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filler@godaddy.com
Welcome to Farm School at High Water Homestead!
Animals on Our Farm
Students work directly with a variety of farm animals, including:
- Dairy goats
- Chickens (eggs and meat production)
- Ducks
- Geese
- Rabbits
- Honey bees
- Farm dogs
- Barn cats
- Composting Worms
Animal systems are used to teach responsibility, biology, daily care routines, and ethical stewardship of livestock. while also feeding the farmers at High Water Homestead and the local community.
CROPS, HERBS & MUSHROOMS
High Water Homestead grows a diverse range of food and plant systems, including:
Crops
- Seasonal vegetables grown in high tunnel and field systems
- Greenhouse seedlings and plant starts
- Perennial berry bushes
- Orchard trees (fruit and nut-bearing systems as established)
- Cover crops used for soil regeneration
Herbs
- Culinary herbs used in cooking and farm meals
- Medicinal herbs used in farm-based learning and products
- Pollinator-supporting plants and companion species
Mushrooms
- Shiitake mushroom production (log-based systems)
- Expanding cultivated mushroom systems
- Fungi used in soil health and decomposition education
Students learn how plant, fungal, and soil systems work together in real ecological cycles.
SOIL, COMPOST & WASTE SYSTEMS
Soil health is a core focus of the farm school.
Students learn how fertility is created through:
- Hot composting systems at scale
- Vermicomposting (worm bins) for nutrient-rich soil production
- Animal bedding and farm waste recycling
- Food scraps converted into soil-building materials
Core concept:
Everything on the farm becomes either food, feed, or soil again.
WATER SYSTEMS & CATCHMENT PROJECTS
Water is treated as a managed resource and an essential part of farm design.
Students participate in:
- Rainwater catchment systems
- Water storage and distribution systems
- Irrigation for gardens and greenhouse production
- Water conservation and stewardship practices
- Seasonal planning for animal and crop water needs
Core concept:
Water is not unlimited—it is collected, stored, and used with intention.
FOOD PROCESSING & FROM-SCRATCH COOKING
Students learn how raw ingredients become meals through hands-on experience:
- Cooking from scratch using farm-harvested foods
- Egg collection and kitchen use
- Drying, fermenting, and canning
- Shelf-stable food production
- Herbal and farm-based product preparation
Core concept:
Food is grown, prepared, and preserved—not purchased in its final form.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
High Water Homestead Farm School operates seasonally and in small groups to ensure meaningful, hands-on learning.
- 2 days per week programming
- 5 families per day (small group learning environment)
- Homeschool-based participation
- Outdoor, hands-on instruction in all weather (with safety adjustments)
Seasonal Schedule
- March – June (Spring/Summer Term)
- July (Summer Break, no programming)
- August – November (Fall Term)
- December – February (Winter break, no programming)
Sprouts (Ages 5–7)
Chicken Tenders (Ages 8–10)
Chicken Tenders (Ages 8–10)
- Animal observation and gentle care
- Garden exploration and sensory learning
- Simple harvesting tasks
- Introduction to farm rhythms
Chicken Tenders (Ages 8–10)
Chicken Tenders (Ages 8–10)
Chicken Tenders (Ages 8–10)
- Hands-on gardening and planting
- Animal care responsibilities
- Intro to food processing
- Tool safety and farm routines
Farmhands (Ages 11–14)
Chicken Tenders (Ages 8–10)
Farmhands (Ages 11–14)
- Full participation in farm systems
- Advanced animal and crop care
- Food preservation and processing
- Water system projects and management
- Introduction to farm-based business thinking
VISITING EXPERTS & FIELD LEARNING
Students also learn from real-world practitioners, including:
- Farmers and food producers
- Chefs and food system educators
- Herbalists and beekeepers
- Builders, tradespeople, and small business owners
Field trips include visits to:
- Working farms
- Food production businesses
- Local agricultural and homesteading operations
FACILITIES & LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
High Water Homestead is a working farm with real infrastructure
:
- High tunnel production system
- Greenhouse for plant propagation
- Rabbitry
- Chicken, duck, and goose systems
- Dairy barn with goats
- Beekeeping systems
- Composting systems (hot compost)
- Vermicomposting systems (worms)
- Rainwater catchment systems
- Learning shed for instruction and meals
- Onsite drinking water access
- Compost toilet facility
All learning happens within functioning farm systems.
MONTHLY FARM-TO-TABLE EXPERIENCE
Once per month, students will help to prepare meals using ingredients grown at High Water Homestead.
Students participate in:
- Harvesting ingredients
- Food preparation support
- Seasonal cooking experience
- Shared community meal
This connects farm work directly to real food outcomes.