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. 2d ago

    Episode 51: More Than a Farm: How Mary’s Land Farm Built a Whole Village of Experiences

    What happens when a family farm keeps following one opportunity into the next? At Mary’s Land Farm in Ellicott City, Maryland, what began with raising food for the family has grown into a regenerative working farm with field trips, an ACA-accredited summer camp serving as many as 150–200 kids a week, overnight farm stays, a farm store, public events and more. Maria Cunningham, Director of Agritainment & Animal Education and manager of their farm store, shares how those different pieces developed, and how they all fit together on one family farm. Maria also gets into some of the pieces visitors don't see: funding major infrastructure, separating the finances of different farm enterprises, cross-training employees, and making decisions with family members who are co-workers. You'll Hear: 🥚 How a roadside egg stand and a chest freezer became part of something much bigger. 🏕️ What it takes to prepare a staff for a summer camp serving as many as 150–200 kids a week. 💰 A behind-the-scenes look at how Mary’s Land Farm separates and connects the finances of its different enterprises. 👨‍👩‍👧 What decision-making really looks like when your family members see the same problem from different sides. 🌳 Why unstructured time in the woods is an intentional part of the farm’s summer camp. 🏘️ How the farm’s many departments operate a little more like a village than one traditional farm business. 🧘 The lesson Maria has learned about knowing when it’s time to hand things off and walk away for a while. Learn more about Mary's Land Farm: 🌐 Website: https://maryslandfarm.com/ 📸 Instagram: Mary's Land Farm 👍 Facebook: Mary's Land Farm Farm Educator’s Roadmap:   🌐Website: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com                                                         📘 Take the Free Quiz: Discover Your Farm Education Path 📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                     👍 Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                       👩‍🌾 Join the Private Facebook Group: Join us! DISCOVER YOUR FARM EDUCATION PATH Mary’s Land Farm is a great example of how many different directions farm education can take. If you're wondering what kind of farm education work might fit your interests, skills and resources, take the Discover Your Farm Education Path quiz.   **Discover Your Farm Education Path**

    Episode 51: More Than a Farm: How Mary’s Land Farm Built a Whole Village of Experiences

  2. Sep 23

    Episode 50: The Skills We’ve Lost and Why We Want Them Back: Green Door Folk School

    Kristina Schnepf spent 30 years climbing the corporate ladder before a very different kind of work called her name. One day, she watched a construction crew building something outside her office window…and something clicked. She realized she wanted to build things with her own hands, too. Then came the leap: leaving the boardroom behind to create Green Door Folk School in Cedar, Michigan, a community-centered folk school focused on teaching traditional, practical skills—from woodworking and quilting to foraging, cheese-making, and basketry. Kristina shares the journey of launching the school, navigating its unique L3C business model, reframing "grandma crafts" as essential practical knowledge, and explaining why hands-on, non-competitive adult education is resonating so deeply with modern learners. From corporate America to a folk school in Michigan, Kristina’s story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the best next chapter starts with a simple realization: I want to build something of my own. Tune into this week’s episode to hear how she made the leap and how traditional skills are becoming what people are hungry to learn more about. You’ll Hear: 🪟 The Window That Changed Everything: Kristina shares the unexpected moment outside her corporate office that sparked a new direction—and a desire to build something with her own hands. 👂 Listen Before You Launch: What began with conversations across the community helped Kristina uncover what was already there, what was missing, and where her idea could fit. ⚖️ The In-Between Business Model: Exploring an unconventional path for a business that doesn’t fit neatly into the traditional for-profit or nonprofit mold. 🧰 Starting with What You Have: The creative, scrappy ways Kristina got the school off the ground before having all the pieces in place. 🧺 Beyond “Grandma Crafts”: Taking a second look at traditional skills—and the deeper connection to land, making, and everyday life hiding underneath them. 🌱 Permission to Be a Beginner: Why creating a space where adults can try, stumble, and learn without worrying about getting it right changes the entire experience. Learn more about Green Door Folk School: 🌐 Website: https://www.greendoorfolkschool.com/ 📸 Instagram: Green Door Folk School 👍 Facebook: Green Door Folk School Farm Educator’s Roadmap:   🌐Website: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com                                                         📘 Take the Free Quiz: Discover Your Farm Education Path 📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                     👍 Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                       👩‍🌾 Join the Private Facebook Group: Join us!

