In September, Hawthorne Valley Farm (HVF) hosted the Climate Farm School™ for a week of working and learning with our farmers. This was the fifth cohort to visit the farm since the collaboration began in 2022.
Climate Farm School grew out of founder Laney Siegner’s desire to use her experience researching sustainable food systems and climate education intersections to create a program where participants learn experientially from farmers and actively engage in land-based climate solutions work.
“I think so many people, especially urbanites, are lacking a meaningful connection to land and where their food comes from, and the best way to rebuild that connection is through hands in the soil and time in an agroecological landscape,” Laney says. “What I see in our groups over the course of the week is truly special as they connect with themselves, the land, and each other and come out of it ready to lead and participate in positive change within their communities back home.”
How the Collaboration Began
The pilot program began in fall of 2021 as Terra.do Climate School, and by 2022, Laney and co-director Ryan Peterson were looking for additional farms that lead in regenerative agriculture and ecological stewardship to host the program.
At recommendations from Stone Barns and Arthur’s Point Farm, Ryan reached out to Spencer Fenniman, Director of Farm Operations at Hawthorne Valley, about bringing a group in the fall 2022. In the two years that have followed, HVF has hosted five cohorts for week-long immersions that include working with our farmers as well as visiting other area farms.
“The really exciting thing about collaborating with the Climate Farm School is how engaged every group has been,” says Spencer. “These are professionals coming from a wide diversity of backgrounds and professions who are interested in learning what regenerative—biodynamic, organic, sustainable, climate-friendly—agriculture looks like on the ground. We’ve had some encouraging follow up connections from past participants who have gone on to jobs in agricultural-adjacent spheres.”
During the Visit
The most recent cohort began their time at HVF by walking the West Hill with Spencer. Taking in the view of the valley, they heard from Spencer about its history, as he acknowledged the land as the ancestral home of the Mohican people, and then spoke about the growth of farm operations since HVF’s beginnings in 1972. Over the course of the week, the six participants worked in the fields with the vegetable team, helped bring in the cows for an afternoon milking, visited the on-site Creamery and Bakery, learned about the ecology of our place with the Farmscape Ecology Program, and more.
“The students are always struck by the constellation of food systems work happening in and around the HVF ecosystem,” Laney says. “It truly embodies the integration of systems and stakeholders in building a resilient regional food system. The experiences at HVF provide a wonderful mix of hands-on learning, knowledgeable and passionate farmer-educators, and natural beauty that helps build a clearer image of what we’re working towards when it comes to food systems transformation and why it matters.”
To learn more about the Climate Farm School—and check out the 2025 course dates—visit their website.
Collaborations like this are part of Hawthorne Valley's mission to provide experiential learning opportunities for all ages, and our commitment to become a Net Positive campus that gives back to our community socially and ecologically. To learn more about this multifaceted work, visit our Net Positive page.
