Farm Educator's Roadmap®

Christa Hein
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The Farm Educator's Roadmap® Podcast shares inspiring stories and practical insights to help you turn your passion for farming into powerful, purpose-driven education programs. Hosted by Christa Hein - a farm educator of 30 years and founder of Bring the Farm to You®—this podcast blends heartfelt stories with hard-earned wisdom from educators across the country who are making an impact on family farms, in schoolyards, in cities, suburbs, and everywhere in between. Whether you're dreaming up your first program or expanding an established farm-based business, you'll find real-life insights, practical strategies, and feel-good inspiration in every episode. From hands-on tips to big-picture visioning, this show will help you grow programs that connect people to the land, strengthen your community, and support your livelihood. Tune in, get inspired, and let’s grow the future of farm education—together. Ready to build a farm education program that stands out and attracts clients? Grab my free guide, 5 Simple Steps to Growing and In-Demand Farm Education Program, and start turning your passion into programs that people can't wait to book! https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/5simplesteps

  1. Episode 35: Starting Without a Plan: Growing a Farm Education Program from Scratch

    2D AGO

    Episode 35: Starting Without a Plan: Growing a Farm Education Program from Scratch

    ShipShape Farm in Traveler's Rest, South Carolina didn’t start with a business plan—it started with a need. In the middle of a season that felt uncertain, Whitney Poitevint and her family made a big shift: from city life to farmland, from routine to something entirely new. What followed wasn’t a straight path—but step by step, it became a farm education program that now serves families, builds community, and creates space for kids to truly experience the world around them. In this conversation, Whitney shares what it really looks like to build something from scratch—and why the messy, in-between stages matter just as much as the outcome. ✨ You’ll hear: 🌱 How Whitney’s life shifted from city living to farm life almost overnight 🍩 The early trial-and-error of making income from the land 🧑‍🌾 How a simple idea turned into a sold-out farm education program 📖 Why giving kids time and space leads to deeper engagement 💭 Navigating imposter syndrome without a traditional teaching background 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 How a multi-generational family works together on the farm 📣 How word-of-mouth helped their programs grow faster than expected 🐐 The evolution into goat dairy production and new opportunities 💡 Whitney’s advice: you don’t need a perfect plan—you just need to start Learn more about ShipShape Farm: 🌐 Website: www.shipshapefarm.com         👍 Facebook: Shipshape Farm 📸 Instagram: @shipshapefarm 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!

    43 min
  2. Episode 34: Nourishing Land and People: The Mission Behind Piney Woods Farm

    MAR 25

    Episode 34: Nourishing Land and People: The Mission Behind Piney Woods Farm

    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!

    35 min
  3. Episode 33: From Farm Kid to Founder: Building Pine Row Preschool

    MAR 18

    Episode 33: From Farm Kid to Founder: Building Pine Row Preschool

    Amber Bruckner is the founder of Pine Row Preschool, a small farm-based preschool in Michigan where young children learn through animals, nature, and everyday farm life. At Pine Row, gathering eggs, feeding animals, exploring the creek, and following children’s curiosity are all part of the rhythm of the day. In this conversation, Amber shares how her background in early childhood education led her to create a program where farm life and learning go hand in hand. We talk about her teaching philosophy, the Project Approach curriculum she uses, and how real experiences with animals and nature help children build empathy, confidence, and curiosity. ✨ You’ll hear: 🐔 What it looks like when preschoolers gather eggs, feed animals, and take part in real farm chores 🌱 Amber’s journey from early childhood educator to founding Pine Row Preschool 🧠 How the Project Approach helps children guide their own learning through curiosity 🐑 The role animals play in helping children develop empathy, responsibility, and emotional awareness 🌿 Why sensory-rich outdoor experiences are so important for early childhood development 🏡 What makes a small, home-based preschool feel different—and why that can be a strength 🤝 How caring for animals and working together builds teamwork and confidence 💡 Amber’s encouragement for educators interested in starting small, hands-on farm education programs Learn more about Pine Row Preschool: 🌐 Website: www.pinerowpreschool.com         👍 Facebook: @pinerowpreschool 📸 Instagram: @pinerowchildcare 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!

