Our History
From its nascent beginnings as an educational outpost, to its vibrant present, Hawthorne Valley is dedicated to the renewal of soil, society, and self.
Imagine a biodiverse farm pioneering regenerative agriculture and land stewardship. Imagine educators joining the farmers to welcome children and people of all ages to participate in place-based, immersive activities that reconnect them to people, planet, and purpose. Imagine artists being supported to freely create beauty that engages with the nature of the farmscape. Imagine scientists inviting curiosity while researching and revealing the myriad relationships that enliven the land. Imagine building relationships beyond the farm through direct to customer interactions towards a more compassionate economy. Imagine Hawthorne Valley.
Roots to Renewal
In the late 1960s, a small group of Waldorf teachers and biodynamic farmers began cultivating the soil of this imagination in a series of meetings that spanned several years. In 1972, they planted a seed in the hamlet of Harlemville in Columbia County, NY. From this humble beginning, Hawthorne Valley emerged. Through the dedicated efforts of countless individuals, fueled by an abundance of love and vision, what once existed only in imagination has flourished into the vibrant community we know today.
John Barnes on Hawthorne Valley’s Beginnings
In this video clip, John Barnes, a former Waldorf educator and the founder of Adonis Press, shares a story linking his personal history with the Waldorf School movement and Hawthorne Valley’s founding.
John highlights the significant contributions of Emil Molt, Rudolf Steiner, and Fentress Gardner to the Waldorf school movement. Post-WWI, Molt and Steiner initiated the first Waldorf School for inclusive education. Post-WWII, Gardner’s advocacy facilitated the school’s revival in Germany. By 1971, Barnes’ family connections and history intertwined with the school’s ethos, leading to their move to the U.S. and the establishment of Hawthorne Valley.
Gratitude and Inspiration
We look back with a sense of boundless gratitude to the founders and all of the committed individuals who devoted themselves to bringing the vision of Hawthorne Valley and its mission of social and cultural renewal to fruition.
And now it is our turn. May we dip into the fonts of inspiration and add our own loving deeds to the unfolding of Hawthorne Valley Association and the Earth community of which we are all a part.
