Manager of Education Christina Emmett shares how Hidden Villa brings that mission to life today - from farm and wilderness field trips to family programs, camps, and a powerful volunteer program that helps them reach over 11,000 students each year. You’ll hear: 🌱 How Christina’s early outdoor education experiences shaped her path into environmental education      🐑 The care → learn → act framework that guides Hidden Villa’s programs for students from preschool through high school                                                                                                        🥕 What a typical field trip looks like—from meeting newborn lambs to hiking wildlands and exploring ecosystems 🌎 The three pillars of Hidden Villa’s educational philosophy: active learning, reciprocity, and inclusion 🤝 How volunteers make it possible for Hidden Villa to serve thousands of students each year 🌿 The power of multi-generational connections that keep families returning to Hidden Villa decade after decade 🍅 How the working organic farm and CSA support farm-to-table learning experiences for students  ✨Christina’s advice for new farm educators: learning from the wisdom of the larger community Learn more about Hidden Villa: 🌐 Website: www.hiddenvilla.org  👍 Facebook: @hiddenvilla 📸 Instagram: @hiddenvilla Farm Educator’s Roadmap:   🌐 Website: https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com                                                                    📘 Free Guide: 5 Simple Steps to Growing an In-Demand Farm Education Program                 📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                     👍 Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                       👩‍🌾 Join the Private Facebook Group: Join us!

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 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

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. 

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!

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

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!)

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!)