    32 min
  4. Episode 32: Care, Learn, Act: A Century of Farm & Nature Education at Hidden Villa

    MAR 11

    Episode 32: Care, Learn, Act: A Century of Farm & Nature Education at Hidden Villa

    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!

    36 min
  5. Episode 31: From Ocean to Pasture: A Regenerative Learning Campus at Wolfe's Neck Center

    MAR 4

    Episode 31: From Ocean to Pasture: A Regenerative Learning Campus at Wolfe's Neck Center

    Andrew Lombardi, Director of Visitor Education and Experience at Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment, shares what it really looks like to design visitor education inside a working regenerative farm. Wolfe’s Neck isn’t just a beautiful coastal farm in Maine — it’s a dairy operation, research hub, farmer training center, campground, culinary program, and public education campus all rolled into one. In this conversation, Andrew shares how their team bridges agriculture, education, and community in ways that feel welcoming, hopeful, and grounded. You’ll hear: 🌊 How Andrew’s journey from summer camp to zoo education led him into farm-based education 🌱 What Wolfe’s Neck Center actually is — and how its programs work together 🐄 How they connect regenerative agriculture to everyday visitors without overwhelm 🌎 Why regenerative ag looks different in Maine than it does in Arizona 🧠 How asking questions (instead of giving answers) builds deeper learning 🍳 What they grow and raise — from pasture-based dairy to pork, lamb, vegetables, and eggs 🔬 How research projects support farmer viability beyond one farm 🔥 Why welcoming energy and contagious excitement matter more than perfect systems Learn more about Wolfe’s Neck Center: Website: https://www.wolfesneck.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/wolfesneckcenter/Instagram: www.instagram.com/wolfesneckcenter/ 🌿 Farm Educator’s Roadmap Website: https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com Free Guide: https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farmeducatorsroadmap Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bringthefarmtoyou Private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/farmeducatorsroadmap

    37 min
  6. Episode 30: From the Fields to Founder: Building Farm Discovery at Live Earth Farm

    FEB 26

    Episode 30: From the Fields to Founder: Building Farm Discovery at Live Earth Farm

    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!

    32 min
  7. Episode 29: Stewarding a Farm for Generations: Education, Food, and Community at Snipes Farm

    FEB 4

    Episode 29: Stewarding a Farm for Generations: Education, Food, and Community at Snipes Farm

    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

    30 min
  8. Episode 28: Starting Where You Are: Lessons from Seven Months of Farm Educator Interviews

    JAN 29

    Episode 28: Starting Where You Are: Lessons from Seven Months of Farm Educator Interviews

    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

    26 min
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5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The Farm Educator's Roadmap® Podcast shares inspiring stories and practical insights to help you turn your passion for farming into powerful, purpose-driven education programs. Hosted by Christa Hein - a farm educator of 30 years and founder of Bring the Farm to You®—this podcast blends heartfelt stories with hard-earned wisdom from educators across the country who are making an impact on family farms, in schoolyards, in cities, suburbs, and everywhere in between. Whether you're dreaming up your first program or expanding an established farm-based business, you'll find real-life insights, practical strategies, and feel-good inspiration in every episode. From hands-on tips to big-picture visioning, this show will help you grow programs that connect people to the land, strengthen your community, and support your livelihood. Tune in, get inspired, and let’s grow the future of farm education—together. Ready to build a farm education program that stands out and attracts clients? Grab my free guide, 5 Simple Steps to Growing and In-Demand Farm Education Program, and start turning your passion into programs that people can't wait to book! https://www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com/5simplesteps

Information

  • Creator
    Christa Hein
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Farm Educator's Roadmap®
  • Show Website
    Farm Educator's Roadmap®