Episode 41: Healing the Land: A Scientist's Living Classroom at Prairie Winds Nature Farm

Episode 42: The Immersive Apprenticeship: Training the Next Generation of Farmers at Deck Family Farm

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/ [https://www.deckfamilyfarm.com/] 👍 Facebook: Deck Family Farm [https://www.facebook.com/deckfamilyfarm] 📸 Instagram: Deck Family Farm [https://www.instagram.com/deckfamilyfarm/] Farm Educator’s Roadmap:   🌐Website: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com [https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/]                                                         📘 Free Guide: 5 Simple Steps to Growing an In-Demand Farm Education Program   [http://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps]               📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap [http://www.instagram.com/farmeducatorsroadmap]                                                                                     👍 Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap [http://www.facebook.com/farmeducatorsroadmap]                                                                                       👩‍🌾 Join the Private Facebook Group: Join us! [http://www.facebook.com/groups/farmeducatorsroadmap]

Episode 41: Healing the Land: A Scientist's Living Classroom at Prairie Winds Nature Farm

Dr. Charlotte Wolfe didn’t just set out to build a farm; she set out to restore an ecosystem. After decades as an environmental scientist, she took 85 acres of industrial corn and soybean land in Indiana and began the slow, quiet work of bringing back the prairie and the wetlands. What started as a personal restoration project soon grew into Prairie Winds Nature Farm, a place where the land itself has become the primary educator for thousands of children and adults. Through long-term partnerships with local schools and a deep-seated belief that nature never disappoints, Charlotte has created a model for farm-based education that is as much about ecology as it is about connection. Whether she is discussing the "heart connection" kids form with the soil or the confidence built while working with horses, Charlotte’s journey is a roadmap for anyone looking to bridge the gap between scientific restoration and agricultural education. You’ll hear: 🧬 How a deep background in environmental science and ecology became the foundation for transforming industrial farming land into a diverse habitat. 🏫 How teaching a single child sparked a natural evolution into structured partnerships with local Montessori and homeschool groups. 🚜 The diverse educational landscape at Prairie Winds, from seasonal school visits and immersive day camps to university-level internships. 🐎 Why managing a horse team serves as a unique tool for teaching older students confidence, empathy, and rotational grazing. 💡 Critical advice for aspiring educators on why you should build your "dirt skills" and volunteer before committing to land ownership. Learn more about Prairie Winds Nature Farm: 🌐 Website: https://www.prairiewindsnaturefarm.com/ [https://www.prairiewindsnaturefarm.com/] 👍 Facebook: Prairie Winds Nature Farm [https://www.facebook.com/prairiewindsnaturefarm] Farm Educator’s Roadmap:   🌐Website: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com [https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/]                                                         📘 Free Guide: 5 Simple Steps to Growing an In-Demand Farm Education Program   [http://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps]               📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap [http://www.instagram.com/farmeducatorsroadmap]                                                                                     👍 Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap [http://www.facebook.com/farmeducatorsroadmap]                                                                                       👩‍🌾 Join the Private Facebook Group: Join us! [http://www.facebook.com/groups/farmeducatorsroadmap]

Episode 40: From Consultation to Confidence: Teaching the Skill that Feeds a Lifetime with Earth’s Garden

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/ [https://www.earthsgardenllc.com/] 👍 Facebook: Earth's Garden LLC [https://www.facebook.com/EarthsGardenLLC] 📸 Instagram: Earth's Garden LLC [https://www.instagram.com/EarthsgardenLLC/] Farm Educator’s Roadmap:   🌐Website: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com [https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/]                                                         📘 Free Guide: 5 Simple Steps to Growing an In-Demand Farm Education Program   [http://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps]               📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap [http://www.instagram.com/farmeducatorsroadmap]                                                                                     👍 Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap [http://www.facebook.com/farmeducatorsroadmap]                                                                                       👩‍🌾 Join the Private Facebook Group: Join us! [http://www.facebook.com/groups/farmeducatorsroadmap]

Episode 39: Creating a Natural Space for Healing: The Lands at Hillside Farms

When Abby Collins started working at The Lands at Hillside Farms at fifteen years old, she was serving ice cream. Today, she’s helping lead a 438-acre community anchor that proves a farm can be so much more than just a place where food is grown. Hillside isn't just a dairy farm; it is a sanctuary. Through intentional design and a "give, give, give" philosophy inherited from their founder, Abby and her team have woven together agriculture, mental health, and education to support those who need it most. From vocational programs for students with disabilities to a Care Farming initiative for children navigating profound trauma, this episode explores what happens when the land becomes a partner in healing. Abby shares the heart-tugging reality of "the animals just knowing" and how a small team manages to thrive in the chaos of a mission-driven life.   ✨ You’ll hear: 🌱 How Abby grew from an ice cream parlor employee to the Director of Education and Events helping the farm reach its 20th anniversary. 🌳 The legacy of Dr. Doug Ayers and the mission to leave the land better for those who will use it 200 years from now. ⚓ The transition from a family-owned farm to a public resource that the community truly "owns." 🧑‍🌾 How Hillside is providing vocational training for students with disabilities, from greenhouse work to selling produce at local markets. 🤝 How Hillside leverages relationships with mental health counselors, occupational therapists, and food dignity programs to scale their impact. 🐄 How intentional animal-to-student pairings create breakthroughs for children with complex medical and emotional needs.  ✨ Abby’s advice for farm educators: embracing failure, listening to your community, and continuing to evolve Learn more about The Lands at Hillside Farms: 🌐 Website: https://www.thelandsathillsidefarms.org/ [https://www.thelandsathillsidefarms.org/] 👍 Facebook: The Lands at Hillside Farms [https://www.facebook.com/thelandsathillsidefarms/] 📸 Instagram: @landsathillsidefarms [https://www.instagram.com/landsathillsidefarms/] Farm Educator’s Roadmap:   🌐Website: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com [https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/]                                                         📘 Free Guide: 5 Simple Steps to Growing an In-Demand Farm Education Program   [http://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps]               📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap [http://www.instagram.com/farmeducatorsroadmap]                                                                                     👍 Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap [http://www.facebook.com/farmeducatorsroadmap]                                                                                       👩‍🌾 Join the Private Facebook Group: Join us! [http://www.facebook.com/groups/farmeducatorsroadmap]

Episode 38: Rooted in the School Day: Building a School Farm Model at The Madison Farm

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/ [https://the-madison-farm.square.site/] 👍 Facebook: The Madison Farm [https://www.facebook.com/TheMadisonFarm/] 📸 Instagram: @themadisonfarm [https://www.instagram.com/themadisonfarm/] Farm Educator’s Roadmap:   🌐Website: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com [https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/]                                                         📘 Free Guide: 5 Simple Steps to Growing an In-Demand Farm Education Program   [http://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps]               📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap [http://www.instagram.com/farmeducatorsroadmap]                                                                                     👍 Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap [http://www.facebook.com/farmeducatorsroadmap]                                                                                       👩‍🌾 Join the Private Facebook Group: Join us! [http://www.facebook.com/groups/farmeducatorsroadmap]