Climate Farm School for Farm-Based Educators - September 2025

Hosted by: Climate Farm School, Hidden Villa, Farm-Based Education Network.

Program Description: 

Are you a farm-based educator looking to make climate change and regenerative agriculture education come alive in your programming? Hidden Villa, the Farm-Based Education Network and Climate Farm School are partnering to offer a professional learning experience on climate change for farm-based educators! This is a unique, hybrid learning experience with an online component and a residential learning stay at Hidden Villa in Palo Alto, CA. You will gain access to climate change and food systems curriculum that you can adapt and use for your target audiences, and will spend 5 days engaging in hands-on farm work, discussion and activities that teach climate and agriculture topics and can be translated into your work. You will also build your community by living together in a restorative farm-based setting. Residential program dates are September 15-20, with surrounding weeks of online programming starting the week of September 1st and concluding September 26. 

Program Objectives: 

• Build your knowledge base about food systems and climate change;

• Reflect on your teaching practices in a supportive peer-focused environment;

• Connect with peers through shared farm to table meals, land-based work experiences, and thoughtfully facilitated programming; 

• Receive access to 8 online classes outlining the impacts of climate change on food systems and solutions already happening in practice; 

• Develop an action plan for bringing climate education to the students you work with;

• Reinvigorate your commitment as an actor for change in food and ag systems

  
  

Climate Farm School attendees at 2024 course at Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, VT

Draft Agenda: 

• Week 1: Online modules released and Zoom call on Wednesday Sept 3rd, 9-10 am pst (Intros and Schedule overview)

• Week 2: Zoom call on Wednesday Sept. 10th, 9-10 am pst (State of Climate Change and Food & Ag sector, overview of course materials)

• Week 3: On farm week 

*Note: breakfast will be available from 7-8:30 each morning, and there will be daily breaks in the morning, after lunch, and early evening for yoga, meditation, movement, hiking on the 8 miles of trails included on the farm property, or anything else needed for personal rejuvenation 

On Farm Week Agenda: subject to change

Date	Morning session	Lunch	Afternoon session	Evening
Monday 9/15	N/A	Arrivals between 2-3 pm, Opening circle and dominant narratives discussion 3-5 pm	Dinner with CFS Chef, first daily debrief (DIGA)
Tues. 9/16	Farm tour and animal husbandry overview, 9-12  (Hidden Villa team)	12-1	Soil health workshop led by Laney and Ryan (3-5)	Dinner with CFS Chef, DIGA
Wedns 9/17	Morning farm activity  Discussion: Integrating climate change and social justice in a farm-based setting (Speaker TBD)	12:30 - 1:30 join farm volunteer lunch	Climate change activity demonstrations and resource fair (Vera, 3-5)	Dinner with CFS Chef, DIGA
Thurs. 9/18	7-10 am CSA harvest, field work with HV veggie team  10-12 Lesson plan workshopping for your context & Peer Dilemma Protocol	12-1	CSA and Farmer’s market packing w/ Farm team, 1:30-2:30 Afternoon hike in pairs or small groups	Dinner at Los Altos Farmer’s Market
Friday 9/19	Offsite farm visit 1: Life Lab, UCSC (to be confirmed)	12-1	Offsite farm visit 2: TBD Climate Action Planning and Climate Venn Diagrams, 3-5 pm	Closing dinner, DIGA
Sat. 9/20	8:30-9:30 am: Course wrap-up breakfast 10 AM departures, optional local farm visits

Application process and pricing: 

Applications were due July 14, but we may be able to accept late applicants, so fill out the application and we will be in touch!

This program is offered on a sliding scale, between $495-995, which covers lodging in farm cabins, food and course programming. There are a small number of full scholarship spots available. We encourage everyone interested in this experience to apply, and we will reach out to you during the application review process as needed to discuss scholarship requests. The application period is open from May 16 through July 14, and applications will be reviewed starting July 15. We will notify accepted applicants by July 30. 

Climate Farm School attendees at Shelburne Farms Course, 2024

Facilitation team: 

• Laney Siegner- Climate Farm School

• Ryan Peterson- Climate Farm School 

• Vera Simon-Nobes- Farm-Based Education Network, Shelburne Farms

• Lanette Anderson- Hidden Villa

• Elliott Wright- Hidden Villa