    Episode 50: The Skills We’ve Lost and Why We Want Them Back: Green Door Folk School

  3. Sep 9

    Episode 49: Cultivating Hope: Empowering the Next Generation Through Farm Education at Holly Hill Farm

    When Wendy Prentiss noticed her students were feeling overwhelmed by climate anxiety and their future, she realized what was taught in schools did not provide practical solutions. So, she decided to act. Leaving behind a career as a classroom teacher, Wendy joined Holly Hill Farm. A 120-acre organic nonprofit farm nestled in a coastal suburb of Massachusetts that has been connecting people to food, conservation, and sustainability for over two decades. Today, as Education Director, Wendy helps oversee programming that reaches over 20,000 students each year and partners with more than 40 local schools building and managing garden education on school grounds. In this episode, Christa talks with Wendy about how Holly Hill Farm balances working farm production, community outreach, and scaling farm education. From coordinating school garden schedules and designing high school AP Environmental Science field trips to launching an 8th-grade civics hub and feeding local families through their Farm to Food Pantry initiative, Wendy offers practical wisdom for educators looking to build sustainable, high-impact programs. You’ll hear: 🐓 Transitioning to farm education: How Wendy moved from traditional school education into farm-based learning to combat climate doom with hands-on hope. 🥕 Managing school garden partnerships: The practical realities and scheduling logistics of supporting school garden beds across 40 partner schools. 📜 Operating a multi-faceted farm: How Holly Hill balances historic 1780s barns, organic farming, conservation trails, and community events under a "one farm" mindset. 🚜 Engaging older students: Creative ways to connect with middle and high schoolers through AP Environmental Science exam prep, 8th-grade civics pathways, and high school culinary arts visits. 🥦 Giving back through Farm to Food Pantry: How local teenagers grow fresh produce for food-insecure families in their own community. 🏷️ Sustaining non-profit programs: How a three-tiered revenue model, tiered workshop pricing, and required memberships for summer programs help sustain the farm's educational mission. 💡 Starting small: Advice for aspiring farm educators on overcoming overwhelm by taking it "bird by bird" and trusting staff, volunteers, and students with real responsibility. Learn more about Holly Hill Farm: 🌐 Website: https://hollyhillfarm.org/  📸 Instagram: Holly Hill Farm Cohasset 👍 Facebook: Holly Hill Farm Cohasset Farm Educator’s Roadmap:   🌐Website: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com                                                         📘 Take the Free Quiz: Discover Your Farm Education Path 📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                     👍 Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                       👩‍🌾 Join the Private Facebook Group: Join us!

    Episode 49: Cultivating Hope: Empowering the Next Generation Through Farm Education at Holly Hill Farm

  4. Aug 26

    Episode 48: What if School Worked More Like Life? Inside Infinity Academy’s Farm-Based Approach to Education

    What happens when you stop asking "How do we fit kids into a system?" and start asking "What does a child actually need to truly thrive?" 🌱✨ In this heart-opening episode, I am joined by sisters Gillian Berard (a public school teacher of over 10 years) and Jenna Baggott (a former NICU nurse and health advocate). Both women spent years inside large systems, noticing how rigid checklists and "Band-Aid solutions" were slowly disconnecting children from their natural curiosity, creativity, health and vitality. When sudden, heartbreaking grief touched their family with the unexpected loss of their brother, it completely shifted their perspective. Remembering his final words—"Love you to infinity"—they decided life was too short to leave their dreams on the back burner. Together, they leaped all-in to establish Infinity Academy in Ridgeway, Ontario: a 17-acre biodynamic farm school where academics, project-based learning, French immersion, nature, and emotional well-being flow seamlessly together. Tune in to hear their beautiful journey, from a serendipitous discovery of their future land to creating custom assessment tools for teachers that prove education can look completely different! You’ll Learn: 🏫 The Spark of Change: Gillian shares what she saw after a decade in public education and why traditional assessment models hinder true hands-on learning. 🩺 From Healthcare to Soil: Jenna reflects on her NICU nursing background and how her quest for root-cause health led her directly back to nature and soil biodiversity. 🕊️ "Love You to Infinity": The powerful, emotional story of turning profound grief into courage and action after losing their beloved brother. 🛠️ The 30-Day Crunch: What it really took behind the scenes to open their 17-acre farm school doors in just one month. 🔓 Golden Handcuffs & Bold Leaps: How they navigated private micro-school setup in Ontario, self-funded their vision, and broke free from comfortable traditional careers. ⛸️ A Day at Infinity Academy: Balancing explicit math and literacy blocks with real-world projects (like calculating flow rate and geometry to build a winter skating rink!). 🐓 Living as a Biodynamic Ecosystem: Moving beyond simple organic labels to view the farm terrain, animals, and children as an interconnected, self-healing system and what it means for overall health. 📱 Assessing Soft Skills with MyBinder: Defining micro-skills like resilience and open-mindedness, and building an app to help educators track important soft skills without burnout. 🌟 Viral Growth & Keeping the Dream Alive: How losing their original social media account led to a raw, heartfelt video that gained 2+ million views and touched families worldwide. Learn more about Infinity Academy: 🌐 Website: infinityacademyed.com 📸 Instagram: Infinity Academy Farm Educator’s Roadmap:   🌐Website: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com                                                         📘 Take the Free Quiz: Discover Your Farm Education Path 📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                     👍 Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                       👩‍🌾 Join the Private Facebook Group: Join us!

    Episode 48: What if School Worked More Like Life? Inside Infinity Academy’s Farm-Based Approach to Education

  5. Aug 14

    Episode 47: Choosing the Farm Education Path That Fits the Life You Want

    One year. 46 episodes. Incredible guests that I am so grateful to have shared their stories on this podcast. In honor of our first year of the podcast, I'm talking about a question that's followed me through 30 years in farm education: how do you decide which good idea is actually worth building? Not which program or business idea sounds the most exciting in the moment, but which one you'd actually want to live, week after week, year after year. Because we're not just building farm education businesses, we're building our lives. I think a lot of educators can get stuck, not because we don't have enough ideas for programs, but because we haven't stopped to ask what we actually want our business to look like.  It's not about putting you in a box, it's about giving you a clue -a place to start recognizing what fits you, so you can build the farm education business and life you want. Tune in and you'll hear: 🌱 How having too many good ideas for your farm education program might actually be the thing that's keeping you stuck. 📅 The one question I ask myself about an "ordinary Tuesday" that's guided almost every big decision in my farm education business. 🏡 The reason I built Bring the Farm to You the way I did, and what it taught me about knowing yourself before you build a farm education program. 🧭 Why "not yet" isn't the same thing as "never," and how that one shift changed the way I plan for the future of my farm education business. 🔍 The question I ask myself whenever another farm educator's idea catches my attention, one that turns "Ooh, I want to do that" into an actual clue about what I really want for my own program. 🧩 Why I built a quiz to help farm educators find their own answer to all of this and what I hope you do with your results. 🔗 Take the new “Discover Your Farm Education Path” quiz here: https://tinyurl.com/yjxwe6x6   Learn More About the Farm Educator’s Roadmap:   🌐Website: www.farmeducatorsroadmap.com                                                                📸 Instagram: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                     👍 Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap                                                                                       👩‍🌾 Join the Private Facebook Group: Join us!

    Episode 47: Choosing the Farm Education Path That Fits the Life You Want

  6. Jul 29

    Episode 46: Fairways to Farm Fields: Transforming a Sprawling Golf Course into a Living Lab at Timberview Farmstead

    When Sarah Siburt stepped away from a 23-year career in public education to become the Executive Director of Timberview Farmstead, she didn't just take on a new job, she stepped onto a 150-acre canvas of pure possibility. Built on the site of a former golf course in South Fort Worth, Texas, this rapidly growing nonprofit teaching farm has undergone a massive transformation to connect a bustling urban community back to the land. Despite opening its doors to the public in 2024, Timberview has scaled its impact at an incredible pace. Today, the campus features livestock barns, a sophisticated aquaponic greenhouse system, robust summer camps, and a long-term middle-to-high-school mentorship program that stays with students until they graduate. In this episode, Sarah takes us behind the scenes of launching a massive farm education project from scratch. She shares how she designed "Educator Preview Days" to solve marketing challenges, how she aligns activities with strict state educational standards, and why a culture of "unreasonable hospitality" is the secret to building a community where everyone feels they truly belong. You’ll Learn: How 150 acres of recreational country club land was strategically re-engineered into a thriving, fully operational educational farm campus, navigating complex pasture, water, and forage setups. Why transitioning from a middle school choir and elementary music teacher to a farm education director felt completely natural. The genius, low-cost marketing strategy Sarah used to quickly fill their field trip schedule and creating an immediate waiting list. Inside Timberview's unique after-school initiative that follows sixth graders all the way through high school graduation. How Timberview uses a closed-circuit aquaculture and hydroponics system as a living laboratory to grow 4,000 heads of lettuce a month, while converting picky eaters on the spot during greenhouse taste tests. What it means to practice "unreasonable hospitality" on a family farm and how to design accessible spaces where neurodivergent, gifted, and special education students can all truly thrive. The practical advice on how to start fundraising for a farm education non-profit from the ground up. Learn more about Timberview Farmstead: 🌐 Website: timberviewfarmstead.com 👍 Facebook: Timberview Farmstead 📸 Instagram: Timberview Farmstead 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!

    Episode 46: Fairways to Farm Fields: Transforming a Sprawling Golf Course into a Living Lab at Timberview Farmstead

  7. Jul 15

    Episode 45: The Shared Pasture: Cultivating Community Ownership and Teaching Regenerative Systems at Codman Community Farms

    When Tana DeSandres looks out at a farm, she doesn't just see agricultural land, she sees an evolving classroom driven by curiosity, empathy, and natural cycles. After spending over three years coordinating the historic education gardens at California's renowned Hidden Villa, a cross-country move brought her to the historic fields of Lincoln, Massachusetts. Today, as the Education Manager for Codman Community Farms, Tana is helping lead a nonprofit community anchor that proves a working regenerative farm can seamlessly weave multiple agricultural enterprises directly into a powerful educational curriculum. Operating its main property while actively managing 150 acres of town-owned land, Codman Community Farms has been a staple of its local community since 1973. In this episode, Tana shares her journey from the foothills of Yosemite to managing farm education on both coasts. We dive into the day-to-day realities of rotational pasture systems, how to translate complex soil health concepts into tangible lessons for young children, and the incredible community connection the farm fosters. You’ll Hear:  🌲How a childhood love for the outdoors and a pivotal college volunteering experience shifted Tana's career path from traditional classrooms to outdoor and farm-based education. 🛠️Key frameworks Tana carried over from her time at Hidden Villa to build deep empathy, up-close plant and animal interactions, and student empowerment. 🐄A look at how Codman uses rotational grazing teach children about the beautiful, regenerative cycle where humans care for animals, and animals care for the soil. 🛒How a 24/7 self-serve farm store operating entirely on the honor system builds deep community trust, fosters local partnerships, and gives their community a true sense of personal ownership over the farm. 📚A behind-the-scenes look at structuring diverse programs, from Little Farmer's Helper afterschool groups and summer Barn Buddies, to adult sustainable landscaping workshops and community farm-to-table dinners. ✨Why Tana stepped away from highly rigid, structured lesson plans to embrace fluidity and capture spontaneous "magical teaching moments" provided by the farm's daily ecosystem. Learn more about Codman Community Farms: 🌐 Website: codmanfarm.org 📸 Instagram: Codman Community Farms 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!

    Episode 45: The Shared Pasture: Cultivating Community Ownership and Teaching Regenerative Systems at Codman Community Farms

  8. Jul 1

    Episode 44: Up-Rooting the Traditional Classroom: Building a Farm-Based Hybrid Homeschool with Wild Wonders

    What happens when a public school teacher realizes the educational system no longer aligns with her core values or the future she envisions for her own children? For Lindsey Vose, it meant choosing a radical pivot: stepping away from financial security, pensions, and traditional benchmarks to build an alternative learning ecosystem completely from the ground up. Today, Lindsey is the founder and owner of Wild Wonders, a thriving hybrid homeschool and farm-based education program in Belgrade, Montana. What started as a tiny summer camp run out of her garage has exploded entirely through word of mouth into an immersive, multi-age program serving 50 students from early childhood all the way through middle school. In this conversation, Lindsey pulls back the curtain on her leap of faith from the public sector, the logistical grit required to scale a rapidly growing model, and how she balances rigorous academic standards with the daily realities of farm life. She shares the profound life lessons that come with teaching kids through nature, her philosophy on community leadership, and what it truly takes to turn an unconventional educational dream into a thriving reality. You’ll hear: 🎒 The specific turning point that caused her to walk away from traditional public schools in search of something better for her daughter. 🚪 What happened when she stepped into the world of non-traditional education, and the exact moment she realized there was no turning back. 🚗 The scrappy origins of her program, which started as a summer camp running out of a single garage. 📈 What it really takes to scale a program to keep up with growing demand from the community. 🧮 The way farm-based projects give children an immediate, real-world purpose for learning core academic subjects. 📋 How a hybrid homeschool structure actually operates behind the scenes while still meeting state standards. 👩‍🌾 The essential leadership advice for identifying your true community and keeping your team genuinely excited to show up every single day. Learn more about Wild Wonders: 🌐 Website: wildwondersmt.com 👍 Facebook: Wild Wonders 📸 Instagram: Wild Wonders 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!

    Episode 44: Up-Rooting the Traditional Classroom: Building a Farm-Based Hybrid Homeschool with Wild Wonders
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5
out of 5
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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
    51
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Farm Educator's Roadmap®
  • Show Website
    Farm Educator's Roadmap®

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